Documenting My US Diversity Lottery Experience (Green Card Lottery)

In October 2023, I submitted an application for the US Diversity Visa Program, commonly referred to as the Green Card Lottery. I had little expectation of being selected, given the highly competitive nature of the program. However, when I checked the results, I was astonished to see the message:

“Congratulations, you have been selected for the Green Card Lottery Program.” For my country in 2024, the selection rate was only 1.44%, meaning there was a 98.56% chance of not being chosen. Naturally, I was thrilled and initially believed the process would be straightforward, with a visa and Green Card issued in a matter of weeks.

However, I soon learned that selection is merely the first step in a lengthy and detailed procedure. The excitement of being chosen was tempered by the reality of the steps required to obtain the visa. The initial task is to complete the DS-260 form online, which requires detailed information about your personal details, educational background, professional experience, and health.

Accuracy is critical—carefully review all entries multiple times before submitting the form. Once completed, you print the DS-260 and bring it to the US Embassy for your interview.

After submitting the form, there is a waiting period, typically around six months, before the Kentucky Consular Center (KCC), which manages the lottery interview appointments, contacts you. This period allows ample time to prepare the necessary documentation for the visa interview. The process demands patience and thorough preparation, but it is a crucial step toward achieving the goal of obtaining a US visa.

Tip:

👉 One important thing to note: selection in the lottery does not guarantee a visa. Your case number must be “current” in the Visa Bulletin. If you have a very high case number, you may not even get called for an interview if the yearly quota fills.

👉 Also, if anything in your life changes after you submit (marriage, new child, new job, address change), you can contact KCC and request that your DS-260 form be unlocked and updated. It’s better to fix it early than risk mistakes at the interview.

My Experience with the US Diversity Visa Lottery

Documents Required for the US Diversity Visa Lottery

To proceed with the US Diversity Visa process, you need to gather several essential documents. Based on my understanding, these include your birth certificate, passport, court and prison records (often referred to as a criminal record), and military records if you have served in the armed forces. You will also need police certificates from every country where you have lived for more than six months. Additionally, a medical examination is required at a hospital certified by the US Embassy in your country of residence.

Your application form will provide contact details for these hospitals, along with a list of required medical checks, such as tests for specific diseases, hepatitis, blood pressure, lung X-rays, drug screening, and verification of childhood vaccinations. If any vaccinations are missing, you will need to get them, and depending on requirements, COVID-19 vaccinations may also be necessary.

You may also need to provide a bank statement to demonstrate financial stability, ideally showing at least $10,000 to support your move to the US. Additionally, prepare two identical photographs with a white background, each measuring 2 inches by 2 inches (51mm x 51mm). The specific civil and personal documents required may vary depending on your country and the US Embassy or Consulate where you apply. Some countries may have additional instructions or require extra documents.

Police certificates typically remain valid for 6 to 12 months, so if your interview is delayed, you may need to renew them. To avoid concerns about becoming a public charge, it’s wise to provide financial proof, such as a recent bank statement, evidence of property ownership, or, if applicable, an affidavit of support (Form I-134) from a US sponsor. Always bring both original documents and photocopies to your interview, as missing copies could lead to delays or place your case in “administrative processing.”

Preparing for the US Diversity Visa Interview

Once you’ve completed your document preparation, you’ll receive an email from the Kentucky Consular Center (KCC) with the date of your interview at the US Embassy. Be prepared to answer questions about yourself, your background, your reasons for wanting to move to the US, and your plans once there. In my case, it took about six months to hear back from KCC regarding the interview date. If you’re eager to stay ahead, you can check the Visa Bulletin online to get an idea of when your interview might be scheduled.

On the day of the interview, arrive early. The embassy can get crowded, and latecomers may face delays. Before entering, you’ll go through a security check for prohibited items. Once cleared, the first stage involves a document review, followed by payment of the interview fee, which is $330 and nonrefundable, even if your visa is denied. After paying, you’ll wait in line for your turn, which typically takes 15–20 minutes. An embassy official will take your fingerprints, and then you’ll be called for the interview. The first thing you’ll do is swear an oath to tell the truth.

Here are some tips for the interview:

• Stay calm and be truthful. The officers are looking for consistency, not perfection.

• If you’re missing a document, your case might not be denied immediately, but it could be placed in “administrative processing,” which can delay things by weeks or even months.

• Always bring both original documents and photocopies to avoid complications.

• Common reasons for visa denial include incomplete or fraudulent documents, not meeting the education or work requirement (typically a high school diploma or equivalent), medical issues, a criminal record, or providing false information during the interview.

For reference, I’ve included a list of questions I was asked during my interview:

• Why are you going to the USA?

• What is your goal of immigrating to the US?

• What are you going to do in the US?

• Where are you going to stay?

• What’s your educational background?

• Who is going to meet you in the USA? How do you know them? What do they do? Where do they live?

• Have you served in the military?

• Where were you born?

• What is your name? What is your birth year?

• Are you married?

• Do you speak English?

• Have you been to a foreign country? For how long?

• Have you ever been to the US before?

• What are you doing now?

• Are you fluent in Korean?

• Have you ever been arrested?

• When are you going to go to America?

• What do you know about the US?

• Why do you want to live in the US?

• How did your friend move there?

• Are you going alone?

• Do you have a job offer?

• Have you ever applied for the Diversity Visa Lottery before?

• How much money are you bringing with you?

Timeline for the US Diversity Visa Process

Here’s a rough timeline based on my experience. I filled out the DS-260 form in June 2023, and in December 2023, I received an email from the Kentucky Consular Center (KCC) informing me that my interview was scheduled for January 2024. On the day of the interview, you’ll find out the result right away. If approved, you can expect to receive your passport with the visa by mail within about a week.

A few important notes: once your visa is issued, you must travel to the US before it expires, which is typically six months from the date of your medical exam. Also, before you travel, you’ll need to pay the USCIS immigrant fee of $220 online. This ensures your physical Green Card will be mailed to your US address after you arrive.

Medical Check-Up for the US Diversity Visa

After completing your health screening at a US Embassy-certified hospital, you’ll receive your results in a sealed, stamped envelope. It’s critical that you do not open this envelope and keep it secure. When you arrive in the US with your immigrant visa, you must present this sealed package to the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer at the airport. Make sure to arrive at an airport with immigration offices, such as New York, Los Angeles, or San Francisco.

The cost of the medical examination varies by country but typically ranges from $200 to $400 per adult. Some required vaccines may involve multiple doses, so it’s wise to start the process early to allow enough time for completion.

Arrival in the U.S.

When you land in the U.S., go to an airport with immigration services. At the CBP desk you will give your sealed medical envelope, the officer may ask a few short questions, and then they will stamp your passport. That stamp serves as temporary proof of permanent residency until your actual green card arrives in the mail.

With this, my journey from being selected to actually preparing for the Green Card lottery became much clearer. The process is not immediate, but with patience and careful preparation, it is very possible.

Estimated Costs of the DV Lottery Process

Many people ask how much money they should prepare before and during the Diversity Visa process. While costs vary depending on the country, below is an approximate breakdown:

Lottery Entry – FREE

(Submitting your entry costs nothing. Be careful of scams.)

Passport (if not already got one) – $100–150

Police Certificates – $0–50 each

(If you lived in several countries, you must get one from each.)

Translation of Civil Documents – ≈ $300 total

(For birth certificate, court records, military papers, etc. Price depends on number of pages and translation agency. Some embassies accept local translations, others require certified.)

Medical Examination – $200–400 per adult

(Children cost less, around $100–200. Vaccines may add $50–200.)

Photographs (2x2 inches) – $10–20 for a set

Interview Fee (Embassy) – $330 per person

(Paid on the interview day, nonrefundable.)

Travel to Interview City – varies

(Flights, bus, hotel, meals — can be $100–500+ depending on location.)

USCIS Immigrant Fee (Green Card Processing) – $220 per person

(Paid online before traveling to the U.S.)

Flight Ticket to the U.S. – $500–1500+ per ticket

✅ Example Calculation for One Adult Applicant

1. Passport: $120

2. Police certificate: $30

3. Civil document translations: $300

4. Medical exam + vaccines: $300

5. Photos: $15

6. Interview fee: $330

7. Travel to embassy: $200

8. USCIS immigrant fee: $220

9. Flight ticket: $1000

Total: ≈ $2,500 – $2,700

(For families, costs multiply by each member, especially for medical exams, embassy fees, and plane tickets.)