USA visas and residency

A green card (permanent resident card) is a card that shows you are a lawful permanent resident of the USA. Refugees are required by law to apply for after living in the USA for one year. If you are an asylee, you may also be able to apply after one year. Learn how refugees, asylees, and other immigrants can apply.

Are you applying for a US visa, an extension to a visa, a green card, or change of status? This page will help you understand the public charge rule.

The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program is also called the DV lottery, the visa lottery, or the green card lottery. Every year from 1995 to 2020, the USA awarded 50,000 visas through the program. In 2021, 55,000 visas will be awarded. People get chosen by random selection (by chance) in the visa lottery. If you win a visa, you can live, work, and study in the USA. After 5 years, you can apply for citizenship.

There are several different ways you can apply to have your family members come to the United States to join you after you have been resettled. This is called family reunification.

Do you want to come to the USA? Are you in the USA and do you need to change your status? You will probably need a US visa. Read about the different types, find the best one for you, and learn how to apply.