Being able to pursue a life in the United States for better employment and educational opportunities and potentially reuniting with family is something many foreign-born individuals dream about. However, immigration is a long and complex process, and many don’t have the resources to accomplish this goal. Fortunately, to increase diversity, the government has established a program that allows those from countries with historically low immigration rates to apply for lawful permanent residency. Please continue reading to learn about the Diversity Visa Lottery program and why connecting with a trusted Middlesex County, New Jersey Green Card Lawyer is in your best interest.
What is the Diversity Visa Lottery?
The Immigration Act of 1990 established the Diversity Visa (DV) program in which 50,000 immigrant visas would be available in an annual lottery, drawn from a random selection of foreign nationals with the necessary educational or work experience. Under this program, another 5,000 immigrant visas are allotted under the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act (NACARA). Essentially, this program allows those from countries with lower immigration rates to the United States the opportunity to enter for a chance to apply for a U.S. immigrant visa. This program is administered by the Department of State (DOS). It’s important to note that applicants selected through the lottery system are eligible to migrate with their spouse and unmarried children below the age of 21 years.
As mentioned above, the winners are chosen at random by a computer program, with a certain number of visas allocated to each region of the world and no one country can receive more than 7% of the Diversity Visas available in any given fiscal year. Generally, you can enter the lottery from early October through November. There is no fee to enter the green card lottery.
Who is Eligible to Enter?
To be eligible to participate in this program, you must have be a native, meaning you were born in a particular country regardless of your current residence or nationality, that sent less than 50,000 immigrants to the U.S. over the past five years. Alongside meeting the definition of a native, you must have a high school degree, or at least two years of work experience within the past five years in a profession that requires at least two years of training, as determined by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).
Although this program is free to enter, it can be incredibly complicated. As such, it’s in your best interest to enlist the help of an experienced lawyer from the Law Offices of Aditya Suri, LLC, who can help you navigate this process. Connect with our firm today to learn more about how we can assist you.
