The green card lottery is where the Department of State annually awards green cards to immigrants. This is a lottery that is done by a random computer selection. The technical term for it is the Diversity Visa program. The people that conform to the rules and learn to speak English will be able to enter the lottery program.
This is a great way for people that want to become residents of the United States without having to wait for many years. The immigrants that want to apply will have to obtain an application so that they can fill out the necessary paperwork in order to become a legal candidate for this program. This is a once in a lifetime chance for a lot of people and they will take the opportunity very seriously.
You can find the application for this green card lottery online. There are many federal websites that will help people obtain the applications so that they can get a head start on applying for this great program. Once the application is filled out and sent in, it will have to be reviewed. Once the government approves it, that applicant will then be placed in the lottery. There are no paper entries allowed anymore. It all has to be done online or electronic.
There are 50,000 green cards that are given out to many immigrants from all over. These people have complied with all of the rules and taken the time to do all paperwork and make themselves eligible for the program. The individuals that apply must have a high school diploma and two years in an occupation requiring at least two years of training or experience.
Each applicant is limited to one application in the green card lottery. If there is more than one application received, the individual will be disqualified. It is important to follow the instructions and the rules completely. There are so many qualified people that are thrown out of the green card program each year because of the multiple applications that are submitted.
If qualified a husband and a wife may apply to the green card lottery. They may each submit one application and it either is selected into the lottery the other would be entitled to derivative status. This will allow both of them to be entered into the United States. All of the entries must include the name, date and place of birth of the applicant's spouse and all natural children.
This is an opportunity that you have to sign up for early in the game or you may miss your chance for approval. It is something that most people only dream about and knowing that there is the green card lottery leaves hope in the minds of many people that they will one day be allowed the same freedom of living in the United States.
Author: Ivar Rudi
From: bestinfobay.com
Each year some 50,000 people win the chance to live in the USA permanently
Could it happen to you?
The Green Card Lottery Program, also known as the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, gives, by random selection, some 50,000 Green Cards (permanent resident visas) to people from all around the world. The program's objective is to create the greatest level of diversity in the USA and provide US immigration opportunities to those who were born in countries with historically low levels of immigration. For this reason, unfortunately, some countries are excluded from participation.
The lottery resulted from an immigration act signed by then-president George W. Bush. The lottery commenced with the implementation of the 1990 Immigration Act, Section 203 (C).
Every year, the Department of State announces the period for submitting entries for the Diversity Visa lottery.
Instructions are usually posted in August, and the registration period is held in October each year, ending sometime around the end of the year. It is very important to submit your application within the time period given by the State Department; if your application is received before or after those exact dates, it will not be accepted for the drawing.
Who qualifies to enter?
In order to be in the Green Card Lottery Drawing, an applicant must be a native of an eligible country, and is required to have either a high school education (or its equivalent), or two years of work history within the past five years in an occupation which requires a minimum of two years of training or experience. Where you live is not a factor, and you do not need to speak English or have contacts in the USA to enter. Later on, however, if you are a winner, you may need to secure either a written job offer or an affidavit of support from someone. This is not always requested and varies from consular to consular.
What classifies someone as a 'native' of a given country?
'Native' refers to a person born in a particular country, without regard for their current country of residence or citizenship. In legal terms, 'native' also means a person who is entitled to be 'charged' to a given country under the provisions of Section 202(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Under Section 202(b) immigrants may claim chargeability to the country of birth of a spouse; a dependent, minor child may be charged to a parent's country of birth, and any applicant born in a country of which neither parent was a citizen or resident at the time of his/her birth may be charged to the birth country of either parent.
Which countries are excluded from participation?
The list of ineligible countries changes every year, based on the amount of immigrants a country has sent in the previous five years, which cannot exceed 50,000. For the 2006 DV lottery, the following countries were excluded: CANADA, CHINA (mainland-born), COLOMBIA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, EL SALVADOR, HAITI, INDIA, JAMAICA, MEXICO, PAKISTAN, PHILIPPINES, RUSSIA, SOUTH KOREA, UNITED KINGDOM (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, and VIETNAM. Persons born in Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR and Taiwan are eligible.
Is proof of education required?
Each applicant must have a minimum of a high school education or its equivalent. If an applicant does not have this, he or she may still be eligible with two years of work experience in an occupation which requires at least two years training or experience, and which has taken place in the past five years. The definition of a 'high school education or equivalent' can be considered as the successful completion of a twelve-year program in elementary and secondary education in the United States or sucessful completion in another country of the same type of program, comparable to a high school education in the USA. Do not include documentary proof of education or work experience with your application. This need only be presented if you are a winner, at your immigrant visa interview.
From Jennifer & Peter Wipf
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