US Greencard Through Diversity Lotto- Register Today

Adrianno28

US Greencard Through Diversity Lotto starts today-Registration for the DV-2014 Program is not yet open. Online registration will begin on Tuesday, October 2, 2012 at 12:00 noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4), and conclude on Saturday, November 3, 2012 at 12:00 noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4). See the DV Instructions webpage for the DV 2014 Instructions and any available translations.
https://www.dvlottery.state.gov/


Good luck to anyone giving it a go!

superfrank

I'm interested in applying for this.

This is probably a very stupid question but is there anything to increase your odds of getting this? applying twice? type of profession?

Also, what are the odds of a person getting this?

Thanks in advance

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silja

superfrank wrote: »

I'm interested in applying for this.

This is probably a very stupid question but is there anything to increase your odds of getting this? applying twice? type of profession?

Also, what are the odds of a person getting this?

Thanks in advance

No way of increasing your odds. I think applying twice may disqualify you. But if you are married, your wife can apply to and if either of you win, the spouse can come along.

As long as you meet the minimum requirements (highschool equivalent education, no major criminal conviction etc), and can show you can financially support yourself until you find a job over there, you have as much of a chance as anyone else.

The odds depend on how many people apply in your region, so changes each year.

hdowney

I'm applying for this in about an hour Canni wait

Adrianno28

Hope it went well I did mine too!

Adrianno28

Theres no way to increase your odds.. if you apply twice your disqualified! Hope it goes well

Feelgood

My aunt won this lottery around 18 years ago. Happy out living in NY ever since.

It is doable but if you get any little detail incorrect your application is disqualified and they don't tell you if your application gets disqualified which is quite annoying.

hdowney

I think with the application I filled out yesterday it'd be hard to get something wrong, unless you forget to list children or something (I don't have any so happy days). I HATE my pic in 600x600, it makes me look like blimp lady. I hope they cop it is their stupid pic requirements that make me that fat and NOT that I am that fat

I put down highest level of education attained as Vocational cos I wasn't sure what THEY meant by some college courses. I think one of the things I did was a 'some college course' but their opinion of what constitutes and mine could be different and I figured I would be better ticking the lower box, then in interview when I bring my certs they can decide for themselves if it should have been higher. But if I had ticked higher and then in the interview they were like 'you haven't done some college courses' it could be seen as lying/mis-representing myself and count against me

Dead Man Walking

hdowney wrote: »

I put down highest level of education attained as Vocational cos I wasn't sure what THEY meant by some college courses. I think one of the things I did was a 'some college course' but their opinion of what constitutes and mine could be different and I figured I would be better ticking the lower box, then in interview when I bring my certs they can decide for themselves if it should have been higher. But if I had ticked higher and then in the interview they were like 'you haven't done some college courses' it could be seen as lying/mis-representing myself and count against me

I bet that whats going to mess it up for me. I did a 1 year sound engineering plc course, but the small print on the application was going on about vocational courses not being enough or something so I just picked high school degree instead of vocational.

hdowney

Dead Man Walking wrote: »

I bet that whats going to mess it up for me. I did a 1 year sound engineering plc course, but the small print on the application was going on about vocational courses not being enough or something so I just picked high school degree instead of vocational.

I think vocational courses were not enough if you hadn't got a high school diploma? Can someone clarify this for me cos now I am worried. I ticked vocational to cover the level 5 plc and level 6 I did, so surely they will know that by ticking vocational I have progressed on from my high school dip and gotten MORE quals??

Palmy

Dont get to hung up on your education untill you actually get selected.They randomly select 100,000.
Once you are filling out the forms it goes into more detail and you write down what education levels you have done.

hdowney

Palmy wrote: »

Dont get to hung up on your education untill you actually get selected.They randomly select 100,000.
Once you are filling out the forms it goes into more detail and you write down what education levels you have done.

Oh thank the heck for that.

Wait so do they randomly select more than they have visas for? Interesting

Palmy

It actually costs money once you are selected.I paid around €300 for the medical,$975 USD On the day of the interview (All this is non refundable)even if they do not get selected.Plus little things like getting certs,gettting the right size envelopes..etc..Plus you will need at least about $10,000-$12,000 in assets or in your bank account (and show proof of this,bank statements etc)This is why they select 100,000 people as alot of people wont have this kind of money.Once you get the Visa in your passport you have to activaite it within 6 months.Then after that you can come back for no more than 11 months, to move permanently.If you stay out of the country longer they can take the greencard off you.

hdowney

Palmy wrote: »

It actually costs money once you are selected.I paid around €300 for the medical,$975 USD On the day of the interview (All this is non refundable)even if they do not get selected.Plus little things like getting certs,gettting the right size envelopes..etc..Plus you will need at least about $10,000-$12,000 in assets or in your bank account (and show proof of this,bank statements etc)This is why they select 100,000 people as alot of people wont have this kind of money.Once you get the Visa in your passport you have to activaite it within 6 months.Then after that you can come back for no more than 11 months, to move permanently.If you stay out of the country longer they can take the greencard off you.

Crikey, the non-refundable thing surprises me. Most applications I know of, like Canada etc the money is refundable if you are not successful. That is a lot of money to be non-refundable

Palmy

YUUP Alot of money to put down.As long as you have been honest and have the money.Once you get to the interview stage and show proof of everything, its pretty much in the bag.They just need to see proof of what you are saying is correct.

hdowney

Obviously there are a lot of varying factors as to when, but approximately how long did it take for you to get your interview? Tryin to work out a guesstimate of months to make sure I have the funding requirement (as I said I know the variables are well variable but!)

Palmy

Registered Nov 08,I got my letter and paper work in April 09(they used to send you it).Sent off all my paper work to the States around May 09.Got a letter late Dec 09 (but was dated Oct 09 )for interview at U.S Embassey Mid Jan 10.Went out in August 10 to look around.Came back late Sept 10.
Went back out for good Aug 11.

hdowney

About a year or so then before your interview. Do you have to declare your assets/ how much money is in your bank acc in your paperwork?

Also the whole Job offer thing - providing evidence of a job offer at interview - do you know of many who did this? I would think it'd be difficult to apply for jobs and the like when you don't know when you'll be called for interview etc

Palmy

You dont have to show them proof of Assets or money in your Bank account untill you are interviewed.You also dont need a job offer either.
The money and assets you will show them at the interview is pretty much, I have enough money to live on untill i can find a job kind of thing.I moved here and it took me nearly four months to find a job.

hdowney

Cool sorry to be a hound. Did they specify that it should be in the $10,000 - $12,000 dollar range or could you have slightly less than that in your bank acc? Say around $8000 - $9000?

Palmy

If you have $8000-$9000 in your bank and have assets like a car etc (things you can sell) you should be ok.Just make sure you can show them six months statements with the money in your account.

hdowney

Palmy wrote: »

If you have $8000-$9000 in your bank and have assets like a car etc (things you can sell) you should be ok.Just make sure you can show them six months statements with the money in your account.

At the mo I have two cars, not sure either are worth a whole heap!!! As to the bank statements, does the $8-9000 have to be in your account for those entire 6mths or can you show that you built it up over time so as to have the money to support yourself?

I am also wondering whether to use my bank acc with my direct debits going out, or perhaps open another bank account just for savings (I'd rather keep the money seperate, and I have a credit union account, but I don't know that they issue statments!)

Palmy

You could show them all your accounts.Building up money is def a good idea though.They want to just see you didn't just borrow money for a few days and that it actually is your money.

hdowney

Cheers for all the advice

ProudDUB

hdowney wrote: »

Also the whole Job offer thing - providing evidence of a job offer at interview - do you know of many who did this? I would think it'd be difficult to apply for jobs and the like when you don't know when you'll be called for interview etc

You don't have to have a job (or even a job interview or offer) to facilitate your getting a Green Card. Obviously having one would help, but it is not mandatory. The presumption being that once you move to the US legally, and are legally able to work, you then look for work itself. They don't have a problem with that as long as you can prove that you can support yourself for a period of time while you look for work.

hdowney

ProudDUB wrote: »

You don't have to have a job (or even a job interview or offer) to facilitate your getting a Green Card. Obviously having one would help, but it is not mandatory. The presumption being that once you move to the US legally, and are legally able to work, you then look for work itself. They don't have a problem with that as long as you can prove that you can support yourself for a period of time while you look for work.

That is good to know. I did think that it would be so weird and hard to look for jobs and try to secure an offer when you had no clue as to when or if you'd get interview/accepted!


@Palmy Can I ask how (and possibly why and stuff - feel free to tell me to p off if I am being nosy!) it worked with you going over for like a month or so then coming home for 11 months? I presume one of the reasons you went over when you did was to validate the green card within the 6mth time limit? Did you come home to get everything sorted etc?

SHOVELLER

Palmy wrote: »

Registered Nov 08,I got my letter and paper work in April 09(they used to send you it).Sent off all my paper work to the States around May 09.Got a letter late Dec 09 (but was dated Oct 09 )for interview at U.S Embassey Mid Jan 10.Went out in August 10 to look around.Came back late Sept 10.
Went back out for good Aug 11.

So for those of us who applied for the 2013 programme and got rejected but who are waiting for the 22 October the timeline could be tight. Conceivably if successful the interview could be in January where there is no way anybody could reasonably be expected to have $12,000.

whatever73

Palmy wrote: »

It actually costs money once you are selected.I paid around €300 for the medical,$975 USD On the day of the interview (All this is non refundable)even if they do not get selected.Plus little things like getting certs,gettting the right size envelopes..etc..Plus you will need at least about $10,000-$12,000 in assets or in your bank account (and show proof of this,bank statements etc)This is why they select 100,000 people as alot of people wont have this kind of money.Once you get the Visa in your passport you have to activaite it within 6 months.Then after that you can come back for no more than 11 months, to move permanently.If you stay out of the country longer they can take the greencard off you.

I got mine last year and never had to prove id $10k in the bank. Cost me $395 for the medical, $330 for the interview, $175 for the police check, done it all in Sydney though.

Adrianno28

SO if I get selected I have to have $12,000? didnt know that!???

hdowney

whatever73 wrote: »

I got mine last year and never had to prove id $10k in the bank. Cost me $395 for the medical, $330 for the interview, $175 for the police check, done it all in Sydney though.

Confused. Why does the police check cost money. I thought you went to the cops and got a cert, same as you do for Canada and the like, and that doesn't cost money afaik

Adrianno28 wrote: »

SO if I get selected I have to have $12,000? didnt know that!???

Makes sense to save hard though. Even if they don't ask you to prove you have the funds, best to have as much money to support yourself heading over. Like in getting accom/tiding you over til you get a job etc

silja

hdowney wrote: »

Confused. Why does the police check cost money. I thought you went to the cops and got a cert, same as you do for Canada and the like, and that doesn't cost money afaik

He went through Sidney, and so likely had to get a Aussie cert. I had to get a Swiss one (you need one for every place you lived for more than 6 months after age 16) which cost 40 euro, some countries charge. The Irish one is free.

hdowney

silja wrote: »

He went through Sidney, and so likely had to get a Aussie cert. I had to get a Swiss one (you need one for every place you lived for more than 6 months after age 16) which cost 40 euro, some countries charge. The Irish one is free.

:o Now see if I was awake I would have caught that!

JJLongford

Once you get Greencard, how do you become permanent resident? What's the process? Anybody know? Thanks.

Tamoreit

JJLongford wrote: »

Once you get Greencard, how do you become permanent resident? What's the process? Anybody know? Thanks.

Once you have the green card you are a permanent resident. If you're successful at the interview stage at the DV lottery, all you need to do is travel to the US within 6 months to activate the green card and that's it.

whatever73

hdowney wrote: »

Confused. Why does the police check cost money. I thought you went to the cops and got a cert, same as you do for Canada and the like, and that doesn't cost money afaik



Makes sense to save hard though. Even if they don't ask you to prove you have the funds, best to have as much money to support yourself heading over. Like in getting accom/tiding you over til you get a job etc

Garda check was free but had to pay the New South Wales police $175 to take my finger prints and press print on their computer, Australia is massive rip off!!

ProudDUB

Tamoreit wrote: »

Once you have the green card you are a permanent resident. If you're successful at the interview stage at the DV lottery, all you need to do is travel to the US within 6 months to activate the green card and that's it.

Yep. The green card is not actually called the green card, not officially anyway. It's proper legal name is The Permanent Residency Card. It is commonly referred to as a green card because back in the day, the actual cards used to have a greenish tinge to them, so the nick name stuck.

If you are awarded one, you'll have paperwork stating your entitlement to residency status. I think its a stamp in your passport. (I got mine 18 years ago, so my memory on the process is a little fuzzy.) When you get to the airport, you'll be processed in a special area. They review your paperwork, take your medical stuff from you, ask for an address to send your green card to, and then send you on your merry way.

The card itself arrives in the post a few weeks later. That is what you present at the airport whenever you leave the US, and you want to get back in again. It was all very easy and uncomplicated really when I was doing it. The only hassle I experienced was that looking for work in that 2/3 week time frame (before the card came) was hampered by the fact that I didn't actually have the green card in my hand at that time to show to prospective employers to prove that I was legally entitled to live and work in the country. So some of them didn't want to know me. But once the card came in the post, there was no stopping me.

hdowney

ProudDUB wrote: »

Yep. The green card is not actually called the green card, not officially anyway. It's proper legal name is The Permanent Residency Card. It is commonly referred to as a green card because back in the day, the actual cards used to have a greenish tinge to them, so the nick name stuck.

If you are awarded one, you'll have paperwork stating your entitlement to residency status. I think its a stamp in your passport. (I got mine 18 years ago, so my memory on the process is a little fuzzy.) When you get to the airport, you'll be processed in a special area. They review your paperwork, take your medical stuff from you, ask for an address to send your green card to, and then send you on your merry way.

The card itself arrives in the post a few weeks later. That is what you present at the airport whenever you leave the US, and you want to get back in again. It was all very easy and uncomplicated really when I was doing it. The only hassle I experienced was that looking for work in that 2/3 week time frame (before the card came) was hampered by the fact that I didn't actually have the green card in my hand at that time to show to prospective employers to prove that I was legally entitled to live and work in the country. So some of them didn't want to know me. But once the card came in the post, there was no stopping me.

What happens if you don't have an american address to get it sent to, when you are leaving the first time and they ask you. Like I was thinking of going over for a month or so - to validate the thing within the timeframe, then coming home for a while before going over again. could i get it sent to my irish address, and then, when i am coming home the first time, will i get out easy enough? and then back in on it?

enomis

Hi there,

I'm interested in applying for visa for this round - and I have one very quick question -

I am engaged to my other half, we live together but have no marriage plans as of yet... is he my spouse as far as application question on the Visa is concerned or does he have to apply on his own and therefore we risk one of us getting it and not the other?

Many thanks...

silja

hdowney: You will get in and out fine, but you need a US address for the greencard. Maybe a friend or family member? Not sure but at a push you could maybe take out a P.O Box... sometimes they don't send official documents to such places.

Enomis: Only legally married counts. If one of you gets it and the other does not, you can get legally married between winning and the interview and you both can benefit.

hdowney

Shoot. That could pose a problem. I'll have to think that one through

JohnMearsheimer

I just stuck in my application there. It's my third time applying. I don't expect to get a green card but if you're not in you can't win and all that.

biddywiddy

hdowney wrote: »

Shoot. That could pose a problem. I'll have to think that one through

If it's any help, my OH got a Green Card through this process, and we didn't have a US address to give when we travelled to the US to activate the visa. He "bought" a PO Box through a mail forwarding service which worked fine. He got an email from the company when the green card (and a few other documents) arrived and then paid to have them forwarded.

hdowney

senelra wrote: »

If it's any help, my OH got a Green Card through this process, and we didn't have a US address to give when we travelled to the US to activate the visa. He "bought" a PO Box through a mail forwarding service which worked fine. He got an email from the company when the green card (and a few other documents) arrived and then paid to have them forwarded.

Thanks for that

yosser hughes

There is a question on the application"City where you were born"
What should be put in for this if you weren't born in a city? Just the town or county maybe? On my passport it has my county as place of birth.

superfrank

yosser hughes wrote: »

There is a question on the application"City where you were born"
What should be put in for this if you weren't born in a city? Just the town or county maybe? On my passport it has my county as place of birth.

I just put in my county

yosser hughes

superfrank wrote: »

I just put in my county

Thanks superfrank.