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

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.

US Green Card Lottery

United States Green Card Lottery Application

What is Involved in Applying for the US Green Card Lottery

Many believe that the US Green card lottery is a quick way to make a truckload of money. But in reality, it has nothing to do with money and is not quick by any means either. Neither does it involve your standing in line to purchase it and scratching numbers like a Powerball lottery. This lottery is also called the diversity Visa lottery and is set up with the express purpose of increasing the cultural diversity of the United States. There are close to 50,000 US Green card lottery visas available annually and the only countries that qualify are those whose immigration rates to the United States are low. Many are unaware that the families of the applicants of the lottery are also eligible to enter the country along with them. Once the winner of the lottery is within the United States, he or she will have all the rights of an American citizen except the ability to vote in an American election and will be able to obtain a job immediately.

The US Green card lottery works very simply and is completely based on random picking of the winning applicant. Unfortunately, there are many websites that carry erroneous information about what it takes to qualify for this lottery. In fact, these websites also claim that they can make an individual eligible if they process the application through them. They charge enormous fees which have absolutely no bearing in truth because in reality the green card lottery is free of cost and should not have to cost anybody a penny. If you are contacted by a company that promises to give you a better shot at winning, turn tail and run. These websites are definitely trying to scam you so it is up to you to gather as much information as you can about them before you sign up. The truth is that there are legitimate websites which can help you decipher the application process if you are not comfortable with the English language. It is also understandable if they charge a fee for this but if they are promising you that they can get you closer to winning than anybody else can, that's pie-in-the-sky; this lottery is completely random and not even a US immigration official has the capacity to change the outcome of it.

What is important is that you qualify based on your education and skill level. In reality, in order to qualify for this, a high school education is sufficient. However what is most stressed on is that the applicant does not have a criminal record. Consider yourself automatically disqualified if you have a criminal history especially if it is felonies that you have committed.