Participation in the US Diversity Visa Program, commonly known as the Green Card lottery, is no longer free. The US Department of State has introduced a USD 1 electronic registration fee for each entry.
According to the international legal company Citipassport, the change is unlikely to reduce genuine interest in the program. However, it may help limit duplicate, automated, and fraudulent registrations.
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Why the Fee Was Introduced
Previously, the costs of administering the lottery were effectively covered by successful applicants. Under the new rules, everyone submitting an entry contributes USD 1 toward the operation of the system.
The Department of State estimates that approximately 25 million registrations may be submitted annually. The new fee could therefore generate around USD 25 million to cover data processing, storage, randomised selection, system updates, and security checks.
The final rule introducing the payment was published in the US Federal Register. It provides that the fee must be paid through an authorised US government payment portal before the registration can be completed.
“The amount itself is symbolic. The more important change is that applicants must now complete an additional payment stage and make sure they are using the official government website,” Citipassport representatives commented.
The USD 1 Payment Does Not Guarantee Selection
The registration fee only provides access to the lottery. It does not increase the applicant’s chances of selection and does not guarantee a visa.
Those selected must still submit an immigrant visa application, provide the required documents, undergo a medical examination, and attend a consular interview. The Diversity Visa application fee remains USD 330 per person. Medical examinations, translations, document legalisation, and travel involve separate expenses.
Selection itself is also not equivalent to visa approval. Every applicant must meet the education or work experience requirements, pass security and medical checks, and receive a visa before the relevant program deadline.
Citipassport Warns Applicants About Fraud
The introduction of online payments may create new opportunities for fraudulent websites. Applicants should be cautious of intermediaries requesting inflated “government fees” or promising to improve the chances of winning.
Only one entry per person is permitted during each registration period. A married couple may submit separate entries, listing each other as spouses, which gives the family two legitimate opportunities to be selected. Multiple entries submitted in the same person’s name can result in disqualification.
Citipassport provides legal assistance with checking eligibility, preparing Green Card lottery entries, and supporting selected applicants through the subsequent immigration procedure. The company’s specialists also verify forms and supporting documents to reduce the risk of refusal caused by avoidable errors.