Green Card Lottery - What You Need to Know

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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