There are two types of green card which differ in the length of their validity:

1 / The “classic”

 Green card is obtained thanks to an American parent, by being sponsored by his employer or following a marriage of more than two years with an American citizen. This is then valid for ten years. The same goes for a green card obtained with the lottery. To keep your green card you will need to renew it six months before its expiration date. “These steps are simple ,”, lawyer specializing in immigration law. Just submit Form I-90 and provide a number of documents like IDs, photos and pay the fee which amounts to approximately $ 450. ” Your green card is therefore valid for life, provided you renew it every ten years.

2 / The green card is “conditional”

When the marriage with an American citizen dates back less than two years before the request for a green card. This conditional of green card is valid for two years. “At the end of these two years, you have to renew 2 year green card and submit a petition within the 90-day window before the document expires,”.  If the petition is approved the green card is then valid for ten years”. To complete this petition you will need to provide proof of your cohabitation. “This is a way for the US government to verify that it is not a white marriage.

How to register for green card?

Start by filling out the DS-5501 form online at www.dvlottery.state.gov during the period indicated each year by the US State Department, generally between October and November. It is advisable not to wait until the last week to register because the large number of requests can slow down the site. Warning: registration is free, so the multitude of sites that offer you to register for remuneration are scams. Note that you will have to complete the form all at once as it is not possible to save it to come back to it later. You will also be asked to upload a photo, which must be the correct size. You will also need to enter the name, date and place of birth of your spouse and all your natural children. Make no mistake about the date because no registration on paper or past the deadline will be accepted, and for those who would seek to increase their application for candidacy, do not waste your time, your registration will be canceled. Once your registration is complete, you will receive a participant number that you must keep.

Spouses are allowed to register individually if both people meet the eligibility conditions. This will increase your chances because if one of the two is drawn, his spouse will benefit as a beneficiary. But in all cases you will have to enter the name of your husband or wife, the same for your children under the age of 21. However, members of your family can, if they wish, stay in France.

To find out whether or not you have been selected, return to the site on the day of the results (a few months after the registration period) in the “Entrant Status Check” section. This will be the only way for you to know the answer because no mail will be sent to you. If you have been drawn, you can read the instructions there and know the date of your appointment to apply for an immigrant visa.

After selection

Being selected for the lottery is only the first step in obtaining the green card. “ Identified by a number during your draw, you will have to wait your turn before your profile is submitted to US immigration ,” explains Sophie Raven, lawyer specializing in immigration issues. However, for your green card to be validated, it must be approved before September 30 (end of the fiscal year in the United States) of the same year. Each year, candidates selected for the lottery see their hopes for a green card fly because their file was not examined on time. “Be aware that the lower his number, the greater the chances of seeing his green card approved before the end of the fiscal year, ”.