What You Need to Know About the Green Card Lottery

The diversity Immigrant Visa program or also knownfuture lotteries. You can only submit one entry during
as, the green card lottery is a congressionala lottery. Spouses will get a Diversity Visa based on
mandated lottery program which gives out greenthe fact that their partner was selected. The
cards. It is only done was a year by the Departmentrequirements to enter are: Bring from an eligible
of State and is conducted under the terms ofcountry and by meetings the educational or training
Section 203 (c) of the Immigration and Nationalityrequirements. For the 2007 lottery, people from the
Act. It has provided a new class of immigrants thatfollowing countries may not apply; Canada, China
are allowed in the United States. The program allows(only if from Hong Kong, Macau, or Taiwan),
up to 50,000 permanent resident visas to go outColombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, India,
annually to people from countries with lowJamaica, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Russia,
immigration rates to the United States.South Korea, United Kingdom (unless from Northern
A green card is one of the most important things toIreland), and Vietnam.
have in the United States; you should be prepared toYou should always check with the State Department
get ripped off. If you ever hear that you have toto determine your eligibility. As for the education, you
pay a fee, you are in the process of being scammed,will only need to complete a twelve-year course of
don't ever offer to pay for the green card lottery.elementary and secondary education. You will also be
There is not fee to enter the lottery and the winnersaccepted if you have two years of working
are chosen randomly. It doesn't mean you becomeexperience within an occupation from the past five
an instant citizen either. The lottery only allows youyears. Check the Department of Labor to determine
to apply. Rather you are accepted is to the judgmentif the work experience qualifies you.
of the American Government.As for the Scams, don't trust anyone who says they
To enter, you can log online to This site is only upare affiliated with the U.S. Government. Only the U.S.
and running during the application period. You aregovernment conducts the Green card lottery. Also,
required to give a picture and any pictures of childrendon't trust anyone who says they have expertise or
or spouse under 21 years old. They all must bea special entry form. All applicants fill out the same
separate, no group photos. The site will list theform. Don't believe anything that sounds too good to
requirements of the photograph.be true like everyone qualifies or their company has
The entry period is usually from October toan increase of winners. Everything is random and
December, but check with the State Department forcannot offer anyone anything special.