Green Card holders also known as permanent residents are people given the authority to live and work in the United States permanently.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) provides proof of this status through a permanent resident card called a green card.
Green Cards earned their nickname because they were colored green between 1946 and 1964.
They were made green again in 2010, but the Green Card nickname persisted, even as the cards were colored blue, yellow, and pink.
Today, regardless of their name, permanent U.S. residents aged 18 or older are required always to carry their U.S. Green Card.
If you do manage to win the Green Card Lottery, the Green Card you get lasts ten years and must be renewed. Green Cards can be renewed online, and it’s simple to do after those ten years have passed.
Conditional permanent residents, those who have earned their Green Card through investment or marriage, must renew their Green Card after two years.
Notably, as the world becomes increasingly interconnected, more people are seeking opportunities to live and work in different countries.
For many, the United States is a popular destination, with its diverse culture, strong economy, and numerous opportunities for personal and professional growth.
However, for non-citizens, living and working in the US can be challenging. One way to gain permanent residency in the US is through a Green Card.
In this article, we will explore how to apply for a Green Card in Kenya, including the requirements and steps involved in the application process.
Whether you are a student, a professional, or simply looking for a new adventure, a Green Card can be your key to a better future in the United States.
Eligibility
Here are some of the Green Card categories one must be eligible under one to apply.
- Green Card through Family
- Green Card through Employment
- Green Card as a Special Immigrant
- Green Card through Refugee or Asylee Status
- Green Card for Human Trafficking and Crime Victims
- Green Card for Victims of Abuse
- Green Card through Other Categories (Lottery)
- Green Card through Registry
Below is a step-by-step guide on how to apply for a Green Card through the famous Diversity Visa Program
How to apply for a Green Card in Kenya
Requirements
- Be from a country which is not excluded from participating in the Green Card Lottery
- Prove that you have at least a US high school diploma or an equivalent level of education. This means that you should have completed at least 12 years of formal primary and secondary schooling.
- Alternatively, you can prove at least two years of work experience within the past five years in a qualified profession. Qualified professions are those that require at least two years of training.
- No age limit but you need to be above 16years to be eligible to satisfy that you have completed at least 12 years of formal primary and secondary schooling.
There is a limited period of time during which you can register for the Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) Program during each fiscal year.
All you need to have an internet connection or go to a cyber, have a passport-size photo with you which meets the photo requirements of the program, your birth certificate or ID and submit your entry electronically on the Electronic Diversity Visa Lottery website.
Note that multiple entries and submitting photos which don’t meet the requirements will lead to automatic disqualification of the applicant.
You can later do an Entrant Status Check later on specified dates on the Diversity Visa Lottery website to know if you qualified or if you didn’t.
If you can’t do all this on your own, then ask a friend to help or just visit the nearest cyber, they usually do it quickly and cheaply for you.
After you have completed the steps on the Diversity Visa Process on usvisas.state.gov, you may then receive an email from the Kentucky Consular Center (KCC) to let you know that an interview has been scheduled for you, that’s if your application was successful.
The e-mail will instruct you to log into the Entrant Status Check on the Electronic Diversity Visa (E-DV) website, using your DV entry confirmation number, to view the date, time and location of your interview.
At the end of your immigrant visa interview, the consular officer will inform you whether your visa application is approved or denied.
Some visa applications require further administrative processing, which takes additional time after the visa applicant’s interview.
If your Visa application happens to fall in this place, then you can check the status of your visa application on ceac.state.gov
If your visa has been denied, you may find useful information on Ineligibilities and Waivers on usvisas.state.gov.
If your visa has been approved, you will be informed how and when your passport and visa will be returned to you.
At this point, you will be required to pay USCIS Immigrant Fee of $220.
It is worth noting that if you want to increase your chances of winning the lottery, both you, your spouse and even children who are eligible should apply.
This gives you a higher chance of winning or either of your family members winning because if any of them wins, then they can bring you to the USA too after following the due legal process.
How the Green card lottery works
At the National Visa Center all entries received will be separated into one of six geographic regions and individually numbered.
After the end of the application period, a computer will randomly select cases from among all the mail received for each geographic region.
Within each region, the first letter randomly selected will be the first case registered, the second letter selected the second registration, etc.
When a case has been registered, the applicant will immediately be sent a notification letter by the National Visa Center, which will provide appropriate visa application instructions.
Note: Entries that do not have all required information will be rejected. Also, entries received before or after the announced dates will be disqualified.
Green Card FAQs
What is the Green Card Lottery?
The Green Card Lottery, also known as the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, is a program that awards permanent residency visas (green cards) to people from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States.
Who is eligible to participate in the Green Card Lottery?
To be eligible for the Green Card Lottery, an applicant must be a native of a qualifying country, have at least a high school education or its equivalent, and meet other eligibility requirements.
How do I apply for the Green Card Lottery?
You can apply for the Green Card Lottery online during the designated registration period. The application process is free and must be completed in English. Applicants are selected randomly, and those who are selected must then go through the visa application process.
When is the registration period for the Green Card Lottery?
The registration period for the Green Card Lottery typically opens in October and closes in November. The exact dates vary from year to year, so it’s important to check the State Department’s website for the current year’s dates.
How many people are selected for the Green Card Lottery each year?
Approximately 50,000 people are selected for the Green Card Lottery each year.
What happens if I am selected for the Green Card Lottery?
If you are selected for the Green Card Lottery, you will be notified by mail and given instructions on how to proceed with your visa application.
What are the benefits of having a Green Card?
Having a Green Card allows you to live and work permanently in the United States, travel outside of the country without needing a visa, and eventually apply for U.S. citizenship.
Can my family members also apply for the Green Card Lottery?
Yes, spouses and unmarried children under the age of 21 can be included in the Green Card Lottery application.