What is the Green Card Lottery?

Answer 1

The green card is one which would officially change the status of an immigrant to a Permanent United States Resident. The card is basically known as the United States Permanent Resident card but is commonly known as green card for the reasons of its color that it had previously had. The card serves as an identification for immigrants which would relate their identity as US resident. It looks like a drivers license, complete with photograph. The documentation is issued by the INS (now called the Department of Homeland Security).

Answer 2

Answer

The Diversity Immigrant Visa program is a United States congressionally mandated lottery program for receiving a Green Card. It 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 (Pub. L. 101-649) amended INA 203 to provide for a new class of immigrants known as "diversity immigrants" (DV immigrants). The Act makes available 50,000 permanent resident visas annually to persons from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States.

Those born in any territory that has sent more than 50,000 immigrants to the US in the previous 5 years are ineligible to receive a diversity visa. For the 2006 program natives of the following territories are ineligible: Canada, China (mainland born), Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia, South Korea, United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, and Vietnam [1]. In addition to the countries listed here Poland is also not eligible for DV-2007. This is the only new country added to the non-eligible country list for DV-2007. (Natives of Poland were eligible for DV-2006).

Please note that the entry period for DV-2007 is October 5, 2005 through December 4, 2005.

The ineligible countries may change from year to year; for example, in the DV-2002 program, Poland and Taiwan were removed from the ineligible list and Pakistan was added. Similarly, Russia was added to the ineligible list in the DV-2005 program. The term 50,000 "immigrants" is partial and refers only to people who immigrated via the family-sponsored, employment, or immediate relatives of U.S. citizen categories, and does not include other categories such as refugees, asylees, NACARA beneficiaries, or previous diversity immigrants. It is for this reason that Cuba and Ukraine are not on the ineligible list despite sending over 50,000 immigrants in the previous five years.

The visas are distributed on a regional and national basis, with each regions sending less immigrants to the US in the previous 5 years receiving more diversity visas.

In order to allow for those who do not pursue immigrant visas, more 'winners' are selected in the lottery than there are visas available. Hence being selected from the lottery does not guarantee an immigrant visa to the US.

December 2005: Green Card Lottery Abolished In December 2005 it was announced that the US house of representatives has decided to abolish of the Green Card Lottery. (This still needs to be confirmed by the US senate.) The House voted 273-148 to end the scheme. Opponents said it was susceptible to fraud and could be a way for terrorists to enter the country.

Green cards give people permanent resident status in the USA. The lottery happens each year and the winners are randomly selected and receive their permanent residency.

Answer 3

Immigration status referred to as lawful permanent residency authorizes a person on a permanent basis to live and work in the US. Serving the purpose as proof that its holder, a lawful permanent resident (LPR), has been officially granted immigration benefits, the green card also include permission to reside and take employment in the USA.

Answer 4

The USA green card lottery is officially called the Diversity Immigrant Visa and it is a mandated lottery system for receiving a United States Permanent Resident Card. It is a program aimed to increase diversity.

Answer 5

The odds are one in... however many are printed!