Obtaining a Green Card Through the Lottery

The green card lottery program is a golden opportunity for people living outside the United States to come over to America with a green card to live and work permanently. This program, established and enacted by the United States Congress in 1996, is an annual program that allows for 50,000 US visas to be distributed randomly. The green card lottery program is run by the USA State Department.

Obtaining a green card through the lottery can be done by applying through the internet, and many resources can help you through the process. There are some qualifications that you have to pass. You must be from a Country that is on a predetermined list, as well as pass economic and employment conditions.

It has recently been determined that the green card lottery application process must now be done exclusively online. The State Department will no longer accept mailed submissions. Given this information, many people use programs such as this one to submit their information.

The computer selection process, though random, is set up to diversify among many different ethnic groups. No more than seven percent of a demographic will be granted these green cards to ensure this diversity. The whole idea behind the program is to bring a larger mix of immigrants to the United States to work.

This program was put into place so that people could come into the United States with green card in hand, and ultimately become a United States permanent resident. In spite of the large number of immigrants to the United States, certain areas and ethnic groups are not very well represented in the melting pot we call America. By granting these green cards, the United States is ensuring diversity, and offering great opportunities to everyone around the world.

The lottery does extend to your entire family should you win a green card through the lottery. This covers your wife, and any children under 21 that are not married. Though you come into the United States with green card in hand, you still must apply for United States citizenship if you wish to become a US citizen as well.

To apply for this green card lottery, you only need to meet the minimum requirements. Becoming a US resident that is working and living in America is now a real possibility for you. Be sure to check out the website and sign up for your chance at a green card today.

To find out more about immigrating to America and the green card lottery please visit Green Card Lottery Info.

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US Green Card

Green card is a legal permanent residence status given to a foreign individual by US government. Basically, green card allows immigrants from all over the world to work and live in the US with the same rights of US citizenship except for right to vote up to 5 years. After 5 years, a person can apply for US citizenship.

There are some legal ways to eligible for a green card.

1) Green Card through employment in the United States

2) Green card through immediate family staying as citizens in US.

3) Green card through marriage to a US citizen.

Addition to the above options for obtaining green card, there are some special cases that allow individuals to obtain a green card.

The special cases are as follows:

1) National Interest Wavier

2) Researchers

3) Labor

4) Asylum

5) Specialized Skills

Green Card through employment in the United States:

In this case, the employer of the foreign nation must sponsor that individual. Once the employer sponsored the individual may make application for a green card. It is a much faster process for the individuals with more education or specialized job skills.

Green card through immediate family staying as citizens in US:

In this case, if a foreign individual has a family member such as parent or child that is an US citizen, then they are eligible for a green card. If a parent of a foreign minor child is an American citizen then that child is automatically and immediately eligible for a visa.

Green card through marriage to an US citizen:

Foreign person can eligible for a green card is through marriage to a United States citizen; however, the American citizen must stay in the United States. Once the person has obtained their green card they can apply for permanent residence.

There are some other special ways to apply for green card on time basis.

Detailed information on US immigration visas and Green card can be obtained from http://www.immigrationforum.com; it also provides various categories like Nonimmigrant visas, Immigrant visas, Citizenship, Canada immigration, UK immigration, Australia immigration and more for discussion.

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The 7 Most Common Mistakes Green Card Applicants Make and How to Avoid Them

Applying for a US Permanent Residency card (or Green Card) is an important step for immigrants seeking to live and work in the United States.

Green Cards are issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), who has set instructions and filing fees that must be followed stringently—otherwise, your application may be denied or delayed.

Below are some tips on how to avoid the most common mistakes that result in a Green Card application being delayed or denied.

1. Not making sure you are eligible for the immigration category you are applying to. Depending on your type of immigration—through a family member, employment, or investment—you must meet certain criteria before applying for a Green Card. To check whether you are eligible for a Green Card, go to www.uscis.gov/greencard

2. Relying on outdated information. Immigration forms and fees change from time to time. Although USCIS may accept older versions of certain forms, they will not accept an incomplete payment. Check current fees at www.uscis.gov (Click on ‘Immigration forms’).

3. Submitting incomplete documentation. Green Card forms require that you submit supporting documentation such as birth certificates, marriage licenses, employment verification letters, etc. The more documents you can submit to strengthen your case, the better. Always double check that all the supporting documentation is included in your packet.

4. Failing to sign your immigration forms. Many times you fill out your forms but forget to sign and date them—this may be especially true when you are filing your dependents’ forms (they must sign their own if they are not minors).

5. Filing non-English documents without translations. Every non-English document—diplomas, birth certificates—must be accompanied by an English translation—it does not need to be official.

6. Not filling out your checks correctly. Immigration fees should be made payable to Department of Homeland Security or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services—not the Immigration and Naturalization Service, which was the agency’s old name. Also, payments must be done with money orders or cashier’s checks—not personal checks.

7. Paying an immigration lawyer for what you can do yourself. Immigration lawyers charge you thousands of dollars for filing a stack of documents that you collect in the first place. Unless your case is very complex, you should file for a Green Card by yourself.

Diego Pineda is the author of Getting a Green Card for Less: How to file the I-485 without an immigration lawyer. To learn how to save up to $5,000 in attorney’s fees go to http://www.greencardforless.com

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