subject: USA Green Card Lottery – Straight Up Facts [print this page] If you have ever dreamed about becoming a permanent resident of the United States so that you can legally live and work, then you need to understand a few key facts about the USA Green Card lottery system. This article delivers straight up facts about the USA Green Card Visa so that you will be better informed about this wonderful opportunity to be granted permanent resident status. Fact One There Are A Variety Of Ways To Get Your Green Card The main ways to be granted a USA Green Card Are: Family You can get a petition from a family member. Asylum Or Refugee If you have been granted the status of refugee or asylum. Job You can be granted a Green Card through a job offering or employment. USA Green Card Lottery If you meet the requirements you could get a USA Green Card from the lottery process. Fact Two The Government Issues 55, 000 Green Cards Each Year The United States Government offers this amount of permanent resident cards through what is called the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program. The way in which applicants are selected is through a completely random generated computer draw. If successful in the USA Green Card Lottery system the main applicant has the chance for their spouse and any unmarried children that are below the age of twenty one to apply also for the status of permanent USA residence. Fact Three Just Because You Win The Lottery It Does Not Mean You Always Get A Green Card Most people think that if you win the lottery you are instantly granted permanent resident status. But there is still a process to go through of submitting forms and documents that the USA Government has to approve so that the applicant receives a Green Card. Fact Four The Eligible Countries Change Every Year Each year a list comes out showing the native people of a country that can apply for the USA Green Card Lottery. It changes every year depending on the numbers of immigrants to the United States during the past five years. Fact Five The Green Card Lottery System Is Free To apply for permanent residence in the USA is completely free but there are various organizations set up that can help applicants in filling out the forms correctly to save the applicant getting disqualified from simple errors.