What are the rights of a US resident?
In fact, green card holders have the same rights, as citizens of the United States (except for the right to vote in elections). Namely:
- It is legal to enter and leave the United States without the risk of being detained at the airport.
- Work officially.
- Create your own business.
- Legally own real estate, auto and other property.
- Participate in an educational assistance program (less to pay for college or university tuition).
- Retire and get a social package.
- Across 5 years of stay in the States to obtain US citizenship.
- Travel without a visa by country, with whom the United States has an agreement on a visa-free regime.
As you can see, the green card holder is an almost full-fledged US citizen. Little remains to be done: win the lottery. Believing in luck helps some., and they win the first or second time (read more in the article "Immigration to the USA: how I won the green card "). Others take persistence and only succeed after a few years.
However, do not rush to throw a party, if you checked the result and saw the message "You've been selected for further processing". This is only half the battle.
When to serve?
Those wishing to take part in the green card drawing should send applications for the DV-2020 program in electronic form at dvlottery.state.gov, starting at noon (EDT) (GMT-4) on Wednesday, 3 October 2018 of the year, and no later 12:00 (EAST) (GMT-5) Tuesday, 6 November 2018.
The State Department recommends not to delay the application. Last week, usually, registration site works in the busiest mode, which can lead to delays. The same can be said about the early days. As we said earlier, last year, the first applications were canceled, and the reception time was shifted due to a system bug. All, who sent them during this period, got the opportunity to reapply. Be sure to follow any updates on the green card, until the application process is over.
Whoever is late is late. IN 12 hours 6 November reception will be closed, do not try to send your applications after that and do not forget, that registration is only available online, paper applications are not considered.
Remember! The law only allows one application per person per year. Re-forms will be disqualified until the next draw..
Personal experience and possible problems
The main difficulty with the DV program is, that the chances of getting a visa and a residence permit in the United States are extremely low, but even if he wins, the applicant will have to find a large amount to prepare for the move and the move itself. But if there are simply no such opportunities, then you do not need to submit an application. (especially, that it is impossible to transfer it to someone or sell it in principle).
But you can also get a refusal before the draw - if the application is disqualified for violations:
the photo does not meet the requirements. Everything can be here - from the wrong background to doubts about its authenticity.. So, if the photo has been retouched or edited, this is guaranteed to exclude the participant from the drawing for the current year;
errors or typos in data
You need to fill in the Latin alphabet, so attention will not hurt;
errors in information about spouses or children. If the situation is unusual (spouses live separately, or in the stage of divorce - you need to read the corresponding section very carefully);
multiple applications submitted - rules only allow one application per year per person.
We asked to share our experience of obtaining a green card blogger Lilit Bagdasarova, which 5 years ago I won this lottery, and here is her story:
So it proves one more time, that the green card is really a good way to go live in the USA. But only under two conditions - if you're lucky in the lottery, and if there is money for moving and living in the States.
What is the Diversity Visa Lottery
The US government annually draws a green card - document, confirming the owner's right to a residence permit in the United States. Any citizen with secondary education can take part in the lottery (11 classes or 9 + technical College).
You can apply for participation only electronically on the website dvlottery.state.gov. It's free. You just need to answer a few questions of the questionnaire and attach your photo. Applications are accepted from 3 October to 2 November.
After registration, you will receive a confirmation code by email. With its help next May you can check, whether your application won.
Каждый год компьютер случайным образом выбирает 100 000 man, half of which eventually receive a green card. Winners become official residents of the United States. (About that, what a green card lottery participant needs to know, we have already told here.)
