subject: An Overview of Green Card Lottery [print this page] Also known as the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery or America Green Card Lottery, the Green Card Lottery is held annually by the US Department of State, which issues more than 50,000 visas each year. Five thousand of these visas are assigned for use under the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act (NACARA).
The green card lottery was created because the US government noticed that an increased number of people are applying for a working visa or an H-1B visa all over the world. Each year, the total number of H-1B visas released is only 65,000. This figure is the same with the number of people applying for an H-1B visa on a single day. Instead of increasing the number of H-1B visa granted, the US government started the DV Lottery system.
The lottery process via mail does not exist anymore; you can instead submit your application online. If you come from a country with a low rate of immigration, in which it only sent less than 50,000 immigrants into the United States for the last five years, then you are eligible to enter the green card lottery. If your country is not eligible to participate in the lottery, you can still apply as long as your parents come from a country, which is included in the list of eligible countries posted by the US government.
Furthermore, you must possess a minimum education of a diploma or 12 years of elementary and high school education or you should have 2 years of work experience for the last five years in a job that necessitates two years of experience or training. If you fortunately win the green card lottery program, then you are allowed to permanently live, work and study in the US. Moreover, you are even allowed to bring your spouse and unmarried children who are below 21 years old as you migrate into the US.
In addition, applicants who are more than 18 years old are allowed to participate in the green card lottery program. This is still applicable even if there is no specific age mention by the Department of State since the education and work experience will instantly exclude those who are under 18. It is better if you and your spouse separately apply for the lottery so that your chances of winning may be increased. If either of you wins the lottery, the other one is automatically qualified to apply for a visa.
The US government declares a certain time period, which usually extends up to two months during October to December, for the applicants to register for the green card lottery online. Upon joining, you must include the required photograph by the US Department and fill up the application as well as upload a picture of your self. The entire online process is usually limited to 60 minutes only. This is strictly implemented since you cannot simply save and exit your application. So it is recommended that you already have all the needed information with you as well as the specified photos in the event that you file an online application.
If you are lucky enough to win the green card lottery, then you can already enter and leave the United States anytime you like. You can also work in the various US companies even though you do not have an employer to sponsor you. You are given all the privileges of a US citizen, except for the right to vote and apply for a federal position. You may even enjoy social security benefits and other types of benefits in the fields of retirement, tax, education and so on. The green card is also a step for the immigrant to apply for an American citizenship after residing in the country for 5 years.
Thus, it is recommended that you join the green card lottery online and complete the entire process without any errors and within the specified amount of time. You certainly cannot afford to get your application denied just because of a single mistake.
