Green Card Lottery
December 20, 2010 By Cathy Tran Reck & Associates Ltd.
The green card lottery was established under the INA wherein persons from under represented countries may apply for a green card visa to the US using a random drawing each year. If eligible the applicant and the spouse and any dependent children may be given a visa at the same time.
The Diversity Immigrant Visa program is a lottery program for receiving a US green card. It is also known as the Green Card Lottery.
Popularly known as the green card lottery, approximately 50,000 - 55,000 visas are issued annually under this lottery program. The lottery is administered on an annual basis by the Department of State and conducted under the terms of Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Section 131 of the Immigration Act of 1990 amended INA 203 to provide for a new class of immigrants known as "diversity immigrants."
Applications are accepted during a one month application period each year, generally in October. Although many people do file the application for the Diversity Lottery without legal assistance, millions of applications are rejected with no notice to the applicant and are not included in the drawing. The reason being because of minor technical mistakes in the application or filing. There is no filing fee payable to the US government and the application and the filing is relatively straight forward, provided that the applicant understands the rules.
Many people prefer to hire an immigration lawyer to assist in filing their applications because the cost of doing so is relatively low and the process is fairly straightaway when professional advice is sought. As mentioned before the primary cause for rejection is technical errors in application or filing. If one is selected for the green card lottery, the spouse and minor children will generally be given Permanent Residence at the same time. The principal factor limiting eligibility is that the applicant must have at least completed high school education or its equivalent.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Cathy Tran Reck, Attorney at Law
Cathy Tran Reck is the Managing Director of CTR & Associates, a global, full service law firm providing International Immigration Services. CTR is staffed with lawyers certified to practice law under the California State Bar, and members of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and the American Bar Association.
Copyright Cathy Tran Reck & Associates Ltd.
More information about Cathy Tran Reck & Associates Ltd.
Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication, it is not intended to provide legal advice as individual situations will differ and should be discussed with an expert and/or lawyer. For specific technical or legal advice on the information provided and related topics, please contact the author.
Popularly known as the green card lottery, approximately 50,000 - 55,000 visas are issued annually under this lottery program. The lottery is administered on an annual basis by the Department of State and conducted under the terms of Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Section 131 of the Immigration Act of 1990 amended INA 203 to provide for a new class of immigrants known as "diversity immigrants."
Applications are accepted during a one month application period each year, generally in October. Although many people do file the application for the Diversity Lottery without legal assistance, millions of applications are rejected with no notice to the applicant and are not included in the drawing. The reason being because of minor technical mistakes in the application or filing. There is no filing fee payable to the US government and the application and the filing is relatively straight forward, provided that the applicant understands the rules.
Many people prefer to hire an immigration lawyer to assist in filing their applications because the cost of doing so is relatively low and the process is fairly straightaway when professional advice is sought. As mentioned before the primary cause for rejection is technical errors in application or filing. If one is selected for the green card lottery, the spouse and minor children will generally be given Permanent Residence at the same time. The principal factor limiting eligibility is that the applicant must have at least completed high school education or its equivalent.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Cathy Tran Reck, Attorney at Law
Cathy Tran Reck is the Managing Director of CTR & Associates, a global, full service law firm providing International Immigration Services. CTR is staffed with lawyers certified to practice law under the California State Bar, and members of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and the American Bar Association.
Copyright Cathy Tran Reck & Associates Ltd.
More information about Cathy Tran Reck & Associates Ltd.
View all articles published by Cathy Tran Reck & Associates Ltd.
Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication, it is not intended to provide legal advice as individual situations will differ and should be discussed with an expert and/or lawyer. For specific technical or legal advice on the information provided and related topics, please contact the author.
