FREQUANT ASKED QUESTIONS
What's the US Green Card
Lottery Program?
The United States Government submits each year about 50,000
Green Card visas randomly using a lottery program law that passed
by Congress, this allows 50,000 people to receive a permit to
live and work in the USA! - the dream!
How many steps it takes to
fill out the entire entry form?
There are only 3 steps to complete the entire application form.
How long does it take to
complete the 3 steps above?
It takes no more than ten minutes.
Are there minimum
requirements to participate?
Yes. The participant/applicant must be a native of a country
that appears on the list of qualifying countries and must meet
the minimum requirements concerning education OR employment
status. For the list of countries see below.
What are the requirements
for education or work experience?
For the list of countries see below. The law
and regulations require that every applicant must have at least
a high school education or its equivalent or, within the past
five years, have two years of work experience in an occupation
requiring at least two years training or experience. A "high
school education or equivalent" is defined as successful
completion of a twelve-year course of elementary and secondary
education in the United States or successful completion in
another country of a formal course of elementary and secondary
education comparable to a high school education in the United
States. Documentary proof of education or work experience should
not be submitted with the lottery entry, but must be presented
to the consular officer at the time of the visa interview. To
determine eligibility based on work experience, definitions from
the Department of Labor’s O*Net OnLine database will be used.
If I do not meet the minimum
requirements can I participate in the lottery program?
No. If you do not meet the minimum requirements, you cannot
enter the lottery program.
How many applications can I
send?
Any applicant may submit only one application form. However, if
you are married you can double your chances by submitting one
additional application form under your spouse name (your
husband/wife).
What happens if I live in a
different country than the one I was born in?
No problem. The automatic application process will ascertain
that in such cases your application will be submitted correctly
and not be disqualified.
What can I do if I was born
in a country that does not appear on the list of qualifying
countries?
You can participate by charging nativity of the country of birth
of your spouse (husband/wife) or your parents' country of birth.
This is possible if your spouse or one of your parents was born
in a country that appears on the list of qualifying countries.
More details on the above question:
"Native" ordinarily means someone born in a particular country,
regardless of the individual's current country of residence or
nationality. But for immigration purposes “native” can also mean
someone who is entitled to be “charged” to a country other than
the one in which he/she was born under the provisions of Section
202(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. For example, if a
principal applicant was born in a country that is not eligible
for this year’s DV program, he/she may claim “chargeability” to
the country where his/her derivative spouse was born, but he/she
will not be issued a DV-1 unless the spouse is also eligible for
and issued a DV-2, and both must enter the U.S. together on the
DVs. In a similar manner, a minor dependent child can be
“charged” to a parent’s country of birth. Finally, any applicant
born in a country ineligible for this year’s DV program can be
“charged” to the country of birth of either parent as long as
neither parent was a resident of the ineligible country at the
time of the applicant’s birth. In general, people are not
considered residents of a country in which they were not born or
legally naturalized if they are only visiting the country
temporarily or stationed in the country for business or
professional reasons on behalf of a company or government. An
applicant who claims alternate chargeability must include
information to that effect on the application for registration.
May persons who are in the
US apply for the program?
Yes, an applicant may be in the U.S. or in another country, and
the entry may be submitted from the U.S. or from abroad.
Can I pay more to increase
the chances of winning?
No. All the participants in the lottery have an equal
opportunity. The winners are chosen randomly by a computer
program.
How can I know if I won?
All winners will be informed by mail. The notice will be sent to
the same address filled out on the application. Participants who
do not win will not be notified.
Are there additional fees?
There are no extra charges for participating in the American
Green Card Lottery Program, aside from the fee for using the
on-line registration.
How can I be sure that my
application was filled correctly with all information needed?
USAGC willl recheck you information and will fill the actual
registration form to the US authorities. In case of a missing or
a wrong information USAGC will notify you and recheck the form
before final submission.
What family members must I
included on my form?
On your entry form you must list your spouse, that is husband or
wife, and all unmarried children under 21 years of age, with the
exception of a child who is already a U.S. citizen or a Legal
Permanent Resident. You must list your spouse even if you are
currently separated from him/her. However, if you are legally
divorced, you do not need to list your former spouse. For
customary marriages, the important date is the date of the
original marriage ceremony, not the date on which the marriage
is registered. You must list ALL your children who are unmarried
and under 21 years of age, whether they are your natural
children, your spouse’s children by a previous marriage, or
children you have formally adopted in accordance with the laws
of your country, unless a child is already a U.S. citizen or
Legal Permanent Resident. List all children under 21 years of
age even if they no longer reside with you or you do not intend
for them to immigrate under the DV program. The fact that you
have listed family members on your entry does not mean that they
later must travel with you. They may choose to remain behind.
However, if you include an eligible dependent on your visa
application forms that you failed to include on your original
entry, your case will be disqualified. (This only applies to
persons who were dependents at the time the original application
was submitted, not those acquired at a later date.) Your spouse
may still submit a separate entry, even though he or she is
listed on your entry, as long as both entries include details on
all dependents in your family.
May a husband and a wife
each submit a separate form file an application separately?
Yes, a husband and a wife may each submit one entry if each
meets the eligibility requirements. If either were selected, the
other would be entitled to derivative status. In this way you
double your chances.
If I have won, do I have to
emigrate with my family to US?
No. The fact that you have listed family members on your entry
does not mean that they later must travel with you. They may
choose to remain behind.. however, you must emigrate immediately
after winning.
Is there a minimum age to
participate?
There is no minimum age to apply for the program, but the
requirement of a high school education OR work experience for
each principal applicant at the time of application will
effectively disqualify most persons who are under age 18.
What happens to my spouse
and the children if I win?
If you win these family members can join you in filling a
request for a visa based on your winning.
May persons who are already
registered for an immigrant visa in another category apply for
the Green Card Program?
Yes, such persons may apply for the program as well. |
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