Winning the Green Card Lottery is an incredible opportunity not just for you but also for your immediate family members, including your spouse and unmarried children under 21 years of age. If they were listed on your original Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery application, they can also apply for green cards along with you. Here’s a detailed guide on the next steps for your family members after you’ve won the Green Card Lottery.
1. Ensure All Family Members Are Eligible
- Spouse: Your spouse is eligible to apply for a green card if they were legally married to you at the time of your original DV Lottery application. Marriages that occur after the lottery application might raise questions, so it’s crucial that your marriage is legally recognized and valid.
- Unmarried Children Under 21: Your unmarried children under the age of 21 at the time of your application are also eligible. If they turn 21 before your visa is processed, they might still qualify under the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA), which freezes their age as of the date of your lottery selection.
2. Complete the DS-260 Form for Each Family Member
- Separate DS-260 Forms: Each eligible family member (spouse and children) must complete and submit their own DS-260 form, just as you did. These forms must be filled out accurately, with all information matching the details on your original application.
- Accessing the DS-260: The DS-260 forms are submitted online through the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) website. You’ll need the case number provided in your selection notification to access the forms.
3. Gather Required Documents for Family Members
- Passports: Ensure that each family member has a valid passport. The passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the date you plan to enter the United States.
- Birth Certificates: Obtain certified copies of birth certificates for each child. These documents are crucial for proving the parent-child relationship.
- Marriage Certificate: If applicable, ensure you have a certified copy of your marriage certificate.
- Police Certificates: Each family member aged 16 or older will need police certificates from every country they have lived in for six months or more since the age of 16. These certificates must show that they have no criminal record.
- Medical Examination Results: Each family member will need to undergo a medical examination by a physician approved by the U.S. embassy or consulate in your home country.
4. Prepare for the Visa Interview
- Scheduling Interviews: Family members usually attend the visa interview together, although interviews for the principal applicant (you) and the dependents can be scheduled separately if necessary. The U.S. Department of State will notify you of the interview date and location.
- Documents to Bring: Each family member must bring the required documents to the interview, including passports, DS-260 confirmation pages, photographs, police certificates, and medical examination results.
- Interview Process: The consular officer will ask questions to verify the family relationships and eligibility. They may also ask about your plans in the U.S. and how you intend to support yourselves.
5. Visa Issuance
- Receiving the Visas: If the consular officer approves the visas, each family member’s passport will be stamped with an immigrant visa. You will also receive a sealed visa packet for each person, which must be presented to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers upon arrival in the United States.
- Entering the U.S. Together: It’s recommended that your family enters the U.S. together, but if this isn’t possible, the principal applicant (you) must enter the U.S. before or at the same time as your family members.
6. Entering the United States
- Port of Entry: Upon arrival at a U.S. port of entry, your family will present their visas and visa packets to the CBP officers. The officers will verify the documents and admit your family members as permanent residents.
- Temporary Evidence of Status: Each family member’s passport will be stamped as temporary evidence of their permanent resident status. This stamp allows them to work and travel until they receive their physical green cards.
7. Receiving the Green Cards
- Mailing of Green Cards: After entering the U.S., your family’s green cards will be mailed to the U.S. address you provided in your DS-260 forms. This process usually takes 2 to 4 months.
- Rights and Responsibilities: Once your family members receive their green cards, they will have the same rights and responsibilities as other U.S. permanent residents, including the right to work, live, and study in the United States.
8. Settling in the United States
- Social Security Numbers (SSNs): If you requested SSNs for your family members during the DS-260 application process, they should receive them after arriving in the U.S. If not, they can apply for SSNs at a local Social Security office.
- School Enrollment: If you have school-age children, you’ll need to enroll them in a local school. Research schools in the area where you plan to live and gather any required documents for enrollment.
- Finding Housing and Employment: As new permanent residents, your family can begin looking for housing and employment. Your spouse can legally work in the U.S. without needing a separate work permit.