According to the U.S. visa services company e-Consul, major changes are expected in the Green Card registration process, including a significant increase in the application fee in the coming years. As e-Consul founder Tinatin Goguadze explained, while this year’s registration fee has been set at USD 1 for the first time, a draft bill currently being considered by the U.S. Congress, which proposes raising the cost to as much as USD 250 in the future.
“The changes will be implemented in a test mode, as it is expected that there will be some new features regarding the Green Card,” Goguadze said. “This year, the cost of registering a Green Card was set at USD 1, although it is expected that in the coming years the price will reach USD 250. This is stated in the working version of the bill being considered by Congress. However, this is still in the development process; it is a pilot, so let’s wait for the State Department’s announcement.”
e-Consul also noted that, as in previous years, the registration process typically begins in October and continues until November, with results announced in May. However, due to the U.S. State Department’s ongoing procedural changes, the 2027 Diversity Visa draw has been postponed, and the new start date for applications will be announced soon.
The company emphasized that the current changes are part of a broader effort by the U.S. government to improve transparency and security in the Green Card process, including a new requirement for applicants to upload their passport’s information page to prevent fraudulent submissions.
