Support migrant centric journalism today and donate
Applications for the 2018 Diversity Immigrant Visa Lottery (DV-2018) started to be accepted from October 4, 2016, as announced by the US Department of State. This year people from Ecuador can apply under the green card lottery scheme. Applicants must submit their entries electronically between noon on October 4, 2016 and noon on November 7, 2016, Eastern Standard Time. Only a few days left.
As usual there are 50,000 Diversity Immigrant visas available, which is administered annually by the Department of State. Diversity Visa “US green cards”, which are available to persons from countries with low levels of immigration numbers to the US. However, as it is a lottery the likelihood of success is in most cases low.
The immigrant visas are distributed among six geographical regions, with a higher proportion going to those regions with the lowest rates of US immigration’ no visas are available for citizens of countries who have had 50,000 immigrants or more enter the US during the last five years.
Country of birth eligible for entry under the Green Card Lottery visa
Those born in most of the World can apply under the Green Card Lottery scheme. This year those born in Ecuador can apply. Those born in Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR and Taiwan but not those born in mainland China can apply for the Green Card Lottery and if successful apply for a Diversity Immigrant Visa. Those born in the following Countries are unable to apply:
- Bangladesh
- Brazil
- Canada
- China (mainland-born)
- Colombia
- Dominican Republic
- El Salvador
- Haiti
- India
- Jamaica
- Mexico
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Peru
- The Philippines
- South Korea
- The United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories
- Vietnam
However, people who are unable to register for the Green Card Lottery because their country of birth is excluded could potentially qualify via a spouse who was born in an eligible nation. Additionally, qualifying registrants are required to have a high school education or equivalent, defined as successful completion of a 12-year course of elementary and secondary education or two years of work experience. The two years’ work experience is needed within the past five years in a job role that needed two years of training or experience to perform the role.
Applying for the Green Card Lottery
To enter, foreign nationals will need to complete an online form and provide a digital photo via the official DV lottery website, with one entry permitted per applicant. If multiple registrations are made on behalf of one person, every entry for that person is disqualified.
There is no cost to apply and all DV lottery entrants will need to visit the E-DV Entrant Status Check website to discover if their entry has been chosen in the lottery. Those selected will receive confirmation of their selection via the Entry Status Check, which will be made available from May 2, 2017 and will run until September 30, 2018.
Those chosen will be directed to a confirmation page providing additional instructions, which will contain information on fees required for US immigration visas. In fiscal year 2018, which runs from October 1, 2017, to September 30, 2018, those selected as part of the lottery will be eligible to apply for permanent residence.
US green card is a common term for legal permanent residency in the US which allows you to work for any employer, claim federal benefits, and may enable you to apply for US citizenship in future. On average, the US issues one million green cards each year.
If you wish to comment on this news report register with us and make comments below.
Workpermit.com can help with L-1, E-1, E-2 Visas and other types of US Visas
For more information, or to find out if you are eligible for an US work visa contact WorkPermit.com on 0344 991 9222 or email London@workpermit.com.
