Living, working or becoming a US student is a dream for many people around the world. America is, at its core, an immigrant-friendly nation where everyone has the chance to fulfill their dreams. In the same time, due to various economic and security-related reasons, there are strict rules concerning who can work and live in the United States. Several programs offer foreign individuals the option to come to the United States, but most of these programs require significant skills or investment from the foreign individual. On the other hand, there are other programs that do not require any investment or skills – and the Diversity Visa Lottery is one of these programs.
What is the Diversity Visa Lottery?
The U.S. Government Diversity Visa Lottery – Immigration and Naturalization Program offers non-citizens the opportunity to live, work and study in the United States. Those who are selected by the Lottery may bring their family members to the US and apply to become U.S. citizens.
The Department of State is delegated by Congress to administer this program every year and they manage the lottery that chooses non-citizens who qualify as “diversity immigrants”.
There are 55,000 diversity visas available for individuals from countries with relatively low U.S. immigration rates. That being said, applicants need to meet certain requirements, including some related to work experience and education – these requirements will be checked thoroughly before you can be issued a visa.
What is the goal of the Diversity Visa Lottery?
The final goal of the Diversity Visa Lottery is for the winners to receive a green card. The green card allows an immigrant permanent legal residency within the United States, along with several other advantages such as the ability to start a business, receive financial aid for college, working legally in the United States and of course, the ability to become a full-fledged citizen.
One of the first things green card holders should focus on, once they are eligible, is starting the naturalization process. There are several benefits associated with being a citizen, as opposed to being a legal permanent resident. If you don’t know where to start, contact our naturalization law firm today and get started on the process of becoming a citizen of the United States. It’s also important to note that after naturalization, you don’t have to give up citizenship to your home country.
How are the winners chosen?
The winners that meet the requirements are chosen at random by a computer. They are distributed among six geographic regions, with a maximum of 7% of winners attributed to one individual country. Countries that have lower immigration rates have priority over countries which are granted citizenship and visas on a regular basis.
How do I file for the Diversity Visa Lottery?
Contact our immigration law firm in Atlanta, Georgia to get started on filing for the Diversity Visa Lottery. We are here to handle any sensitive immigration questions!
