For many foreign-born individuals, receiving a green card is a dream come true as it allows them to build a life here in the United States. Unfortunately, the immigration process can be incredibly long and complex. Luckily, the government recognizes the need for diversity in the country, which is why it has implemented the Diversity Visa Lottery (DV) program. Please continue reading to learn more about this process and why connecting with our experienced Essex County Green Card Attorneys is in your best interest.
How Does the Diversity Visa Lottery Work?
To increase diversity in the U.S., the government established The Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) program which allows foreign nationals of qualifying countries who have the necessary educational or work experience to migrate to the U.S. Essentially, this program makes up to 50,000 immigrant visas available annually, drawn from random selection among all entries to individuals from countries that historically have lower immigrate rates to obtain permanent residency. It’s an avenue for individuals and families who otherwise wouldn’t have any way to legally immigrate to the U.S. to obtain a green card. It’s important to note that another 5,000 immigrant visas are reserved under the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central Amerian Relief Act (NACARA). Additionally, those selected visa this lottery system are permitted to bring their spouse and unmarried children below the age of 21.
Although participating in this program is free, it can be incredibly complex as you’ll need to provide as much accurate information as possible. Therefore, you should enlist the help of a knowledgeable lawyer who can help ensure you don’t make any mistakes that could render your application invalid.
Generally, registration for the lottery is open from early October through early November. However, you can only apply once per year and late entries are not accepted. After the application period ends, the entries are subject to a random, automated selection process. The computer program is limited to ensuring that an even number of visas are distributed across different regions, resulting in no one country receiving more than 7% of the Diversity Visas available in a given year.
Who is Eligible to Enter?
To be eligible to enter, you must meet two requirements. First, you must ensure your native country is currently listed as one of the nations with low immigration rates to the U.S. To meet the definition of a native, you must be born in that particular country, it’s not where you currently reside. If your native country is not eligible, you still may qualify for this program under your spouse’s or your parent’s birth country. Next, you must have a high school diploma or its equivalent of two years of work experience in a profession that requires two years of training.
If you are ready to apply for the Diversity Visa Lottery, it’s in your best interest to speak with a seasoned lawyer from The Law Offices of Christopher T. Howell, Esq., who can work with you to ensure all necessary steps are followed to help you become a lawful permanent resident. Connect with our firm today to learn more about how we can assist you.
