Green Card Lottery?

[wildbilman]

I'm sure somebody knows something about this. One of my friends in Lima asked me if I knew anything about the "Green Card Lottery". Seems I had read or heard somewhere that that stuff was all a scam.
Here is the website:
http://www.usafis.org/index.asp?af=cbc_en

Anybody know anything about this program, if it's real or a scam?

Thanks- William

[Gator]

... in response to Green Card Lottery?, posted by wildbilman on Jul 20, 2005

Not all countries in South, Central America and the Caribbean are eligible to participate.  Changes on a year by year basis.

Citizens from these countries QUALIFY:
Antigua Barbuda Guyana Argentina Honduras Barbados Nicaragua Belize Panama Bolivia Paraguay Brazil Peru Chile Saint Kitts and Nevis Costa Rica Saint Lucia Cuba Saint Vincent  the Grenadines Dominica Suriname Ecuador Trinidad and Tobago Grenada Uruguay Guatemala and Venezuela

Countries citizens do NOT qualify for this year's diversity program:
Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Jamaica, and Mexico.

[A1A]

... in response to Green Card Lottery?, posted by wildbilman on Jul 20, 2005

Yes, it is real.  There is a set number of green cards awarded each year.  I know a colombiana that got one several years ago.  Gary Bala probably knows the up to date facts.

[JimmySTLOUIS]

... in response to Green Card Lottery?, posted by wildbilman on Jul 20, 2005

I thought this was finished for this year??
Am I reading this wrong?

Also my wife and I know a couple from Lima here in St. Louis that "won" the visa lottery to come here.

Someone read this and tell me what you think?

http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1318.html

The instructions for the 2006 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program are also available in PDF Format. The registration period for the DV-2006 Lottery ended at noon EST on January 7, 2005.  Entries can no longer be accepted

oh by the way......

TE AMO PERU!!!

jim

[Brazilophile]

... in response to Green Card Lottery?, posted by wildbilman on Jul 20, 2005

I do.  It is real.  I applied for it one year.

US Immigration has visas set aside for each country for different categories, one of which is "immigrant".  Every decade or so the use of these visas is reviewed to see which countries are using up their visas quotas and which are not.  When the US sees that some countries are consistently using their full quotas, and even obtaining immigrant visas that are not subject to quotas such as the spousal visa, and other countries are not, it decides to "redress the imbalance of immigration" by offering additional visas to those countries that are under-represented in immigrant visas.  

Those additional visas are assigned to applicants under a "lottery" mechanism; applicants are assigned a number and if that number is called, you win!   The visa issued is the permanent residency card, hence the moniker, "Green Card Lottery".

[Heat]

... in response to Re: Green Card Lottery?, posted by Brazilophile on Jul 20, 2005

Why would you want to apply for a visa for the United states?  Are you not a US resident?  So you are a foreigner is that right?

Maybe someday you will answer me as you failed to respond to my challenge.  Let's see what you are made of.