Green Card Lottery

Green card lottery is a program introduced by the American government through a law passed by the congress to enhance the rates of migration to the US. The number of green card lottery issued for a fiscal year is 55,000. One the annual numerical limit is reached, the green card lottery for that year closes.

Though there are 55,000 green cards made available through this program, yet only 50,000 green cards are originally open to the public. The rest 5,000 green card lotteries are used under the NACARA (Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act) which is in effect from green card lottery program -1999. The above act was congressionally mandated two years earlier in November 1997.

You have to fulfill the eligibility conditions in order to qualify for the green card lottery program which includes that you must hail from a chargeable country, must have the required educational qualifications or minimum work experience. You can also use your spouse’ country or your parents’ native as the country of chargeability.

Green card lottery must be filed electronically with the US department of state only during the stipulated two months time. The duration extends from October 3 to September 2 of the same year. You would get a confirmation message from the site if your application is registered. No paper entries are allowed and each person can file only once during a fiscal year.

Apart from the various personal data, you must also submit your photographs in JPEG format and satisfying the standards laid by the US department of state.

Each applicant will be assigned a number which is finally used for the random computer generated drawing that takes place at the Kentucky Consular Center. If your application is short listed, then you would get a notification post in the months of May to July. The call letter will also have the date when you have to appear for the interview which would be scheduled from the beginning of October of the successive year.

Getting selected for the green card lottery program does not guarantee you a green card. There are further procedures to officially recognize you with a green card. You can also bring your spouse as well as your children under the green card lottery program. Your children must be unmarried and less than 21 years of age.

It is also essential that you protect yourself from fake and fraudulent websites.