United States DV Green Card Lottery

US DV Green card lottery

United States Green Card Lottery Application

Educational and Employment Qualifications for a US Green Card Lottery Applicant

If you have always dreamed of living and working in the United States, it might be time to consider the US Green card lottery. But before you make a beeline to your closest US Consulate, stop for a moment and realize that you must first be able to qualify for it. Qualifying for this program is very straightforward as you must belong to a country that falls under their list of eligible countries and must have a minimum education of a high school degree. If you do not have one, it may still not be too late to obtain one so that you can qualify for the US Green card lottery program. Consider for a minute what you will stand to gain from a US green card as it will open up the entire world to you! So a year or two dedicated to obtaining your high school diploma is well worth the price of a US green card at the end of it all. If the thought of going back to school is overwhelming, just know that anyone in your family that has a high school diploma can qualify for this, just as long as you also qualify as a result.

US immigration policies with respect to US green card lottery applications are quite strict in that only a spouse and dependent family members can accompany the winner of the lottery for admission to the United States. If you have a family member such as a child who is over the age of 21, he or she would then have to apply under the "preference" category which unfortunately involves much greater wait times. It is in fact given the least priority when it comes to green card processing; so an individual may be looking at anywhere from 5 to 20 years before he or she qualifies.

Another big advantage of the US Green card lottery program is that you do not need a sponsor. With all other green cards, it becomes necessary to go through an employer or some other organization that can be considered the sponsor. Other immigrant visas include being a family member of a US resident or marrying a US resident. In the case of the green card lottery program, one does not need a sponsor and can apply solely on his or her own merit. But keep in mind that in the last five years the applicant must have been employed in a profession that is applicable in the United States. Ideally, this should also include a training period of at least two years. Online applications are encouraged but must meet all the requirements especially if supporting documentation is required.


Apply for the US Green Card Lottery

Green Card Lottery Application

USA Green card lottery

USA Green card lottery

Is Belonging to a Country That Qualifies for the US Green Card Lottery Program the Only Way to Qualify For It?

Green Card Lottery Application

You have surely heard of the US Green card lottery program unless you have been living under a rock for the last 30 years! You may have heard it talked about but do you really know what it means and what is involved in qualifying for this process? Many foreign nationals cling to the hope that they would win this lottery program and forever change their lives and perhaps even live out the American dream. Unfortunately, many are not aware of what it takes to be able to qualify for this. First of all you must belong to a nation that qualifies for the program. This qualification is based solely on how many immigrants from that country have moved to the United States in the last five years. Also, many are not aware that they may also qualify for the US Green card lottery if their parents are from a country that qualifies. Then again, you qualify if your spouse is from a country that qualifies for the program. So given how many ways you can qualify for the US Green card lottery program, it is no surprise that many foreign nationals lay in wait hoping that their country's name will show up on this list.

While waiting around for this to happen may make sense for some folks, you might be better off applying for citizenship in a country that has made the list and is likely to stay on it for a while. Immigration policies in most countries are much more lax than in the United States, therefore it may not be hard to obtain citizenship that can help you qualify for the US Green card lottery program. Many folks do not consider this as they think it might take much longer than going through the process directly. But keep in mind that even qualified physicians and doctorate holders take several years in order for their green card application to come through. If all you have is a high school education, surely you can afford to wait at least that long!?

In the event that you did qualify for the program and even managed to win it, you have plenty to be happy about. You will not only be allowed admission to the United States but will also be able to work in the US and perhaps even apply for citizenship five years down the road. However it is important to keep your nose clean at the time and not have any felonies under your belt. US immigration officials do not look kindly upon those that will add to the crime statistics in a country which is already ebbing over with crime.

US Green Card Lottery Application

DV lottery

US DV lottery

Beware of US DV Lottery Scams

For many folks, the US DV lottery is the only way they can get permanent residence in the United States. If you are not well qualified and are unable to gain a job in the United States or enter the United States for higher studies, it is unlikely that you would be able to qualify for a green card. However if you belong to a country with low immigration rates to the United States, you may automatically qualify to apply for the US DV lottery if you meet some minimum qualifications. These qualifications are usually just a high school degree and a clean police record.

Unfortunately, due to the popularity of the US DV lottery, it is not uncommon for folks to take advantage of it and scam those that are not aware of all the regulations and guidelines of the lottery system. First of all it is important to note that the lottery is completely free of charge. But there are thousands of websites on the net that promise to get you a winning shot if you pay their fees. In people's eagerness to qualify and win the lottery, many have known to have lost thousands of dollars by trusting scam artists. While there are some businesses that allow non-English speaking individuals to decipher and understand the guidelines and rules, more often than not, these companies are running scams and taking innocent applicants for a ride.

Many websites collect hefty fees from applicants who are eager to apply for the US DV lottery, even when the application form clearly states that the lottery is free. The websites also claim that they can improve your chances of winning which is completely bogus as the lottery system is set up so that it is completely random. If a company is assuring you that you have a better chance if you go with them, walk away. There is no doubt that you are about to be scammed as nobody has any control over who will win the lottery. Perhaps, this is the beauty of the system so that just about every applicant has as good a chance as any other, irrespective of age, financial status, and race.

Another scam that people fall for is that the entire family will also qualify if the applicant goes through them. The reality is that if an applicant wins the lottery, his or her family will automatically qualify for an immigrant visa and to be allowed to travel with them to the United States except if the applicant's immediate relatives are over 21 years of age. In this instance, they will have to apply under a different category which can take a few years before being admissible to the United States.


United States D.V. Lottery Application

United States Green Card Lottery

US Green card lottery services

 

Using the US Green Card Lottery Website Effectively

If you visit the website for the US Green card lottery, it is impossible to miss the big red warning sign that warns you never to pay anyone to submit your official green card lottery application. It also stresses that the entire process is free and any fees are applicable only if you win the US Green card lottery. In spite of these warnings, many folks fall prey to scam artists that want to make a quick buck counting on the innocence of the poorly informed.

Another way that the scam artists can get you is by saying that they can constantly check your applicant status; which they insist that you will not be able to do on your own. The truth is that the US Department of State and the Bureau of consular affairs has its own website for the US Green card lottery and is constantly updating it for the latest news. For instance, this month the website has all the information that applicants are looking for if they applied between October 4 of 2011 and November 5 of 2011. It also asks that applicants retain their confirmation number in case they need it upon winning the lottery. Also for those that apply during this period, the website will allow them to check it until September of 2012 in order to make arrangements for the interview if applicable.

The website also has all the information that you will require to be randomly selected from the pool of eligible candidates. Note that this program is part of the United States department of state and the Kentucky consular Center. This was established in 2008 and exists for the express purpose of administering the US Green card lottery program. The website will also warn you that there are several similar sounding associations that claim to be directly involved with the lottery program but the truth is that there is only one Kentucky consular Center which is located in Williamsburg Kentucky and is the only body that has any authority over the program. Immigrants to the US that apply through the green card program do not have to go through any agency in order to send in the green card lottery application. The only instance where it may become necessary to get help is for filling out the forms involved if there is a language barrier that must be overcome.

If you must employ one of the services, remember that you are only paying for translation and in no way can any organization make your chances of winning the lottery better just by going through them. The website exists so that you may visit it at any time, especially with respect to using the FAQ on the website which will prove helpful if have questions about any of the forms.