Green Card Lottery draw rescheduled for this Friday July 15, 2011

The annual U.S. Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, popularly known as the Green Card Lottery, makes available up to 55,000 diversity visas annually, drawn from random selection among applicants who come from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. This program is very important because the very basic requirements (high school diploma or work equivalent, plus being a native of one of the eligible counties, the lack of a filing fee, and the simple application process of submitting the application form and photographs electronically through the US Department of State website) opens the doors to many who otherwise would have no way to lawfully immigrate to the U.S.

Each year, there is a registration period that usually lasts 1-2 months, in the fall, during which you can submit your application (registration phase) and after a random computer generated selection, the lucky few can check the US Department of State website for news of their selection in the following spring/summer, and invited to complete the visa process at the local US Consulate or take the required steps to adjust their status if they are already in the United States.

For the most recent 2012 lottery however, a computer glitch caused the selection of winners not to be random at all. After review, it was discovered that 90% of winners were selected among applicants who had filed their application on the first two days of registration (Octoebr 5 and 6, 2010). This caused the U.S. Department of State the embarassment of having to notify all those "winners" that in fact their selection had to be voided (and their hopes crushed). A new draw has been scheduled and so, for those of you who applied for the 2012 lottery on any day of the registration period between October 5, 2010 and November 3, 2010, it will be included in the new selection lottery. Your confirmation number to check results on the U.S. Department of State website is still valid.

So check the status of your application through the DOS website between July 15, 2011 (this Friday) until June 30, 2012. More information can be found on the official Diversity Visa Lottery website here.

Good luck!!!