You may permanently reside and work in the United States if you have a green card, which is granted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
A green card can be obtained in a number of ways, such as through family, job, or status as a refugee or asylee, although not everyone is eligible.
Even if you do meet the criteria, waiting periods under some categories related to family or employment status might be up to 20 years. The Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) Program, also known as the green card lottery, maybe for you if you do not meet the requirements or if you wish to “play the dice” while you wait.
What Are Your Chances To Get a USA Green Card Lottery?
Based on the results of a random drawing, the DV program issues 50,000 immigration visas each year.
Countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States receive a proportion of the visas.
According to the most recent data available for the fiscal year 2021, more than 11.8 million people filed for the green card lottery.
After notification, the “winners” for that year were the first 50,000 people to register. There were more than 50,000 names drawn since some of the people chosen won’t begin the green-card application process and some of those who do may not finish the process.
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Who Can Apply for a Green Card?
You should check your eligibility before applying for the green card lottery. Along with meeting other requirements like education or work experience, you must meet your country’s eligibility requirements.
Countries
African, Asian, European, North American, South American, and Oceanian nationals are eligible for Diversity visas because these countries have historically had low rates of immigration to the United States (including South America, Central America, and the Caribbean nations). According to the entry guidelines for the Diversity Visa, the list of nations is subject to change each year.
Though your spouse was born in an eligible country, both of you are listed on the same entry, and both of you intend to enter the United States at the same time, you can still be eligible for the DV program even if you weren’t born there.
Additionally, even if neither of your parents was a citizen or resident of an eligible nation at the time of your birth, even if you were born in one, you can still be eligible if one of your parents was.
Education or Work Experience
In addition to meeting the criteria based on your nation of birth, you must additionally register for the green card lottery if you have the necessary educational background or professional experience. In essence, this means that you need a high school diploma (or equivalent) or two years of experience working in a qualified field during the previous five years.
Your employment experience can be evaluated using the U.S. Department of Labor’s O*Net Online database.
When To Sign Up For a Green Card Lottery
Early October through the beginning of November is normally when the DV Program’s online registration session is open.
Once it starts, you should sign up as soon as you can. Due to high website traffic, if you wait until the conclusion of the sign-up period, you can miss out. Incomplete entries won’t be accepted.
Where And How To Register For USA Green Card Lottery
The English-language version is the only one that can be used to register for the green card lottery online.
It’s crucial that you carefully read the directions and make a note of every piece of required evidence, such as your passport number, pictures, and other things. The procedures are also described in the U.S. State Department video lesson on how to sign up for the green card lottery.
Alert the buyer
Many con artists are willing to take your money in exchange for meaningless or even damaging information. You could come across private websites that offer everything from strategies for “gaming the system” to winning the green card lottery (many of them look real). Some even offer to assist you with your application, all for a price, of course.
Additionally, you can get phony emails, letters, and other forms of communication that attempt to persuade you that you’ve won the lotto.
The USCIS offers a wealth of useful materials. This contains the techniques mentioned above for spotting scam artists.
What you need to know is as follows:
- It costs nothing to enter the green card lottery.
- The drawing is computer-generated and random.
- The only way to learn if you’ve won is to visit dvprogram.state.gov (typically beginning May 1).
- If you are successful and given permission to apply, you must pay a fee, but you must do so in person at a U.S. embassy or consulate.
The USCIS offers a wealth of useful information if you believe you do require professional assistance with the application process. This contains the techniques mentioned above for spotting scam artists.
How to Improve Your Diversity Visa Chances
Despite the fact that you are participating in a random lottery, there are a few legitimate (and cost-free) ways to improve your chances of winning. If both of you are qualified, you should submit an application together. This increases your odds of winning from one to two. The other can disregard their application and enter as a derivative spouse if one of you wins.
Your children should apply as well if they meet the educational or job experience requirements since there is no restriction on the number of eligible family members who may apply. You should be aware that if one of them prevails, they won’t be able to transport you to the United States right away, but they will be able to begin a procedure that might one day get you there.
A Diversity Visa victory
You do not immediately receive a green card in the mail if you win the green card lottery. If you’re fortunate enough to win, all it means is that you might have won the chance to submit a green card application.
Waiting List
Every person whose name is picked is placed on a waiting list and given a number as approximately 125,000 names are drawn, with just 50,000 of those qualified to actually earn a green card.
You won’t have an opportunity to apply, much less be granted a green card, if your waiting list number is high and there are 50,000 others ahead of you who have also successfully submitted their documentation.
Now residing in the U.S.
If you win the lottery and are permitted to apply for a green card, the procedure you will follow is through USCIS if you are currently a resident of the United States with a non-immigrant status or another sort of legal status.
Living Outside of the U.S.
The majority of green card lottery winners travel abroad and go through a process known as consular processing.
Conclusion/ Final Verdict
Since there is no cost to enter the lottery to win a green card, you may choose to do so even if you are already “in line” to receive one through another route.
Despite the fact that it’s a lottery, there are stringent guidelines that are stated in the instructions. Before applying, make sure to read them thoroughly. You can only apply once a year, therefore you don’t want to lose the chance to realize your ambition because of a small application mistake.
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