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If the Republicans win the US elections held on 6th November 2012, then this could be the last ever Green Card Lottery. The Republicans plan legislation that would abolish it.
A United States Permanent Resident Card is better known as a 'green card'. Possessors of a green card can live and work in the US for the rest of their lives. After five years of permanent residence in the US, a green card holder can apply for US citizenship.
The Green Card Lottery was established by Act of Congress in 1990 and the first one took place in 1995 to encourage diversity in the United States. Every year, 50,000 permanent resident visas are distributed by lottery to natives of countries with low rates of immigration to the US.
This year's Green Card Lottery began on October 2nd 2012 and applications will not be accepted after 12.00 noon, Eastern Daylight Time on November 3rd 2012.
There have been several attempts to abolish the Lottery over the years. In 2005, Republicans attempted to end it after it was revealed that an Egyptian terrorist gained a US green card through the lottery. There are also allegations that the Lottery is open to fraud.
This year, Republican Representative Lamarr Smith, introduced the STEM Jobs Act in the House of Representative, one house of the US Congress. This Act proposed taking the visas allocated under the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, the proper name of the Green Card Lottery, and allocating them instead to graduates in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, (the so called STEM subjects).
Democrats in Congress opposed the STEM Jobs Act because it would abolish the Green Card Lottery. They accepted that America needs to attract more STEM graduates; they said that the Green Card Lottery is important because it fosters diversity in the US.
So the Democrats proposed their own Attracting the Brightest and the Best Act. This act would leave the Green Card Lottery in place and grant 2 year visas to STEM graduates enabling them to work in US industry.
However, neither party was able to make their respective proposals become law. There are two chambers in the US Congress; The Senate and The House of Representatives. The Democrats control the Senate and the Republicans control the House of Representatives. In order to become law, a bill must be passed by both chambers. This is impossible at present. This situation is known as 'gridlock'.
Congress is now in recess waiting for the election of the new president on November 6th. On that day, there are also elections for 468 Congressional seats; 33 seats of the 100 Senate seats are up for election. If the Republicans win 14 of these, they will take control of the Senate.
At the same time, elections will be held for all 435 seats in the House of Representatives. This means that the Republicans could take control of the Presidency and both Houses of Congress.
Therefore, control of the Washington government may fall totally into the hands of the Republicans in the November 2012 election. If it does then the Stem Jobs Act may very well be passed by Congress.
However, that does not mean that it would become law. The President has a right of veto. If the Republicans control Congress but President Obama is re-elected, it seems likely that he would veto the STEM Jobs Act, even if it got through Congress.
However, if Mr Romney becomes president, then, it could be that 2012 is your last chance to take part in the Green Card Lottery.
At present, the results of the elections are far from certain but this could be your last chance to apply.
For a small fee, workpermit.com can help you with your Green Card Lottery application. We also have an US Attorney who can assist in US immigration related matters.
