The United States of America (USA) is undoubtedly one of the most sought after emigration destinations worldwide. To be able to work there legally however involves a lot of determination and a huge amount of paperwork. The easiest way to live and work in the USA is to apply for the official US Green Card Lottery. Since 1994 hundreds of thousands of people have made their dreams of living and working in the USA a reality by winning the Green Card lottery.
What is the Green Card Lottery?
The US Green Card lottery which is officially called the Diversity Immigrant program is a US government lottery program for receiving a US Permanent Resident Card. Anyone who has a Green Card therefore has an unlimited permit to live and work in the USA. Green Card Holders have almost the same rights as a US citizen although they are not permitted to vote.
Benefits of a Green Card
The benefits of a Green Card are huge and wide ranging. They include being able to work and live without restrictions in any states in the USA. The holder of a Green Card is able to enter the US in a much simpler way. The requirement of a Visa or an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA ) will no longer be mandatory. A person is able to maintain their nationality and if they wish they will be able after a three to five year period to apply for American citizenship. As university studies are not free in the United States, the holder of a Green Card will be able to further their studies saving up to 80%.
How many Green Cards are issued through the lottery each year?
The US authorities raffle 55,000 Green Cards worldwide every year. These are generally given out to those people who were born in countries with low rates of immigration to the United States, generally considered to be fewer than 50,000 immigrants in the past five years. As a Green Card is the easiest way to live and work in the US, it is true that a huge amount of people apply for them but you must also be eligible by country as well as by education and work experience to enter. Countries that are eligible for the Green Card Lottery include: Brazil, Bangladesh, Canada, China (mainland born) Dominican Republic, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, India, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, United Kingdom (excluding Northern Ireland) and Vietnam.
How do I apply for the Green Card Lottery?
Registration for the green card lottery is done online and is available only in English. If your English is not perfect, detailed instructions are available in a variety of languages. You must ensure that you read all the instructions correctly so that you can provide the right information to give yourself the best chance possible of success. Potential applicants must submit only through the site https://www.dvlottery.state.gov/ the winners are drawn randomly and there is no cost to register. Every year the lottery is open for less than a month. This year the time frame is from October 7th to November 10th. Applications received after this date will be deemed as invalid, however it is possible to apply every year without limit.
Avoid scams and fake websites
Ensure that you only apply for the Green Card US lottery through the official site. There are plenty of people ready to take your money and make promises they can not fulfill. Remember there is no cost to register. If you win and are permitted to apply then you will need to pay a small fee that will be required to be paid in person at a US embassy or consulate.
A new life in a new land
Winning the Green Card Lottery is not the only avenue available to fulfill the dream of living and working in the United States, but it is the most hassle free option and definitely worth a try. Other means can be very time consuming and expensive and can sometimes lead nowhere.. So although other means could be considered the best possible option would be to be selected at random and join the many others who have had the great experience of living in one of the most diverse and exciting nations on earth many who have gone on to permanently call it their home and country.
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