The US green card lottery is a legitimate way to obtain a year-long visa into the United States which allows you to live and work during that time. Every year, the U.S. State Department holds what’s known as the Diversity Visa lottery program (also called the green card lottery). With the green card lottery USA program,  winners have a chance to apply for an immigrant visa and enter the United States. The winners of the green card lottery are always randomly selected, and it’s 100% free to enter the green card lottery.

There are some restrictions on who is eligible to apply for green card status. For example:

• You must have at least a high school diploma or its equivalent or two years work experience in a field that requires two years training.
• You must be a native of an accepted country

It is best to consult the US State Dept guidelines for the full application and restriction details.

Many people choose to make an application for the green card program through the services of a reputable law firm or immigration consultant which is a good idea if you feel you need some guidance.

In selecting a service, you need to be aware that there are a number of fraudulent companies attempting to scam those entering the green card lottery. A surefire way to know you’re being misled is if the company claims that, for a fee you can increase your chance of winning the green card visa lottery.
There’s no fee to enter the green card lottery. Paying a fee will only rob you of your hard earned money; it has no way to increase your chances of winning.

People who see the living and working in the United States as a way to a new life are desperate to get a green card and unfortunately often fall victim to these types of companies.  Thankfully, there are ways to stay safe. Make sure you submit only one entry into the green card lottery; submitting extra entries will disqualify you. Another great rule of thumb to remember is to never send your personal documents to anyone who is unfamiliar to you.  If you do this, you run the risk of having your identity stolen.

Also, be skeptical of websites attempting to pose as government-run addresses. Official government websites and email address will end with .gov. A key way to tell if a site is bogus is if they charge you for any official government forms. Legitimate documents are free and the government will not charge you for them. Keep in mind that no one should charge you to enter the green card lottery, and any company that claims your payment gives you a better chance isn’t being honest.

As long as you keep these tips in mind, you should rest assured that you are in no danger of becoming the victim of a con artist. The most important thing to remember is that if a company is attempting to solicit money from you in regards to the green card lottery, they are doing so in order to obtain money from you and are in no way affiliated with any government or state agency.
If you are not clued in, these people are only too willing to take advantage of your naiveté. So educate yourself, and you’ll avoid being the victim of a costly scam.