Requirements for Lottery Green Card

There are certain requirements you need to fulfill in order to apply for US green card lottery. If you are well aware of the criteria to apply and know the eligibility requirements, you are in a better position to secure yourself from rejection. Moreover, the information regarding green card lottery will keep you safe from all kinds of scam and fraud.

The US Department of Immigration has set out some rules and regulations to follow for Diversity Visa Lottery Program. The government holds a strict policy against any applications received through unscrupulous means. You should be informed so that you don't become a victim of deception.

Here are some clear cut eligibility requirements and information about the application:

Eligibility Requirements: There are two basic eligibility requirements you should adhere to before applying.

1) Eligible Country You should be from the eligible country to apply. The government updates the list of eligible and ineligible countries every year. For DV-2013, Bangladesh was removed from the list of eligible countries; instead Poland and Sudan were added. There is lot of speculation about the announcement of DV-2014 eligible countries, so keep your fingers crossed for your native country.

Furthermore, you can still qualify for the lottery application if your parents or spouse are from the eligible countries.

2) Education Or Work Experience You are eligible if you have completed your High School Education or 12-years of elementary and secondary education.

In case you don't meet the education criteria, you must provide evidence of your work experience. You should have 2 years of work experience within the last 5 years in an occupation which requires 2 years of training or experience.

Important Information: There are many agencies who are trying to trap you into something that is not just illegal but unethical as well. They can jeopardize your chances of getting the green card. To stay alert, you should keep in mind the following information:

- Multiple entries are not entertained. You can submit only one entry during the particular green card lottery year.

- The government website is active only during the application period. You cannot apply after the closing date.

- The immigration office does not accept paper or mail entries. Only online applications are accepted.

- The digital photographs of spouses and children should be attached.

- Married couples should apply separately if both meet the eligibility requirements. In this case if one spouse wins, the other can accompany the winning spouse.

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Going For The Gold And The Green (Card): A Guide to US Immigration For International Athletes

The London Summer Olympic Games are fast approaching, and the most extraordinary international athletes are gearing up to travel and compete for the most sought after award in international athletics, an Olympic Medal. Olympians compete and train all year at international competitions to remain at the top of their sport. One question we often receive from sports leagues, managers, agents, athletes and promoters is: "what visa options are there for international athletes to come to the U.S.?"

Under current immigration law, internationally-recognized athletes, either as an individual or as a member of an internationally recognized team, can qualify for P-1 nonimmigrant visas to come to the U.S. to compete at distinguished athletic competitions. A U.S. employer, sponsoring organization, or agent must file the petition with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which must include a contract and itinerary for the athlete's competitions, events and/or promotional appearances. Certain sports present unique challenges with regards to the contracts and itineraries an athlete can obtain (swimming, golf, volleyball, boxing), often requiring creative solutions, such as extrapolating prior reoccurring seasons or events to project future competition.

Some international athletes can qualify for O-1 nonimmigrant visas as "athletes of extraordinary ability," if they are within the small percentage of athletes who have risen to the very top of their sport. O-1 athletes are not limited to the specific athletic competitions mentioned above for P-1s, but they still must demonstrate they are coming to the U.S. to continue work in the area of extraordinary ability. Similar to the P-1 visa, O-1 athletes require a U.S. employer or agent to file a petition. Due to the higher adjudicatory standards associated with the O-1 visa, most athletes pursue P-1s.

International athletes with extraordinary ability who qualify for the temporary O-1 visa may also qualify for the extraordinary ability green card, often referred to as "EB1-1". The EB1-1 is very similar to the O-1, but carries with it a much higher evidentiary and adjudicatory standard. While both categories require the athlete to display they are in the top few percentages in their sport and to demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim, the level of scrutiny applied to EB1-1 cases is burdensomely high. While an EB1-1 may be self-petitioned (unlike the O-1 or P-1), having an acclaimed sports team file the petition may be the buzzer beater.

Olympian hopefuls can achieve more than just a medal if they win in London - both the O-1and EB1-1 visas may be approved based on receipt of "a major, internationally recognized award." Yes, a gold medal may automatically qualify someone for a green card (they did beat the rest of the world after all). International athletes who win national or international competitions should consult with an experienced immigration attorney to determine whether their achievement would qualify as major and internationally recognized. Even if an award or medal does not rise to the level of major and internationally recognized, it may still meet one of the regulatory criteria to help demonstrate an athlete is extraordinary.

Intending U.S. immigrant athletes competing at the Olympic Games are striving for more than just Olympic glory, because while every Olympic competitor dreams of winning the gold, for some, the bigger prize is green.

Finding The Right Immigration Attorney   Do We Allow Free-Speech In Another Country Of An Individual Applying for Citizenship Here?   In Plain English: What Did The United States Supreme Court Do In The Arizona Immigration Case?   Facing Deportation? An Immigration Attorney Is Your Best Bet   Protect Your Green Card   Why It Is Important to Use an Attorney When Immigrating to the United States