Green Card lottery scams — how to recognize them and where to apply officially
Every year millions of people enter the Diversity Visa program — and every year scammers try to take advantage of it. Here is what is official and what is not.
The only official website
The entry form and the results check are only on dvprogram.state.gov. The instructions for each program year are published on travel.state.gov. The entry period is announced by the U.S. Department of State each year; late or paper entries are not accepted.
Any other website — including ours — is not part of the official process. We only help you check and prepare the photo; we never submit entries for anyone.
Typical scams
Fake "official" websites. Sites that look like government pages and ask for payment to "register you", "guarantee" a place or "increase your chances". Nobody can increase your chances: the selection is random.
"You won" emails and messages. The State Department does not send emails or letters to tell you that you were selected. You can only find out by checking your status yourself on dvprogram.state.gov with your confirmation number. A message saying you won and asking you to pay a fee is a scam.
Agents who keep your confirmation number. Without the confirmation number you can't check your result. Some agents submit the entry and then demand money for it, or never tell you that you were selected. Always keep your confirmation number yourself.
Multiple entries "to be sure". Submitting more than one entry for the same person disqualifies all of them. Anyone who offers to "submit several times" is harming you.
How to protect yourself
- Fill in the form yourself on dvprogram.state.gov, or watch the person who helps you do it.
- Save the confirmation number — write it down and keep a screenshot.
- Check the results only on dvprogram.state.gov, starting from the date announced in the official instructions.
- Never pay anyone who promises a win or "registration" in the lottery.
- Read the official instructions on travel.state.gov for the current year's rules and any fees.
Get the photo right
A photo that doesn't meet the rules can disqualify an entry. Check your photo for free before you submit, and read the photo requirements.
Want to know when the next registration opens? Leave your email on our home page — we'll write once when the official dates are announced.