| FRONT COVER May, 2009 Edition |
i |
| CONTACT INFORMATION |
ii |
| CONTENTS |
v |
| ABOUT THE AUTHORS |
vii |
| ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS |
ix |
| PREFACE |
1 |
| Audience |
1 |
| Figure the Odds… |
2 |
| Electronic Registration Only |
2 |
| Registration Dates |
2 |
| Hardcopies |
3 |
| Using This Booklet |
3 |
| Keeping Current |
3 |
| Future of the Lottery |
4 |
| About Us |
4 |
| Disclaimer |
5 |
| CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION |
3 |
| Applying - A Quick Summary |
4 |
| Step 1 Determine If You (Or Your Spouse) Are Eligible |
4 |
| Step 2 Fill Out the Electronic Diversity Visa Entry (EDV) Form |
5 |
| Step 3 If You Win–Apply To Adjust Status, or Apply for an Immigrant Visa |
5 |
| Step 4 Prepare for Your Interview |
6 |
| Step 5 If Immigrant Visa Approved, Enter the U.S. Within Six Months |
7 |
| What is a Green Card? |
7 |
| What is the Green Card (Diversity Visa) Lottery? |
8 |
| How It Began |
9 |
| Today’s Lottery System |
9 |
| How Many Diversity Visa Winners Are There Each Year? |
9 |
| What The “DV?” Name Means |
10 |
| When Can I Apply? |
10 |
| Will My Spouse And Children Also Get Green Cards? |
10 |
| Important Dates and Deadlines for DV-2009 |
12 |
| Important Dates and Deadlines for DV-2010 |
13 |
| Important Dates and Deadlines for DV-2011 |
14 |
| Pros and Cons of Becoming a Permanent Resident |
15 |
| Benefits |
15 |
| Limitations |
15 |
| Travel Restrictions |
15 |
| You Must Renew Your Green Card in 10 Years |
16 |
| Benefits of Citizenship Versus a Green Card |
16 |
| Where to Get the Latest Information |
16 |
| State Department Diversity Visa Lottery Hotline |
17 |
| www.mygreencard.com |
17 |
| www.myUSAi.org |
17 |
| State Department Web Site |
17 |
| State Department “Visa Bulletin” |
18 |
| Changes Resulting From Sept 11, 2001 |
18 |
| Changes to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) |
19 |
| U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (CIS) |
19 |
| The Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) |
20 |
| Customs and Border Protection (CBP) |
21 |
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| CHAPTER 2 REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS |
23 |
| Fill Out the Electronic Diversity Visa Entry Form |
23 |
| If You Use a Lottery Service |
23 |
| PART ONE – Entrant Information |
24 |
| 1. Full Name |
24 |
| 2. Date of Birth |
24 |
| 3. Gender |
25 |
| 4. City Where You Were Born |
25 |
| 5. Country Where You Were Born |
25 |
| 6. Country of Eligibility |
26 |
| 7. Applicant Photograph |
26 |
| 8. Mailing Address |
28 |
| 9. Country Where You Live Today |
29 |
| 10. Phone Number (Optional) |
29 |
| 11. E-mail Address (Optional) |
30 |
| 12. Education |
30 |
| 13. Marriage Status |
30 |
| 14. Number of Unmarried Children Under 21 Years of Age |
31 |
| PART TWO - Derivatives |
32 |
| 14. Children’s Information |
34 |
| When You Are Finished |
35 |
| When to Apply |
36 |
| Only Apply During the Registration Period |
36 |
| Submitting Multiple Applications |
36 |
| If You Are Selected |
37 |
| Why Visa Lottery Registrants Are Disqualified |
37 |
| Problems with Your Photograph |
38 |
| Not a Native of a Visa Eligible Country |
38 |
| Sending in Multiple Applications |
38 |
| Insufficient Biographical Information For Spouse and Children |
38 |
| Using a Lottery Service or Agent |
39 |
| Why Use a Visa Lottery Service |
39 |
| Disadvantages |
40 |
| Guidelines for Lottery Entrants |
42 |
| Green Card Lottery Services |
44 |
| Lottery Service Classifications |
44 |
| Reviewed Websites |
45 |
| The Winners! |
46 |
| The Losers |
47 |
| Our Review Criteria |
48 |
| Fees (Maximum 2 Points) |
48 |
| Information Content (Maximum 2 Points) |
49 |
| Service (Maximum 4 Points) |
50 |
| Collaboration (Maximum 2 Points) |
51 |
| Penalty Points |
51 |
| Report |
51 |
| Disclaimer |
52 |
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| CHAPTER 3 RESIDENTIAL REQUIREMENTS |
53 |
| Geographic Regions |
53 |
| Eligible Countries for Calendar Year 2008 (DV-2010) |
54 |
| REGION 1 (Africa) |
54 |
| REGION 2 (Asia) |
54 |
| REGION 3 (Europe) |
54 |
| REGION 4 (North America) |
55 |
| REGION 5 (Oceania) |
55 |
| REGION 6 (South America) |
55 |
| Ineligible Countries for Calendar Year 2008 (DV-2010) |
56 |
| "Low Admission" and "High Admission" Countries |
56 |
| About Low and High Admission |
56 |
| Low Admission Example |
57 |
| Low Admission Countries for DV?2009 |
57 |
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| CHAPTER 4 PERSONAL REQUIREMENTS |
59 |
| General |
59 |
| You Must Be Born In Or “Chargeable” To a Visa Eligible Country |
60 |
| AND You Must Have a Secondary Education |
60 |
| OR You Must Have Two Years Recent Work Experience in a Specific Occupation |
61 |
| If You Do Not Have the Required Education |
61 |
| Rules for Immediate Family Members |
62 |
| Dependents |
62 |
| Married Applicants |
62 |
| Unmarried Applicants |
63 |
| Unmarried Minor Child |
63 |
| Elderly Parent |
64 |
| Death of the Principal Applicant |
64 |
| Rules of "Chargeability" |
64 |
| If Your Husband or Wife is Born in a Visa Eligible Country |
65 |
| Chargeability Example #1 |
65 |
| If a Parent Is Born In A Visa Eligible Country |
65 |
| Chargeability Example #2 |
66 |
| Chargeability Example #3 |
66 |
| If You Are In the US Illegally |
67 |
| If You Are Out Of Status For More Than 180 Days But Less Than One Year |
68 |
| If You Are Out Of Status For More Than One Year |
69 |
| Should You Contact Your U.S. Congressman? |
69 |
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| CHAPTER 5 - LOTTERY WINNERS ONLY |
71 |
| Winning Doesn't Mean You'll Get a Green Card |
71 |
| Apply for Your Green Card Now! |
71 |
| Important Dates |
72 |
| If You Have Not Been Notified Then You Did Not Win |
72 |
| If You Win and You Live Outside the U.S. |
73 |
| If You Win and You Live Inside the U.S. |
73 |
| Why Use an Immigration Attorney? |
74 |
| How to Protect Yourself from Immigration Fraud |
74 |
| Who Is Allowed to Represent You to the USCIS |
75 |
| Beware Of Notarios |
76 |
| Those Unauthorized To Practice Law |
77 |
| Preventative Measures |
78 |
| Apply for an Immigrant Visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate |
79 |
| Packet 3 |
79 |
| Your Case Number |
80 |
| Forms |
80 |
| Do Not Send Original Documents |
80 |
| Packet 4 |
81 |
| Fees |
81 |
| Required Documents |
82 |
| Proof of Education |
82 |
| Birth Certificates |
82 |
| Marriage Certificate |
83 |
| Vaccination Certificates |
83 |
| HIV Tests |
83 |
| Passport |
83 |
| Photographs |
84 |
| Past Addresses |
84 |
| Police Clearance Certificates |
85 |
| Contacting Foreign Consulates in the U.S. |
85 |
| Countries That Do Not Supply Police Certificates |
85 |
| Police Clearance Certificate Example |
86 |
| Arrest Records |
86 |
| Military Service Records |
86 |
| Evidence of Financial Support and Form I-134 |
87 |
| If You Cannot Obtain All the Required Documents |
88 |
| Document Translations |
88 |
| Your Interview with the U.S. Consulate |
88 |
| Prepare for Your Interview |
89 |
| Medical Examination |
89 |
| What to Expect |
90 |
| Approval |
90 |
| Include “Care of” on Your Return Address |
91 |
| Consular Denials |
91 |
| Poor Preparation |
91 |
| Missing “Care of” Designation |
92 |
| New Regulations |
92 |
| Poor Quality Photographs |
92 |
| Letter of Denial |
92 |
| Try to Get an Explanation from the Consulate |
93 |
| Apply for a Waiver of Inadmissibility with Form I-601 |
93 |
| If Your Waiver is Denied |
93 |
| Adjusting Status |
94 |
| Packet 3 |
95 |
| Your Case Number |
95 |
| Eligibility |
95 |
| If You Have Remained Longer Than Your Authorized Period of Stay |
96 |
| You Can File with CIS or KCC at the U.S Consulate in Your Home Country |
96 |
| If You A Change of Address |
96 |
| Required Documents |
97 |
| Form I-485 and Form I-94 |
98 |
| Fees |
98 |
| How to Handle Your CIS Interview |
98 |
| Prepare for Your Interview |
99 |
| Approval |
99 |
| CIS Denials |
99 |
| Applying for a Waiver of Inadmissibility with Form I-601 |
99 |
| Filing A Motion To Reopen |
100 |
| Top Reasons for "Inadmissibility" |
100 |
| Criminal Behavior |
100 |
| Ill Health |
101 |
| Other Reasons |
101 |
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| CHAPTER 6 - OTHER WAYS TO GET A GREEN CARD |
103 |
| Major Visa Categories |
104 |
| Non-Immigrant Visas |
104 |
| Immigrant Visas |
104 |
| Limited versus Unlimited Visas |
105 |
| Family-Based Green Cards |
105 |
| Family First Preference (F-1) |
105 |
| Family Second Preference (F-2) |
105 |
| Family Third Preference (F-3) |
106 |
| Family Fourth Preference (F-4) |
106 |
| Other Important Information |
106 |
| Medical Examinations |
106 |
| Visa Fees |
106 |
| Numerical Limitations |
107 |
| Miscellaneous |
107 |
| How to Apply for a Social Security Number Card |
107 |
| Questions? |
108 |
| Employment-Based Green Cards |
108 |
| Employment First Preference (E-1) |
108 |
| Employment Second Preference (E-2) |
109 |
| Employment Third Preference (E-3) |
109 |
| Employment Fourth Preference (E-4) |
110 |
| Employment Fifth Preference (E-5) |
110 |
| Labor Certification |
111 |
| Individual Labor Certification (PERM) |
111 |
| Schedule A Designation |
111 |
| Labor Market Information Pilot Program |
111 |
| Petition |
112 |
| Visa Ineligibility/Waiver |
112 |
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| APPENDIX A GREEN CARD LOTTERY SERVICES PROVIDER QUESTIONNAIRE |
113 |
| APPENDIX B SAMPLE WINNING LETTER |
121 |
| APPENDIX C OCCUPATIONS REQUIRING 2 YEARS TRAINING OR EXPERIENCE |
123 |
| APPENDIX D LOTTERY VISAS ALLOCATED BY COUNTRY FOR DV-2009 |
133 |
| APPENDIX E GUIDELINES FOR PRODUCING HIGH QUALITY PHOTOGRAPHS |
137 |
| Setup and Production Guidelines |
138 |
| Proper Lighting Arrangement |
138 |
| Camera/Subject Position |
139 |
| Photograph Print Properties |
139 |
| Composition Checklist |
140 |
| 7 Steps to Successful Photos |
140 |
| Well-Composed Photos |
141 |
| Brightness, Contrast, & Color |
141 |
| Photo Too Dark |
142 |
| Correct Contrast |
142 |
| Natural Color |
143 |
| Head Position & Background |
143 |
| No Glare on Glasses or Shadows on Face |
145 |
| Exposure and Lighting |
146 |
| Resolution and Printing Quality |
147 |
| No Pixelation |
147 |
| No Visible Dot Pattern |
148 |
| Introduction to Digital (Electronic) Photographs |
149 |
| Image Formats |
149 |
| Picture Sizes are Measured in Pixels |
149 |
| Color Depth is Measured in Bits |
149 |
| Image Size |
150 |
| How to Take Good Digital Pictures |
150 |
| How to Scan Existing Photos |
150 |
| GLOSSARY |
153 |
| INDEX |
161 |
Audience
Win the Green Card Lottery! is written for those of you who wish to immigrate to the United States of America. Whether you are already living in the U.S. as an international student or other visa holder; or you are a professional or tradesman living in a country outside the United States, this inexpensive booklet collects everything you need to know to register for the electronic diversity visa lottery and, if you win, successfully apply for permanent residency visa.
Green Card Lottery Entrants. As a complete do-it-yourself information kit, this guide covers the entire process from entering the lottery, including do’s and don’ts for winners. For those of you who prefer or need to use a visa lottery service, we help you select the best and steer you away from “red flag” sites.
NAFSA Members. Many international students attending U.S. schools will continue to enter the diversity visa lottery. Win the Green Card Lottery! is a comprehensive summary for International Student Advisors who may need to understand details about this program and provide guidance for their students.
Human Resource Professionals. For HR representatives this booklet could provide an easy, fast, and inexpensive path to permanent residency for international employees and contractors who may qualify for the lottery.
Lottery Service Owners, Webmasters, and Others. We also offer a comprehensive report with raw data from our 2009 lottery service survey, including: ratings by fee, level of service, degree of user collaboration, and total ranking. We list physical addresses; telephone number(s); primary and secondary domains; and sorts by each rating criteria. New this year are Google “importance ratings” and information on affiliate programs. For more information, visit our Lottery Services Reviews page.
Win the Green Card Lottery! is the original, the most accurate and most complete publication dedicated to this extremely popular lottery. We are now in our sixth year of publication.
Figure the Odds …
Although we cannot improve the chances of your entry being drawn (despite such claims by some lottery services) we can help you prevent costly errors. By avoiding common mistakes, sending in multiple entries where instructed, and following our advice, you can effectively increase your chances of obtaining permanent resident status.
If you do win, this booklet will guide you through the final essential steps required to get your green card. Remember, you must pass an interview, a medical examination, and submit complete and accurate documentation to obtain green cards for yourself and your immediate family. Almost half of those initially selected for the lottery will fail to complete these last few steps successfully.
Electronic Registration Only
Beginning with the calendar year 2003 green card lottery (DV-2005), only electronic registrations sent via the Internet are used. Paper entries sent by mail will not be accepted, unless you provide a paper based version of your lottery application and photograph to a lottery service provider that, in turn, enters your application electronically for you during the open registration period.
Registration Dates
You can only submit lottery registrations during a 60-day registration period. The registration dates for the calendar year 2009 green card lottery (DV 2011) are Friday of October 2 to Friday, November 30. Lottery registrations cannot be entered on the government website before or after these dates.
Hardcopies
If you prefer a standard hardcopy (printed) version, these are now available at Amazon.com, Amazon UK, Barnes and Noble.com, and elsewhere.
Buy Now!
