|
I. Verify your
qualifications 
If you are selected, you must demonstrate that you have an educational
level equivalent to the 12th grade or two years of professional
experience in a job that requires two or more years of professional
experience. This experience must have been acquired within the past five
years.
Native Country
You can not participate in the lottery if you were born in one of the
countries listed below unless (1) your spouse was born in a country not
listed or (2) neither of your parents was born in your country of birth and
was a resident of that country when you were born.
Please note that if you
win the lottery, your spouse will have to apply for the green card and enter
the United States
with you if you use her country of birth.
List of
non-participating countries in the lottery:
For DV-2008, natives of
the following countries are not eligible to apply because they sent a total
of more than 50,000 immigrants to the U.S. over the period of the previous
five years: BRAZIL, CANADA, CHINA
(mainland-born), COLOMBIA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, ECUADOR, EL SALVADOR, GUATEMALA,
HAITI, INDIA, JAMAICA, MEXICO, PAKISTAN, PHILIPPINES, PERU, POLAND, SOUTH
KOREA, UNITED KINGDOM (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent
territories, and VIETNAM. Persons born in Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR and Taiwan
are eligible
Photo
Attach to your electronic filing a recent individual digital photo for you,
your spouse and all children (who are less than 21 years old and including
stepchildren) even if they don’t intend to come to the U.S. except for those already US citizen
or permanent resident. Standard for
each picture: full face, head of the person should cover 50% of the picture,
light
colored background, in focus, no sunglasses, no head coverings. The photos must be in JPEG format, no more
than 240KB, 600 pixels high by 600 pixels wide, 24 bit color.
Send only one application per
person
If you file more than one
application per person you will be automatically disqualified. On the other
hand, it is ok to send an application in your name and another one in the
name of your spouse.
III. Wait
to be selected
Approximately 100,000 applications will be randomly selected. Only the
selected applicants will receive a notification. Notifications will be sent
by during May to July 2009 with instructions to apply for the green card.
IV. Send
application for the green card immediately
Green cards will be granted between October 1, 2009 through September 30,
2010.
It is important to send your
green card application as soon as possible since there are always more
selected applicants than green cards available and your application must be
processed before September 30, 2010.
If you win the lottery, you will be assigned a priority number and
instructions for filing your green card application. File your green card application as soon
as your priority number becomes current.
You will be able to check it on
http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bulletin/bulletin_4357.html
The spouse and children under 21
will be able to apply for a green card at the same time.
This part of the process is
complicated and full of many traps. We
highly recommend that you seek the advice of competent immigration
attorney. I am ready to help you with
this part of the process. Contact us immediately upon receiving notification
that you won the lottery.
V. All
requirements for a permanent visa must be met
All conditions attached to
the green card must be met by each family member. See Who is Prohibited from Receiving a Permanent Visa.
Copyright © 2004-2008 Choné & Associates. All rights
reserved
|
