3. ENTER THE DV LOTTERY
Moving from the most complex procedure to the easiest, let's go over the diversity visa lottery. Several years ago, the U.S. Department of State ("DOS") instituted a program known as the Diversity Immigrant Lottery (or, the DV). Under this program, each year approximately 50,000 green cards are issued to foreigners chosen randomly from a computer program. Each fall, the DOS announces a one-month period during which you may send in your application; at the conclusion of that period, the applications are logged into a computer and then names are pulled from the hat. If your name is chosen, congratulations, you get the lightening track to green card status. But don't start packing your bags yet because over 8,000,000 people apply for those 50,000 spots.
Qualifications
The U.S. government does limit this lottery to a rather broad applicant pool. To be eligible, you must have either (1) a high school education or its equivalent, defined by the government as "successful completion of a 12-year course of elementary and secondary education; or (2) two years of work experience within the past five years in an occupation requiring at least two years of training or experience to perform. That's it. Not too much to ask right? Hell, if you're reading this web site, you almost certainly qualify. If not, just get your parents, siblings, spouse, anyone who does to apply. This is too easy to pass up.
Application Process
Now, if you're eligible, let's go over how to apply. You must submit a single plain piece of paper with the following information listed on it: (1) your full name with the family name underlined; (2) the date and place of your birth; (3) your native country, if it is different from your place of birth; (4) the name, date, and place of birth of your spouse and any children you may have; (5) your complete mailing address; (6) a 1.5 x 1.5 inch photograph of your face with your name on the back, affixed to the sheet of paper with clear tape; and (7) your signature.
That's it! No money, no sob stories, nothing. This is pure charity - just give them your information so that if they pull your application out of the pile, they can get in touch with you. But follow these instructions to the letter; last year they disqualified 2,500,000 of the 8,000,000 applications for not following the directions: stapling the photograph, not signing the paper, etc. Don't screw this up, it's just sitting there for you on a platter.
Okay, now we've stressed you out a little by mentioning the disqualifications. We suggest you calm yourself by reviewing the official State Department press release that goes over, in painstaking detail, every element of this application process. You can read about the tedious process here or on the green card site.
A few final points. First, there is just a one month window in which to send off your application, usually the month of October, but it could vary, so be sure to check out the DOS web site for next year's lottery. Remember, if you send in your application before the window opens or after it closes, you lose automatically. Second, the way to keep track of these lotteries, which are named after the year, is to think of the year in which they'll make their decision. The lottery is named after the year it's done, not when the applications are due. Read more at the official green card site.
