Green Card Lottery

26 Jul 23:07

What exactly is a Green Card Lottery? Since 1986, the Diversity Immigration Visa Program has allowed persons from all around the world to apply for a resident immigration visa. The so-called Green Card Lottery is an application process for obtaining a permanent residency card in the United States. The most recent modifications to the Immigration Act in 1990 established the permanent Diversity Visa as we know it today. Each year, 55,000 Green Cards are made available. The program’s primary purpose was to increase variety among the ever-growing immigrant population. This is one of the rare opportunities for people to apply for a permanent visa.

A Green Card takes a lengthy application procedure and a lot of patience. In this post, we will go through the most important components of the software.

How to Obtain a Green Card

The fabled Green Card, an elusive and precious document, allows lottery winners to migrate to the United States. America is the world’s most powerful economy, and while it is not without issues, for many Green Card applicants, it offers a significant upgrade over chances in their native country. What is a Green Card Lottery and how does it work?

Distribution Geographically

If you’re wondering how to obtain a green card, there is just one option. To enter the United States Green Card Lottery, you must be a citizen of a qualifying country, with two exceptions. Let’s start with the country from where you can apply. The program was established to increase variety among immigrant groups, although some counties are not eligible based on historical trends. Canada, Brazil, Bangladesh, China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Vietnam, and the United Kingdom currently do not qualify for the USA lottery. Northern Ireland is exempt from the UK restriction.

The variety Visa is spread throughout continents, and the system takes into account five-year spending and assigns high-admission regions to certain sections of the world. Currently, Asia and South America have high admittance rates, whereas North America, Europe, and Africa have low admission rates. As a result, lower entry receives a larger chunk among available visas. Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America, Central America, and the Caribbean are the six areas eligible for Green Card Lottery consideration.

Visas are assigned to regions. The sole limitation is the total number of visas from one nation, which is limited to 7% or 3850 Green Cards. Thus, around 20.000 visas are allocated to Europe, the same amount to Africans, and the remainder to all other nations.

If the applicant’s spouse is from an eligible nation, they may apply. Another exemption is if the applicant’s parents were born in the ineligible birth nation and resided there.

TRAVELING TO THE UNITED STATES?


Do You Have U.S. ESTA VISA Travel Authorization? If You Have ESTA Application, Check if it is Still Valid!

Prerequisite for applying for a Green Card

There are two requirements for obtaining a Green Card. The first is native citizenship of the above-mentioned qualified zone, and the second is education or employment qualifications.

Applicants for the USA Lottery must have a high school diploma or equivalent education. This is defined as twelve years of formal primary school and a portion of secondary education. Another possibility is the candidate’s job experience. The employee must have worked for the company for at least 24 months. The American administration decides which vocations and jobs are eligible for the alternative requirement using its database.

What do you require to apply?

Since 2003, the Green Card application process has been conducted online. A variety of organizations provide assistance with Green Card applications. However, the US government and other organizations suspect that many of the agencies are frauds. If you apply alone, the application time is between October and November of each year.

You must complete Green Card Application Form I-485, and if you have a sponsor for a Green Card, there are forms such as Alien Relative, Worker, Entrepreneur, and a few more.

Applicants must be priority employees with extraordinary talent in science, arts, or athletics, have a career with an advanced degree or remarkable qualities, or be one of the skilled workers or professionals to get a Green Card via employment.

Family members are among the most common recipients of Green Cards. Your spouse and children are eligible for the Visa if you are an American citizen or a permanent Diversity Visa holder. The same is true for unmarried children under the age of 21 for Green Card holders. You can also petition for a relative’s Green Card by completing the main immigration form and adding a family member’s petitioner.

The application form is a lengthy paper. Fill out personal information about yourself and your family, attach a valid passport number, and digital color photos that adheres to stringent criteria. Previously, the United States Green Card Lottery did not require a valid passport for application, but this has changed in recent years, resulting in fewer candidates aiming for the US Diversity Visa.

Following the application in October/November, the lottery selects results to be delivered between May and June of the following year. The US Administration is represented in Williamsburg through the Kentucky Consular Center. They have already decided on the DV-2021 winners. In 35 days, the Center delivered 119,021 winning notices to a total of 7,3 million applications. This quantity is always more than the 55.000 available places.

The exaggerated number of selected entries is due to the intricate procedures. Many do not complete their studies as they should, and some candidates decide to drop out. Furthermore, you can only apply once per calendar year, and those who submit multiple applications will be denied.

You were the lottery winner. What happens next?

The effort is far from over once you receive the winning notification. Fill out the DS-260 form as soon as feasible. The following stage is a medical examination in a US administration-approved medical facility. Then, depending on your case and rank number, you will be interviewed at a US Consulate or Embassy.

All Green Card holders are required to go on an activation trip. The initial admission into the United States must occur within six months after the medical examination. Following that, airport staff will stamp your passport with an I-551. This stamp confirms that you are a valid Green Card holder.

You will acquire your Green Card in six months, but you already have all the rights to a permanent Diversity Visa with an I-551 stamp. You can move to the United States if you have a valid Green Card. If you acquire a Green Card, your family members will get one as well. That includes the husband and/or wife, as well as any children under the age of 21.

It is vital to understand that there is no Green Card charge. However, this does not mean that the entire process is free of expense. You may view the fees for various kinds, including sponsored Green Cards, here.

If you’re still debating whether to apply for a Green Card, you can visit the US to see how you feel about it. ESTA is the most convenient way to obtain a travel authorization.

TRAVELING TO THE UNITED STATES?


Do You Have U.S. ESTA VISA Travel Authorization? If You Have ESTA Application, Check if it is Still Valid!

ESTA applications and other Visa travel paperwork

People from Visa Waiver Program nations who travel to the United States for business, tourism, or transit can apply for an ESTA authorization. Apply for ESTA online to obtain travel authorization. It is a simple procedure in which you must fill out an application form, provide personal and travel details, and pay a nominal price of $78. You will be required to divulge social media information, among other things. Furthermore, you must have an emergency contact, and providing the point of contact and first lodging information will help with the application.

Who needs an ESTA? All travelers from VWP-member nations who desire to travel for work or pleasure. After receiving your application, US Customs and Border Protection will require about 72 hours to process it. If you need to go right immediately, you have a tiny possibility of securing ESTA permission sooner. You will be assigned a unique ESTA application number, and you will be able to check your ESTA status online at any time using this number and your login credentials.

Only a status check makes sense if you need to fly within 72 hours of submitting your application to the American government. Another reason to verify your ESTA online is if you’re not sure if it’s still valid.

What exactly is an ESTA? You will not require a printed ESTA document because your airline will have one. You can visit the United States within the following 24 months if you have a valid ESTA document. There is no limit to the number of times you can visit the United States, and the maximum duration of stay is 90 days.

To apply for an ESTA, you must have a passport that is valid for at least six months beyond your return date. Furthermore, it must be an electronic passport with an embedded chip carrying information and digital pictures. You also cannot apply for an ESTA if you have had previous immigration issues, such as deportation, overstaying in the US, or a rejected application.

American Visa

When do I require a Visa? If you are from a country that is not part of the Visa Waiver Program, you will need another sort of US visa to enter the US. If your ESTA application was denied, you can still apply for a US visa.

There are several sorts of Visas, but the greatest alternatives for travel are B1 and B2 Visas, with the first being more for business and the second for tourist and family visits. Applying for a B1/B2 visa takes a little longer. You must demonstrate that your journey is transitory, that you have links to your home country through work or family, and that your vacation is for business or pleasure.

You must complete the DS-160 form and pay a cost of $160. For US Visa applications, an interview with embassy employees is also necessary. Despite these drawbacks, there are certain advantages to B1/B2 visas. They are good for up to 15 years and allow unlimited travel. You can also remain for up to 180 days in a single trip.

FAQs

What is the Green Card Lottery procedure?
Between October and November, you must apply online using the form. Fill out the paperwork thoroughly. If you are chosen, you must complete the DS-260 form, have a medical examination, and interview in a US Embassy or Consulate.

What information do I require for the Green Card Lottery?
Personal information such as a biography, education, marital status, and so on will be required. You’ll also need your passport number and a digital picture.

Who is eligible to enter the Green Card Lottery?
Citizens of qualified nations who have a high school certificate or two years of work experience are eligible to participate.

Which nations are barred from playing the US Lottery?
Currently, citizens of these countries can’t participate in the Green Card Lottery: Canada, Brazil, Bangladesh, China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Vietnam, and the United Kingdom.

How are Green Cards selected?
The Green Card Lottery winners are picked at random. However, different limits apply to different areas, and one country may only receive a maximum of 7% of the Lottery’s 55.000 eligible spots.

Can relatives obtain a Green Card?
Your family would earn a Green Card if you won the Green Card lottery. This only applies to your spouse and children under the age of 21.

TRAVELING TO THE UNITED STATES?


Do You Have U.S. ESTA VISA Travel Authorization? If You Have ESTA Application, Check if it is Still Valid!

Summary

The Green Card Lottery is a method of obtaining authorization to dwell in the United States. Each year, you can apply online without paying the Green Card cost. You can apply if you are from a qualifying country, have completed high school, or have worked for two years.

Many organizations provide assistance with the Green Card Lottery, but you must be cautious. Some of the agencies are deceptive. The Lottery attracts between 5 and 15 million players each year, and the Kentucky Consular Center in Williamsburg issues around 100.000 successful applications. Finally, 55,000 Green Cards are issued.