Over 55, 000 Green Cards are issued every year through the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, also know as the "Green Card Lottery". The United States Government selects applicants at random using a computer generated drawing. Winners, their spouses, and any unmarried children under the age of 21 will receive the opportunity to apply for permanent resident status in the Untied States. Winning the Green Card Lottery does not automatically grant applicants a Green Card or US citizenship. The lottery merely streamlines and simplifies the immigration process. Winners will still need to fill out some applications and must be approved before the Green Card is awarded. Residents of certain countries are not eligible to participate in the Green Card Lottery. Ineligible countries include Brazil, Canada, Mainland China, and Mexico. See the U.S. State Department website for a complete list of eligible countries.