Guides

Practical guides for the Green Card lottery: how to take the photo, why photos get rejected, how to avoid scams.

• How to take a Green Card lottery photo at home with your phone

  A step-by-step guide to taking a DV Lottery photo that meets the U.S. Department of State rules — light, background, distance, pose — and checking it for free.

• Why Green Card lottery photos get rejected — 12 common mistakes

  The most common reasons a DV Lottery photo doesn't meet the State Department rules — head size, eye line, glasses, shadows, background, old photos — and how to avoid each one.

• Green Card lottery scams — how to recognize them and where to apply officially

  The DV Lottery entry is made only on the official State Department website. Learn the typical scams — fake sites, "you won" emails, paid agents — and how to protect yourself.