How to Apply for the Green Card Lottery

The Green Card Lottery, or the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, as it is formally called, awards 50,000 green cards to individuals from countries with low immigration rates to the United States. Lottery winners get the rare opportunity to apply immediately for permanent resident status. This status will also apply to the spouses of the winners, in addition to any of unmarried children under the age of 21.

The online registration for DV-2012 DV Lottery begins noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT -4), Tuesday, October 5, 2010, and ends noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT -4), Wednesday, November 3, 2010.

Who can enter the Green Card Lottery?

Only members of eligible countries can enter the lottery, who have either completed a high school education or its equivalent OR two years of work experience in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience.

Which countries are not eligible?

If you are a member of the following countries, you CANNOT apply to the lottery:

* Brazil
* Canada
* China (not including Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan.)
* Colombia
* Dominican Republic
* Ecuador
* El Salvador
* Guatemala
* Haiti
* India
* Jamaica
* Mexico
* Pakistan
* Peru
* Phillipines
* Poland
* South Korea
* United Kingdom, excluding Northern Ireland.
* Vietnam

UNLESS your spouse or both of your parents were born in an eligible country.

How do I enter?

Submit an E-DV form electronically at www.dvlottery.state.gov. Forms can only be submitted between the period starting October 5th 2010, and November 3, 2010. The form asks for basic information such as biographical data of you and your spouse and children, if applicable. Information on your education and digital photographs are also requested.

Do not submit more than one entry form, or else you will be disqualified. You and your spouse may both submit individual entry forms, if you both qualify by yourselves to enter the Green Card lottery.

Is there a fee to enter?

No. Entering the Green Card lottery is free. The program is run by the government and employs no outside consultants or private services.

What qualifies as “two years of work experience in a field that requires two years of training”?

If your job is in a Job Zone 4 or 5, classified in a Specific Vocational Preparation (SVP) range of 7.0 or higher. To find out what Job Zone your occupation, falls under, do the following:

Step One: Go to the Department of Labor’s website at http://online.onetcenter.org/find/

Step Two: Under “Find Occupations” select “Job Family” from the pull down menu. Then browse by “Job Family”. (For example, select Architecture and Engineering) and click “GO”.

Step Three: Click on the link for your specific occupation. (As an example, select Aerospace Engineers. At the bottom of this Summary Report for Aerospace Engineers, under the Job Zone section, you will find the designated Job Zone 4, SVP Range, 7.0 to 8.0. This means using this example, Aerospace Engineering is a qualifying occupation.

How are the winners selected?

The lottery visas are given out according to apportionment in terms of region. Regions with the lowest number of immigrants get the highest number of visas, and regions with the highest number of immigrants get the lowest number. No country, however, is allowed more than 7% of the year’s allotment of visas.

Eligibility to get green card in the US

This will depend on your status in the US. If you are abroad you have a much better opportunity to enter on DV-1 lottery. At this time those out of status would not be able to adjust in the US. Contact an immigration attorney to ascertain if you are eligible. www.boilapc.com