US Greencard Through Diversity Lotto

MossNyc · 23-03-2010 6:03pm #1

Hey Everyone

I wanted to write down my story here as i sure someone will be in the same situation as me some day and i wasn't always able to find information

So to tell the end of the story first I got approved for the green card today

I was picked in the diversity lotto last summer( which i had applied for the year before in November ). I applied through the official US Website. All us government sites have the .gov in them. This is free. You dont need to pay anyone to apply for the diversity lotto and all those sites that advertise to keep you in the lotto for 3 years are a scam. They may put you in but its best if you do it yourself as you got a number which you can use the summer after to see if you have won

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

The application is simple to do with the only difficult part being uploading the photo but if you read the instructions you should be fine.

I found out i had won when i received a letter from the visa processing center in Kentucky which gives you a case number and the applications you need to fill in. I did these with an attorney as i wanted it to be smooth and then i sent them back to the processing center in Kentucky completed. That was in July. I didn't hear anything again until i was called for my interview ( got letter from Us Embassy in dublin ). This letter gave the interview date and everything i would need for the via interview which were in my case:

I also received another letter from the us embassy in dublin with a list of everything i would need for the interview and confirming the date and time for the interview

Original Birth Cert
Police Cert: Can get from your local Garda it simple to get but can take some time
Medical Report: You have to do a special medical and get certain vaccinations for the US. There are only 4 docs in ireland that do it and its about 350 euro to do the medical
Education certs; The minimum you need is the leaving cert which you need to pass. Although any fas certs etc or any college degrees count as well
Proof of income: You need to show you have some money(Bank Statements and what type of job you want to look for in America. You need to prove your not going to go there and then go on social welfare.
Application Fee: This is broken up but what you need is a bank draft or postal order for $775.
Big Envelope: You need an envelope with 8 euro worth of stamps on it as this is what they will send your passport and documents back to you in. You DONT get your passport back on the day if your successful

What I had:
All of the above ( including photocopies of everything) Its much better to have way more than you need in case they ask
I also had copies of all my older visas to the US. I am currently on a H1b visa so i brought my pay stubs etc from the company i work for . I also had a J vis and some B visas which i brought. While the embassy may be able to see this on their system dont assume they will and bring any old visas you have. You need to be able to prove any time you spent in the US

The interview:
My interview was for 1 oclock but this means you are in afternoon time slot with other people as well. I began to queue up at 12.45 and was the 3rd person in the queue. You have to go through security and they will take your phone off you and put it in a cubby hole and collect it on the way out.

You will then go to a room which for all purposes is like a bank(with windows with glass) with seats. You get a ticket number and are called in order of your number

The first window you go to the lady took all my paperwork on the list and the medical report which the embassy sends to you and the cheque for the $775
I then sat back down and waited to be called for the actual interview

2 couples were ahead of me and they did their interviews and got on fine

The actual interview itself is very straightforward you go up to the window ( your not in a private room or anything like that) You do your fingerprints and you swear an oath to tell the truth

The lady then went through all the documents i had given her and i could see she had the application i sent back to kentucky.

She asked me where i was born and what year
She asked me about the medical
She asked me about my college and what i did there
She asked me had i lived anywhere else other than the US
She asked me how i planned to support myself in the US

She was very pleasant and professional and the whole interview took all of 2 minutes. Mine was pretty straightforward as i was already living there legally.

She then told me they would finish processing the visa and that once it was issued i would have 6 months to activate it by going to the US .

This was all today so i haven't got my passport back yet and will update the post when i get it and the package .

Hope this helps someone out

Moss

CaliforniaDream · 23-03-2010 7:44pm

Great post. It should be very helpful for someone wishing to apply.

I've also got my greencard successfully and it was a near exact experience to the above poster. I think the only questions I got asked on the day were, where was I born and what year. They didn't ask me anything else at all. In fact, I had to ask the girl when she was finished if I had actually been successful! Very straightforward although there were months of worry beforehand making sure I had everything and it was all perfect.

This was in December so I have the envelope back. It took about a week to get it back.
I still have my x-rays from the medical which I'm told I need to bring to the airport with me. My passport with a temporary 'greencard' in it was in the envelope.
Also there is a plain white A4 size envelope inside too. I was told under no circumstances was I to open this at all. I have to bring it to the airport and hand it to the customs officer. If you open this yourself you render the application/greencard invalid.

I have my flights booked for May so I'm not sure on the process at the airport. Myabe we can have someone else fill in that part?

Kimia · 23-03-2010 9:11pm

Do you have to live in the US straight away and for how long? Can you wait to move over so that you have lots of money saved?

MossNyc · 23-03-2010 9:24pm

The girl at the embassy told me that once the temporary greencard is stamped in your passport you have 6 months from that date to travel to the US to activate it. The greencard itself is for 10 years and is sent to the address you specify in the greencard application

Its for permanent residency so id be a little apprehensive going for 2 months then coming home again and going back a few months later . I would check with us immigration or an attorney to be sure

MossNyc · 23-03-2010 9:28pm

This was in December so I have the envelope back. It took about a week to get it back.
I still have my x-rays from the medical which I'm told I need to bring to the airport with me. My passport with a temporary 'greencard' in it was in the envelope.
Also there is a plain white A4 size envelope inside too. I was told under no circumstances was I to open this at all. I have to bring it to the airport and hand it to the customs officer. If you open this yourself you render the application/greencard invalid.

Thanks for the post Delighted you got on well. I wasnt told to bring the xrays to airport. Was that in the pack they sent you?

Im heading back to the states as soon as i get the passport back so Ill post here to let you know what happens

jimmypitt · 23-03-2010 10:30pm

MossNyc wrote: »

Hey Everyone

I wanted to write down my story here as i sure someone will be in the same situation as me some day and i wasn't always able to find information

So to tell the end of the story first I got approved for the green card today

I was picked in the diversity lotto last summer( which i had applied for the year before in November ). I applied through the official US Website. All us government sites have the .gov in them. This is free. You dont need to pay anyone to apply for the diversity lotto and all those sites that advertise to keep you in the lotto for 3 years are a scam. They may put you in but its best if you do it yourself as you got a number which you can use the summer after to see if you have won

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

The application is simple to do with the only difficult part being uploading the photo but if you read the instructions you should be fine.

I found out i had won when i received a letter from the visa processing center in Kentucky which gives you a case number and the applications you need to fill in. I did these with an attorney as i wanted it to be smooth and then i sent them back to the processing center in Kentucky completed. That was in July. I didn't hear anything again until i was called for my interview ( got letter from Us Embassy in dublin ). This letter gave the interview date and everything i would need for the via interview which were in my case:

I also received another letter from the us embassy in dublin with a list of everything i would need for the interview and confirming the date and time for the interview

Original Birth Cert
Police Cert: Can get from your local Garda it simple to get but can take some time
Medical Report: You have to do a special medical and get certain vaccinations for the US. There are only 4 docs in ireland that do it and its about 350 euro to do the medical
Education certs; The minimum you need is the leaving cert which you need to pass. Although any fas certs etc or any college degrees count as well
Proof of income: You need to show you have some money(Bank Statements and what type of job you want to look for in America. You need to prove your not going to go there and then go on social welfare.
Application Fee: This is broken up but what you need is a bank draft or postal order for $775.
Big Envelope: You need an envelope with 8 euro worth of stamps on it as this is what they will send your passport and documents back to you in. You DONT get your passport back on the day if your successful

What I had:
All of the above ( including photocopies of everything) Its much better to have way more than you need in case they ask
I also had copies of all my older visas to the US. I am currently on a H1b visa so i brought my pay stubs etc from the company i work for . I also had a J vis and some B visas which i brought. While the embassy may be able to see this on their system dont assume they will and bring any old visas you have. You need to be able to prove any time you spent in the US

The interview:
My interview was for 1 oclock but this means you are in afternoon time slot with other people as well. I began to queue up at 12.45 and was the 3rd person in the queue. You have to go through security and they will take your phone off you and put it in a cubby hole and collect it on the way out.

You will then go to a room which for all purposes is like a bank(with windows with glass) with seats. You get a ticket number and are called in order of your number

The first window you go to the lady took all my paperwork on the list and the medical report which the embassy sends to you and the cheque for the $775
I then sat back down and waited to be called for the actual interview

2 couples were ahead of me and they did their interviews and got on fine

The actual interview itself is very straightforward you go up to the window ( your not in a private room or anything like that) You do your fingerprints and you swear an oath to tell the truth

The lady then went through all the documents i had given her and i could see she had the application i sent back to kentucky.

She asked me where i was born and what year
She asked me about the medical
She asked me about my college and what i did there
She asked me had i lived anywhere else other than the US
She asked me how i planned to support myself in the US

She was very pleasant and professional and the whole interview took all of 2 minutes. Mine was pretty straightforward as i was already living there legally.

She then told me they would finish processing the visa and that once it was issued i would have 6 months to activate it by going to the US .

This was all today so i haven't got my passport back yet and will update the post when i get it and the package .

Hope this helps someone out

Moss

Lucky b*stard!

macca1983 · 23-03-2010 10:37pm

Did it matter you are currently on a HB1 Visa in terms of getting the green card? Or is it totally a random lottery if that makes any sense?

CaliforniaDream · 23-03-2010 10:44pm

MossNyc wrote: »

Thanks for the post Delighted you got on well. I wasnt told to bring the xrays to airport. Was that in the pack they sent you?

Im heading back to the states as soon as i get the passport back so Ill post here to let you know what happens

They never took the x-rays off me at the embassy or even looked at them. Simply told me to take them home and bring them to the airport with me as hand luggage. They said the customs officers would take them off me and check them. Not sure what the reasoning behind it is, but not gonna chance anything and leave them behind!

lil_lisa · 23-03-2010 10:53pm

May I ask what they are x-rays of? And if they mentioned exactly why they require them in the first place? Just to make sure everything's working medically?

CaliforniaDream · 23-03-2010 11:09pm

lil_lisa wrote: »

May I ask what they are x-rays of? And if they mentioned exactly why they require them in the first place? Just to make sure everything's working medically?

It's a chest x-ray that you get done as part of your medical. Didn't mention why you needed it in the first place. Maybe someone else can shed some light on that?

lonestargirl · 24-03-2010 12:09am

CaliforniaDream wrote: »

It's a chest x-ray that you get done as part of your medical. Didn't mention why you needed it in the first place. Maybe someone else can shed some light on that?

The chest x-ray is to prove you don't have TB. They use a blood test for some people (Mantoux) but since we get TB vaccinations as children we come up positive on the blood test.

MossNyc · 24-03-2010 11:10am

macca1983 wrote: »

Did it matter you are currently on a HB1 Visa in terms of getting the green card? Or is it totally a random lottery if that makes any sense?

The lottery is totally random. I have been applying for the last few years. Its a case of if your not in you cant win really so its definitely worth a shot

macca1983 · 24-03-2010 11:17am

MossNyc wrote: »

The lottery is totally random. I have been applying for the last few years. Its a case of if your not in you cant win really so its definitely worth a shot

I am in all right! I WOULD LOVE IT (Kevin Keegan style) if my name pops out in June and basically my story went like yours. Off to LA and sunshine all year round!

dave2pvd · 24-03-2010 1:30pm

Almost the exact same process I went through. All the way back in 1993/1994. Apparently, it's a lot more expensive now. Plus, I recall getting the medical done was easier; more docs could do it.

I also had to bring the x-rays. NO idea why. They live in the attic now.

MossNyc · 24-03-2010 1:50pm

dave2pvd wrote: »

Almost the exact same process I went through. All the way back in 1993/1994. Apparently, it's a lot more expensive now. Plus, I recall getting the medical done was easier; more docs could do it.

I also had to bring the x-rays. NO idea why. They live in the attic now.

So did they even ask to see the xrays at immigration ?

dave2pvd · 24-03-2010 2:15pm

MossNyc wrote: »

So did they even ask to see the xrays at immigration ?

Nope. I was so disappointed. My lungs make a very impressive photo

helimachoptor · 29-03-2010 10:55am

Thanks for the post Mossnyc, I've applied for the lottery myself this year.

My aunty has been applying each year for 20 years but a friend applied 2 years ago and got it first time.

I presume you're living in NYC, how do you find it?

MossNyc · 08-04-2010 5:17pm

CaliforniaDream wrote: »

Great post. It should be very helpful for someone wishing to apply.

I've also got my greencard successfully and it was a near exact experience to the above poster. I think the only questions I got asked on the day were, where was I born and what year. They didn't ask me anything else at all. In fact, I had to ask the girl when she was finished if I had actually been successful! Very straightforward although there were months of worry beforehand making sure I had everything and it was all perfect.

This was in December so I have the envelope back. It took about a week to get it back.
I still have my x-rays from the medical which I'm told I need to bring to the airport with me. My passport with a temporary 'greencard' in it was in the envelope.
Also there is a plain white A4 size envelope inside too. I was told under no circumstances was I to open this at all. I have to bring it to the airport and hand it to the customs officer. If you open this yourself you render the application/greencard invalid.

I have my flights booked for May so I'm not sure on the process at the airport. Myabe we can have someone else fill in that part?

So I am back in the very sunny USA as a permanent resident

I did my interview on a tuesday and i received my passport and the green card package( which under no circumstances should you open!!) the following tuesday from the US embassy by registered post. In the passport you get a full page stamp with your pic and all the info in it that servers as a temporary green card.

I then waited another week and flew back to the US through shannon airport

I flew with continental as you can clear immigration at shannon and get the whole process over with. I queued up at the new immigration and customs hall and waited to be called. I explained to the officer that i was using my green card for the first time.
Now i was stopped once in shannon traveling to the US as the officer said i was using the visa wavier system too much( to be honest i prob was but the officer took a real dislike to me and decided she was stopping me ) . I was asked about this i answered honestly. I was also asked about my H1b and why i wanted to live in the US.

Also i was never asked for the xrays which we spoke about in this post before.

I was then taken to secondary inspection to process the visa. I was happy enough at this stage but then things got a little slow then. I was taken into a room and fingerprinted old school style and had to sign my name. The officer then said i will just stamp your passport and get me moving. However they then pulled my bag and made me open it and got through all the contents ( i had some white pudding which they took off me ) I then waited another 20 minutes where the officer went back and forth with my passport to another room. Eventually with the number of people behind me building she stamped my passport and send the doors over there (thought i might get a congrats or welcome to the US !!) All in all i was 45 minutes getting the passport stamped

I happily went through the doors and hopefully that will be the end of having to answer loads of questions at the us border again . All they do is stamp the temp greencard with a date stamp and then that is valid for 1 year to travel. You should receive your actual card in 6 months or so. Looking forward to getting the card

Anyway as i have been through the mill with different visas and eventually the green card i prob know as much as anyone about trying to do the whole process the correct way. Also just to note i have definitely spent well over $8000 in visas over the space of 5 years with application fees and attorney fees.

The main question i have after all of it is it worth all the time and effort you put into it ???

Ill let you know the answer to that when i figure it out

Moss

lil_lisa · 08-04-2010 5:59pm

That's gotta be Post of the Day!

Thank you for your info, sounds slightly nerve wrecking but pretty straight forward for what its for. 45 minutes seems like a short time. I always get paranoid in those situations, worried that I've done something wrong or forgot some paperwork.

Well congratulations and welcome to the this side of the pond!!!

You're in NYC?

MossNyc · 08-04-2010 6:14pm

lil_lisa wrote: »

That's gotta be Post of the Day!

Thank you for your info, sounds slightly nerve wrecking but pretty straight forward for what its for. 45 minutes seems like a short time. I always get paranoid in those situations, worried that I've done something wrong or forgot some paperwork.

Well congratulations and welcome to the this side of the pond!!!

You're in NYC?

Yeah been here 5 years in total now on and off. I wanted to put the whole process up here so people know what to expect, although i assume everyone will have a different experience. My issue with US immigration was that there was no comeback if they refused you. Who do you complain to etc..

Are you in the states ?

lil_lisa · 08-04-2010 6:24pm

Yeah, I'm down in California on an intern visa, have several options in front of me so we'll see which one pans out!

I have to say every time I've gone through customs in the US they're pretty relaxed with me, ask basic questions about previous trips and my future plans here. Its all just the screening process.

Hopefully others who receive a green card through the lottery will share their experience too.

Moss, did you have to wait a certain time in Ireland between being notified of winning and getting your green card and coming over?

MossNyc · 08-04-2010 8:36pm

lil_lisa wrote: »

Yeah, I'm down in California on an intern visa, have several options in front of me so we'll see which one pans out!

I have to say every time I've gone through customs in the US they're pretty relaxed with me, ask basic questions about previous trips and my future plans here. Its all just the screening process.

Hopefully others who receive a green card through the lottery will share their experience too.

Moss, did you have to wait a certain time in Ireland between being notified of winning and getting your green card and coming over?

Yeah i applied for the lottery in 08 , got notification in the post around june 09 and got called for the interview in march 10. so there is a bit of time between stages

shtory · 08-04-2010 8:37pm

I applied for the lottery last November. What date in June do they publish the results?

lil_lisa · 08-04-2010 10:39pm

Wow, that's a long time to keep yourself busy!

The results come out on July 1st: http://www.dvlottery.state.gov/

Ruu_Old · 09-04-2010 1:34pm

I remember giving my visa packet to the immigration officer, it was the same guy every time I flew to the US over the last few years! When I handed it to him he said "ah one lucky visa applicant, be right back". He went into a room and then I was promptly called to sign and get finger printed. The guard also yelled over to my wife "this is his last chance, no going back now!". He was dead on, he said to make sure she knew he was joking, shook my hand and welcomed me to the United States. This was preclearing through Dublin.

MossNyc · 09-04-2010 2:23pm

Ruu wrote: »

I remember giving my visa packet to the immigration officer, it was the same guy every time I flew to the US over the last few years! When I handed it to him he said "ah one lucky visa applicant, be right back". He went into a room and then I was promptly called to sign and get finger printed. The guard also yelled over to my wife "this is his last chance, no going back now!". He was dead on, he said to make sure she knew he was joking, shook my hand and welcomed me to the United States. This was preclearing through Dublin.

Yeah i only did pre clearance once in dublin and it was a pleasure.. the officer was sound out. Shannon is always a drama or pain in the ass..you feel guilty even if you have done nothing wrong ..With the motorway the whole way from dublin airport to waterford now i think ill be flying from there from now on

starky · 09-04-2010 4:39pm

dave2pvd wrote: »

Almost the exact same process I went through. All the way back in 1993/1994. Apparently, it's a lot more expensive now. Plus, I recall getting the medical done was easier; more docs could do it.

I also had to bring the x-rays. NO idea why. They live in the attic now.

Yea, mine are buried somewhere. I felt like a right fool carrying them though Dublin airport when I moved over here in 2008.

> So did they even ask to see the xrays at immigration ?

Moss, no one even looked at them when I was doing the immigration stuff, but I would make sure to have them to hand.
Congrats on the GC, your experience was identical too mine. When are you planing on moving over?

thenobody · 14-04-2010 8:48pm

shtory wrote: »

I applied for the lottery last November. What date in June do they publish the results?

If selected you will get a letter in May from Kentucky Consular Center and it will be sent from Sweden.
The letter should be dated around mid April but usually arrives over a month later.
By mid June if there is no letter - then not picked.

I went through the whole thing and have move here less than a year ago.

You will have a case number and will based on the EU. You will need to check the visa bulletins that come out each month from September on and if the number released for europe is greater than your case number your interview would be about two months later than the bulletin.
Numbers for europe generally stop around 26000 so if your case number is higher most likely wont be called for the interview.
There is a few luck of the draw things and the first one is being picked in the first place.
Oh, your police cert needs to be within 6 months at the interview and your medical needs to be within 6 weeks at the interview.
Medical was around €380 and the interview fee (in 2009) had to be paid in US dollars (using euros they will charge you a terrible exchange rate - get dollars cash from a bank instead). No other method allowed.

lil_lisa · 14-04-2010 8:54pm

Really? Like, next month? Wow, I didn't realise it was so close. Do you have to be in Ireland when they send out the letter? Like, do you have to take any action straight away?

thenobody · 14-04-2010 9:00pm

lil_lisa wrote: »

Really? Like, next month? Wow, I didn't realise it was so close. Do you have to be in Ireland when they send out the letter? Like, do you have to take any action straight away?

Your best bet is to get it done and completed and sent in immediately. Not that makes your chances better but allows for more processing time.
You will need to fill out forms and will need two 2"x2" photos to send with it. Everywhere will rip you off for these. €15 i think i remember.
You have to get the application in by the time the program starts which is september. So send it right away.

After the bulletin the notice of interview arrives 6 weeks later - about a month to month and a half in advance of the interview

thenobody · 14-04-2010 9:01pm

@lil_lisa

is that SD in Kildare/SD where i think it is?? Where i might be? Where you have may felt the earthquake a week and half ago?

lil_lisa · 14-04-2010 9:05pm

Strange question but, well if the chances are I get it, I'd like to be as ready in advance as possible and I'm not living in Ireland at the moment so its difficult but you don't happen to have a link or number of the forms used for the process?

Oh dude, the earthquake was crazy. I was up near Carlsbad when it happened, glad I wasn't at home downtown. Felt another one last week in work. What's gonna happen next!

thenobody · 14-04-2010 9:12pm

Yeah it was mad alright. Was in our 6th floor apartment in Mission Valley. Didnt know what was going for a while but had to run and save the tv from tumbling over to the floor. Has been a few aftershocks. Quite fun actually.

Forms that are included to be completed are DS230 (part I and II) and DSP122

Thats some great memory I have

You can process it from here if you are on another visa. You specify this on the forms the address in the US for the greencard to be sent to and where you want to do the interview. US Embassy Dublin would be for most.
There is more hassle to doing it in the states (AOS is the term used) though than going back from the interview in dublin.

lil_lisa · 14-04-2010 9:13pm

Thank you!

Don't want to go off topic but if you're planning any Padres games this season, let me know, maybe go for a drink or something!

lil_lisa · 14-04-2010 9:22pm

Came across this article, seems to cover everything:

http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3190.html

MossNyc · 14-04-2010 9:27pm

thenobody wrote: »

Yeah it was mad alright. Was in our 6th floor apartment in Mission Valley. Didnt know what was going for a while but had to run and save the tv from tumbling over to the floor. Has been a few aftershocks. Quite fun actually.

Forms that are included to be completed are DS230 (part I and II) and DSP122

Thats some great memory I have

You can process it from here if you are on another visa. You specify this on the forms the address in the US for the greencard to be sent to and where you want to do the interview. US Embassy Dublin would be for most.
There is more hassle to doing it in the states (AOS is the term used) though than going back from the interview in dublin.

Yeah i was living here legally on a h1b and could have done the change of status to a greencard but a buddy of mine who is an immigration attorney told me not to be a tool and bite the bullet and go home and do the interview there. More straightforward and less waiting. But if you are living legally in the US and get picked in the green card lottery it is possible to just change your status to a green card. its one of the options you have when you receive the notice letter.

thenobody · 14-04-2010 9:29pm

Yeah sure. meant to go to mondays game but the chance of rain scared some off. Dont know much about baseball at the moment. Went to a chargers game last year. Most boring load of crap sport have ever seen.

Seems to have most of the info but the minor details will catch you out but the 1st post covers it well.

Btw, if it comes to it you will need police certs from every country you lived in and they must be within 6 months at the time of the interview. This can be worrysome and an issue for some. You need to time these things well and your case number will give an idea of when the interview will be. I had only Ireland and still took a while. Its slower when trying to get it from other countries when you arent there.
You will need bank statements going back a few months too - so they can see you didnt just dump money in the week before as you have to have enough money saved to be above the poverty line - think this is around $14.5K for a single person.
Or an affidavit of support from a US person (very very intrusive forms to fill out and not something to ask someone lightly about).
Or a job offer letter.

lil_lisa · 14-04-2010 9:31pm

Yeah I think I'd rather go home and do it if I had to, but I don't want to be sitting idle for two months at a time and leave my job here, try and do as much here and then go back...

...IF I get it of course! But you gotta keep everything in mind!

thenobody · 14-04-2010 9:35pm

Youll need to do the medical as well though when you are back (blackrock clinic i think is the main place). So you will also need to factor in about a week and a half to get the results of that and then the interview so dont want to cut it too tight.
Anyway, you need the letter first!!!
Mine was dated April 18th received around May 25th. So keep checking .......

lil_lisa · 14-04-2010 9:36pm

Yeah I was reading all that, so between being told that you won this lotto (again IF) and the actual interview can be between 4 months to a year later?

Moss, did you have to get a police cert from the US? It states:

Note: Present and former residents of the United States should NOT obtain any police certificates covering their residence in the U.S.

thenobody · 14-04-2010 9:42pm

Interview can be in September (case #0000001) and ends in July the following year.
For your reference case number around 18500 will mean an interview after the end of March.

MossNyc · 14-04-2010 9:48pm

lil_lisa wrote: »

Yeah I was reading all that, so between being told that you won this lotto (again IF) and the actual interview can be between 4 months to a year later?

Moss, did you have to get a police cert from the US? It states:

Yeah i got the one from New York , its called a good conduct check. They just fingerprint you and give you a letter saying you never have been arrested. I brought it to the interview but she said i didnt need it as they would be able to see if i had a record. The irish one is easy to get ( especially if you know the actual Garda in your village or town) but can take a bit of time to come.

Personally if you need it quickly id go to a local councillor or td and ask them to speed up the process. They would be able to help you

rosh1 · 18-04-2010 4:15pm

Hello

I won a Green card through the Diversity Lottery and i have to be in the US by the end of September 2010. I went through the same interview procedures as MossNyc. I did not like the impersonal glass screen and speaking through a microphone. They just asked for various documents but asked no questions. I was expecting an intensive interview but it was nothing like I was expecting.

I have never been to the US and i am not sure whether to go or not. I do not know anybody there except for some relations I have never seen.

I really do want to go but I am worried about the job situation. I have some savings but worried about wasting it if I cannot get a job in US.
In Ireland I am a qualified civil engineer and worked as a site engineer on residential projects. But I hear construction is very bad in US at the moment and I may not be able to find a good job. I may have to start from scratch as a graduate and some of them work for free initially.

I am a hard worker and would be prepared to do labouring, supermarket work, fast food outlets etc initially to get started But with employment so high in the US are even these sort of jobs available.

I hear a lot of doom and gloom but what is the real situation on the ground?
Are basic jobs available labouring, fast food outlets, hotel work etc.
Is construction really bad? I can do labouring if necessary no problem and semi skilled in a few trades.
What would be the good areas to go to?
is there signs of recovery?

I would appreciate any help.

thenobody · 18-04-2010 5:49pm

Well done. nice one.

But to be honest it will be extremely tough for you or even anyone coming over.

Firstly, you need to pick some places to start your job search and really the only and best way to search for a job from Ireland and even more so over here is by contacts you know in the industry but sounds like that may be hard for you.

The poxy thing for engineers here is you will have to go for the a PE certification which will take years but before that you need to take the FE exam which is an absolute bastard of one. I just did mine yesterday. So glad it is over and out of the way. I'm an electrical engineer and hated having to learn biology, chemistry, statics, thermodynamics, mechanical and materials, economics etc just for one damn stupid exam. Just hope i pass it now and then it will be onto the PE exam next year.
Anyway to get into a consultancy firm that will have to be your goal.

You should at least activate the greencard and buy yourself more time to decide.

Realistically you would need at least 15k with you and you really should buy health insurance for when you come over until you get a job that gives it (or makes it cheaper) but the jobs you seem to look for wont. It is very expensive.

From what i can see there are few jobs here - well any skilled jobs anyway. And its very difficult to find some because they all just want you to fill out an application on their website and attach the CV and its sent off to a black hole never to be heard from again. There is generally nobody to talk to and it is the exact same for the recruitment companies. They are useless compared to the ones in Ireland.
Not trying to scare but just showing you what ive seen and know. You could find that you get a job easily. I did but person Im with got a two month contract job after nine months looking and it will be back to searching in one month.

But I think Ireland is far more screwed than here.

A job in engineering will give you a higher salary than Ireland. A job laboring will be far far less money than Ireland. So dont give up on your engineering yet or at the start. it is the best way for you do your best over here and you should at least to try to stick with it.

So whats your thoughts and where do you think you would like to go to?

rosh1 · 21-04-2010 2:50pm

thenobody wrote: »

Well done. nice one.

But to be honest it will be extremely tough for you or even anyone coming over.

Firstly, you need to pick some places to start your job search and really the only and best way to search for a job from Ireland and even more so over here is by contacts you know in the industry but sounds like that may be hard for you.

The poxy thing for engineers here is you will have to go for the a PE certification which will take years but before that you need to take the FE exam which is an absolute bastard of one. I just did mine yesterday. So glad it is over and out of the way. I'm an electrical engineer and hated having to learn biology, chemistry, statics, thermodynamics, mechanical and materials, economics etc just for one damn stupid exam. Just hope i pass it now and then it will be onto the PE exam next year.
Anyway to get into a consultancy firm that will have to be your goal.

You should at least activate the greencard and buy yourself more time to decide.

Realistically you would need at least 15k with you and you really should buy health insurance for when you come over until you get a job that gives it (or makes it cheaper) but the jobs you seem to look for wont. It is very expensive.

From what i can see there are few jobs here - well any skilled jobs anyway. And its very difficult to find some because they all just want you to fill out an application on their website and attach the CV and its sent off to a black hole never to be heard from again. There is generally nobody to talk to and it is the exact same for the recruitment companies. They are useless compared to the ones in Ireland.
Not trying to scare but just showing you what ive seen and know. You could find that you get a job easily. I did but person Im with got a two month contract job after nine months looking and it will be back to searching in one month.

But I think Ireland is far more screwed than here.

A job in engineering will give you a higher salary than Ireland. A job laboring will be far far less money than Ireland. So dont give up on your engineering yet or at the start. it is the best way for you do your best over here and you should at least to try to stick with it.

So whats your thoughts and where do you think you would like to go to?

I was thinking about going to the west coast but I would go where ever there is work. Everyone seems to head for the east coast.
I am looking through the internet at the moment to see where the best opportunities would be. The internet is all I have at the moment. the best way to getting a job really is through contacts.

I was thinking if I do not get a job quick enough in the construction side that I could go into an engineers office or architects office and be a draughtmans as I can use Autocad. I might get my foot in the door that way and go from there. I never realised i would have to do more exams. i thought i was finished with exams.

The low wage I would do only to tide me over and not eat into my savings. It would only be a short term option.

I still believe that the US would have better opportunities than Ireland now and the future. Even though they say things are improving in Ireland I don't see Ireland improving in the next few years.

D-Generate · 21-04-2010 2:54pm

rosh1 wrote: »

I have never been to the US and i am not sure whether to go or not. I do not know anybody there except for some relations I have never seen.

Why would someone apply to the DV lotto without actually having their heart set on going?! Like you might as well go over before September to at least avail of the golden opportunity that it is.

lil_lisa · 21-04-2010 5:26pm

Now is your opportunity to meet those relations you've never seen. Try get any job that will pay money through them, settle in the country and get to know your grounds and surroundings and the way Americans do things and then figure out what you can do here long-term.

thenobody · 21-04-2010 5:44pm

be prepared though to drop a lot of your savings in one go.
You may find it hard to open a bank account and you most likely will not be able to get a credit card or even secured credit card or store card for about 6 months or until you build credit history.
you wont be able to get a loan so if you need a car you would be paying full cash for it and then then insurance. Or you could rent. I had to rent for the first 5 months then had to pay for my car outright when i had to buy one.
It will be like being a 16 year old again and you will need to get a driving license where you will have to do the written exam and then the full driving test.
You wont be able to buy a car or get insurance until you have a license.
Thing is though you will need to know what state you will be settling in before you go for this and will need a permanent address for your application - same for your application for social security number which you will have to go and apply for about 8 days after you arrive in the states. That can take about a month to receive too. So you wont be able to do much with regards a job without it and the greencard will take nearly two months to arrive too.
There is lots to do initially in getting set up and established. No credit history is really restrictive.
And you will have to submit each new address to USCIS.

To maximise your time before you have to move you could do you activation trip two weeks before the six months (september) limit is up then you would have six months from that point to move over. So basically it can be another 11 months or so before you have to be over there.
You will need to be there long enough though on the activation trip to go apply for your social security number (ticking the box to get a SSN in the DS230 form does not get you one automatically - you will have to apply for it).

lil_lisa · 21-04-2010 6:02pm

I've had a bank account open for about 9 months now and I have been refused a credit card purely based on the fact that I haven't had a bank account open long enough. Once you become a resident in a state you cannot drive without a drivers license from that state, no matter where your current license is from.

If you're not driving, investigate into public transport, the big cities are impossible to get around without it.

You may not be able to rent in certain places, they require references from the US from previous landlords which may be impossible. There are some places that will take you without it, if you make friends you can put them down as some sort of reference. Check out craigslist for someone who already has a lease and is renting out a room, its easier than renting a whole apartment.

Look out for an irish community too where ever you go, they can be quite helpful.

thenobody · 21-04-2010 6:12pm

And once you get a credit card they wont leave you the hell alone.
I get at least 3 junk letters from capital one each week. Pissing me off. I have one credit card, I dont want ten.
I actually dont even want a credit card. My irish one does me fine and the mastercard debit cards can be used everywhere fine.
Only reason to get a credit card is for you to have a bill and to pay it off and to build up credit score.

Be careful of companies over here. They are all trying to scam you and nothing is straight forward genuine. And that goes for everything.

Bank fees are also ridiculous. I got a good account opened through someone i know so dont pay fees but am meant to be paying $25 a month maintenance fees for the account.

I even told the bank: heres $2000, now give me a loan for $2000 and I will pay it off so i can have a bill to build my credit history. They said no - even though i was giving them the money up front to guarantee it.

lonestargirl · 21-04-2010 6:13pm

lil_lisa wrote: »

I've had a bank account open for about 9 months now and I have been refused a credit card purely based on the fact that I haven't had a bank account open long enough.

I haven't investigated credit cards but I have 2 bank accounts both of which issued VISA Debit cards which work exactly the same as a credit card except you are spending your own money. Personally I like the fact that my debit cards have a PIN, credit card security is pretty lax over here. We had to buy our car with cash but we actually got a mortgage fairly easily. I think it was worth the banks while doing an international credit report as they stand to make a lot of money on a mortgage (we did have to put 25% down as well). We were in our new house less than 10 weeks after arriving in the US.

lil_lisa wrote: »

Once you become a resident in a state you cannot drive without a drivers license from that state, no matter where your current license is from.

States do give you some lead time to get a licence, I think California is only 10 days but Texas is 90. But check with your insurance company, even though Texas law is 90 they would only give us 30 days.

US Greencard Through Diversity Lotto

Comments