The 2015 Diversity Green Card Lottery program starts on Tuesday, October 1, 2013 at 12:00 noon (EDT) and ends on Saturday, November 2, 2013 at 12:00 noon (EST).
Here's our top 10 things you need to know about the program.
#immigrationupdates #dvlottery
Originally shared by +Loke Walsh Immigration Law
Top 10 Reasons to Participate in Green Card Lottery
1. Yes, DV Lottery really exists! The government has 50,000 diversity immigrant visas available for FY 2015.
2. Why should you do it? It’s free – you just complete your application online at http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1318.html. There is no application fee, so don’t pay anyone to apply for you.
3. Online registration for the DV-2015 Program will begin on Tuesday, October 1, 2013 at 12:00 noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4), and conclude on Saturday, November 2, 2013 at 12:00 noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT). After the entry period opens October 1, the State Department recommends submitting early and strongly encourages applicants not to wait until the last week of the registration period to enter.
4. Do it, because you never know what might happen! You can’t rely on it, but you might just win and if you do, it’s one of the quickest ways to get a green card!
5. DV Lottery is based on country of birth, not country of citizenship. So, an Indian passport holder who was born in Malaysia can still apply!
6. Even if you have started an employment based green card application, apply anyway! Depending on your visa category, it may be quicker to get a green card through DV lottery than through the lengthy PERM Labor Certification process.
7. If you are married, make sure your spouse also applies! Why? You have two chances to win, instead of one! Don’t forget that the U.S. now recognizes same-sex marriages, so DV Lottery applicant may include same-sex spouses in their initial entries or add spouses acquired after their initial registration.
8. If you were born in a country that is not eligible to participate in DV Lottery, but are married to someone who is eligible, you can “cross charge” to your spouse’s country of birth. For example, a person born in India cannot participate in DV Lottery. But, if the person is married to someone who was born in Australia, the Indian national can “cross-charge” to the spouse’s country of birth (i.e. Australia) and can therefore also participate in green card lottery!
9. If your child is a high-school graduate, make sure s/he applies too! It won’t help you (i.e. a parent), but your teenager may be able to get their own green card!
10. Be careful of DV Lottery scams! There is no lottery application fee, so you do not need to pay anyone to submit an application. In addition, the State Department has warned the public that there has been a notable increase in fraudulent emails and letters sent to Diversity Visa (DV) program (Visa Lottery) applicants. The scammers behind these fraudulent emails and letters are posing as the U.S. government in an attempt to extract payment from DV applicants. Applicants are encouraged to review the rules and procedures for the DV program program so that you know what to expect, when to expect it, and from whom.
While DV-2014 and DV-2015 applicants may receive an email from the U.S. government reminding them to check their status online through DV Entrant Status Check, they will not receive a notification letter or email informing them that they are a successful DV entrant. Applicants can only find out if they were selected to continue with DV processing by checking their status online through the DV Entrant Status Check at https://www.dvlottery.state.gov/. Finally, remember that fees for the DV application process are paid to the U.S. Embassy or consulate cashier at the time of your scheduled appointment. The U.S. government will never ask you to send payment in advance by check, money order, or wire transfer.
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