The US Green Card Lottery

The U.S. greencard lottery looks like a great way to make some hard cash. This is not a simple lottery where you just scratch tickets or pick numbers. The United States government runs the Green Card Lottery. Also known as the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program Program, it is also called. The United States government makes available approximately 55, 000 immigrant Visas to citizens of countries with low immigration rates. A Diversity Immigrant visa entitles an applicant to live and work permanently in the United States. The applicant may bring along their spouse or any unmarried children below 21 years old. The cardholder is allowed to work in any job or start a new business once they are granted permanent residence under the Diversity Immigrant Visa program.

How It Works

Each year, the U.S. Government holds a U.S. Green Card Lottery and randomly selects approximately 110, 000 applicants from all eligible entries. When each data sgp region’s entry reaches the Kentucky Consular Center, it is individually numbered. The computer randomly selects entries from each region at the end of each registration period. The first entry chosen is the one that is registered in the region. The second entry is the second registered case. And so on. Randomly selecting all entries from any geographic region has an equal chance. The Kentucky Consular Center sends a notification to the selected applicants, which includes specific instructions for visa applications. The U.S. Green Card lottery winners will be contacted by a consular officer, who will ask for proof of meeting all requirements (education, work experience, etc.). All requirements (level of education, work experience, etc.) are met. Sponsorship of regular green card applicants is required by an employer or a family member. However, sponsorship is not necessary if you are a greencard lottery winner.

How to Apply

Each year, the State Department publishes in August detailed instructions about the proper application process in press releases and in the Federal Registrar. The registration period usually takes place in October. It is important to carefully fill out the application form online. The applicant will be disqualified if the application form is incomplete or incorrectly filled in. The U.S. Green Card Lottery entry fee is not charged, but the winner must pay an immigrant visa fee and a separate visa lottery surcharge. The winners are notified via mail to the address provided on their application. You will need to provide the following information when you submit your U.S. Green Card Lottery Application Form:

Full name
Date of birth
Place of birth (city/town, province, country, etc.
Gender
Telephone number and mailing address
Email address
Country of eligibility
Status of marriage
Recent photos
Number of unmarried children younger than 21 years old
Spouse information
Children information
What is Permanent Status?

Permanent status is granted by the U.S. Green Card Lottery. This allows you to live permanently in the U.S.A. You are required to remain in the U.S.A. for at least two years. You can apply for citizenship after five years, provided you have lived in America for the required time periods. A person can apply for citizenship to be eligible to vote or to receive a U.S. passport.

Eligibility

Two entry requirements are required in order to be eligible for the U.S. Green Card Lottery Program.

First, the applicant must be a citizen of a qualifying country. The lottery is not open to applicants who are born in a country with a high level of immigration to the United States. Eligibility is determined only by the country of birth, not by current residence or citizenship. These countries are not eligible for the Green Card lottery. However, people born in countries that aren’t qualified can still apply based on their country of birth.

Russia
China (mainland only).
Vietnam
South Korea
Philippines
Brazil
Pakistan
Peru
India
Mexico
Jamaica
United Kingdom (exclusions North Ireland)
Canada
Dominican Republic
Colombia
Haiti
El Salvador
Poland

Education and work experience are the second requirements. The foreign equivalent of the U.S. highschool diploma must be obtained. This means that the applicant has to have at least two years’ work experience in a job that requires more than two years of training.