A U.S. federal court has scheduled the Green Card lottery drawing for November 1, 2026, with results to be published in December 2026 and January 2027. However, the State Department may appeal the decision, which could delay these timelines. Additionally, participation in the lottery will require a $1 registration fee paid with a foreign bank card.
Court Decision and Lottery Drawing Timeline
A U.S. federal court has ruled that the Green Card lottery must begin on November 1, 2026, with the drawing to take place over 30 days through December. Results are scheduled for publication in December 2026 and January 2027.
However, these timelines are not guaranteed. The U.S. State Department has the ability to appeal the court decision through appeals and reviews, which could delay the lottery. In the event of an appeal, the drawing could begin later — in December 2026 or January 2027. Nevertheless, federal court decisions are typically not overturned, so the lottery will likely begin within the stated timeframe.
Registration Fee Payment: What You Need to Know
To participate in the Green Card lottery, you must pay a registration fee of $1. This payment cannot be made with Russian Mir cards, QR codes, or UnionPay. A foreign bank card such as Visa or MasterCard is required.
Such cards can be opened remotely without visiting the issuing country. They can be funded in rubles from Russia without commission and used not only for the Green Card registration fee, but also for U.S. visa fees, payments to foreign services, and international transactions.
Bank Cards vs. Virtual Cards
When preparing for the lottery, it is important to distinguish between real bank cards and virtual cards issued by financial services. Virtual cards are often issued not by banks but by various online services, designated as LLCs or individual entrepreneurs. This can be easily determined by the first six or eight digits of the card.
The problem is that virtual cards often fail to process payments on the websites of many major companies. When attempting to pay, the system returns an error and suggests using a different card. The same occurs when paying U.S. visa fees. Therefore, it is better to open a real bank card in advance or find friends and acquaintances who already have one.
How to Prepare for the Lottery Start
It is recommended to open a foreign bank card in advance, before lottery registration begins. This will eliminate rush and technical issues at the last moment. The card must be functional and tested for international payment capability.
Winners in the Green Card lottery will have their last chance at straightforward lottery participation, so preparation must be thorough. Having a ready foreign bank card is a necessary condition for timely payment of the registration fee and subsequent visa application processing.
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