Green Card Lottery Issues
Each year, around 50,000 immigrant visas are made available through the Diversity Visa program, also known as the Green Card Lottery to people who were born in countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. Applicants can only qualify by country of birth, not by citizenship. Anyone who is selected under this lottery will be given the opportunity to apply for permanent residence. They can also file for their spouse and any unmarried children under the age of 21.
If permanent residence is granted, the person selected in the lot and family, if applicable, receives an immigrant visa in their passport that has to be activated within six months of issuance at any port of entry to the United States. The new immigrant receives a stamp on the visa as proof of lawful admittance to the United States, and the individual is now authorized to live and work permanently in the United States. Finally, the actual green card typically arrives by mail within a few months.
There is a growing number of fraudulent green card lottery scams, in which agents take money from applicants by submitting application forms for them. Some claim that they can increase the chance of winning the lottery. This is not true. In fact, they may delay or not submit the application. Likewise, some claim that they provide free airline tickets to winners or other benefits, such as submissions in future years and even cash funds. Both the US Department of State and the Federal Trade Commission have issued warning statements about this type of fraud or similar business practices.
Over 6.4 million applications for the 2008 lottery were submitted. This is an increase from the more than 5.5 million applications submitted in 2007. Taking into account dependents, there were more than 10 million participants in the 2008 lottery.
The following is a summary of common questions and answers about the green card lottery process:
What is the Diversity Visa Program?
The diversity visa program, better known as the green card lottery, provides individuals from countries with low immigration to the U.S., an opportunity to live and work permanently in the United States.
When Can I Apply?
Registration in the diversity visa program coincides with the beginning of the government's fiscal year.
Is There a Fee to Register?
There is no fee to register in the green card lottery but you will need to cover normal immigrant visa processing fees if you are selected for a diversity visa.
What's New in the DV-2010 Green Card Lottery?
The Department of State has announced that DV-2010 green card lottery entrants will be able to check the status of their entries online.
Do I Need to Hire a Lawyer to Register in the Lottery?
Green card lottery applications are straight-forward and can be completed without obtaining legal advice. However, errors made on the application could make you ineligible for selection, so weigh the pros and cons carefully before making a decision.
When Does the Random Drawing Take Place?
Once registration is complete, things move quickly. You will know if you're a lottery winner in five to nine months.
How Will I Know if I'm a Lottery Winner?
Only those selected will receive notification.
Will I Receive Notification if I'm Not a Lottery Winner?
No.
If permanent residence is granted, the person selected in the lot and family, if applicable, receives an immigrant visa in their passport that has to be activated within six months of issuance at any port of entry to the United States. The new immigrant receives a stamp on the visa as proof of lawful admittance to the United States, and the individual is now authorized to live and work permanently in the United States. Finally, the actual green card typically arrives by mail within a few months.
There is a growing number of fraudulent green card lottery scams, in which agents take money from applicants by submitting application forms for them. Some claim that they can increase the chance of winning the lottery. This is not true. In fact, they may delay or not submit the application. Likewise, some claim that they provide free airline tickets to winners or other benefits, such as submissions in future years and even cash funds. Both the US Department of State and the Federal Trade Commission have issued warning statements about this type of fraud or similar business practices.
Over 6.4 million applications for the 2008 lottery were submitted. This is an increase from the more than 5.5 million applications submitted in 2007. Taking into account dependents, there were more than 10 million participants in the 2008 lottery.
The following is a summary of common questions and answers about the green card lottery process:
What is the Diversity Visa Program?
The diversity visa program, better known as the green card lottery, provides individuals from countries with low immigration to the U.S., an opportunity to live and work permanently in the United States.
When Can I Apply?
Registration in the diversity visa program coincides with the beginning of the government's fiscal year.
Is There a Fee to Register?
There is no fee to register in the green card lottery but you will need to cover normal immigrant visa processing fees if you are selected for a diversity visa.
What's New in the DV-2010 Green Card Lottery?
The Department of State has announced that DV-2010 green card lottery entrants will be able to check the status of their entries online.
Do I Need to Hire a Lawyer to Register in the Lottery?
Green card lottery applications are straight-forward and can be completed without obtaining legal advice. However, errors made on the application could make you ineligible for selection, so weigh the pros and cons carefully before making a decision.
When Does the Random Drawing Take Place?
Once registration is complete, things move quickly. You will know if you're a lottery winner in five to nine months.
How Will I Know if I'm a Lottery Winner?
Only those selected will receive notification.
Will I Receive Notification if I'm Not a Lottery Winner?
No.
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