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US Embassy Croatia
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Comments by Sanwar Ali:
The likelihood of being picked is very low. However, if you are picked it is an easy way to gain a Green Card.
Please note that you have until 12 noon (Eastern Time) on November 10, 2020 to apply. If you wish to apply and are eligible probably best not to leave it until the last minute.
This year’s US green card lottery opened to applicants on October 7, 2020 and will continue accepting applications up until the 12 noon deadline (Eastern Time) on 10 November 2020. Despite Trump’s efforts to scrap the green card lottery - also known as the diversity visa lottery - US entry is still open to those from countries with low migrant numbers in America.
According to the Department of State website, citizens of all countries can apply for the US green card lottery, except the following:
- Bangladesh
- Brazil
- Canada
- China (including Hong Kong SAR)
- Colombia
- Dominican Republic
- El Salvador
- Guatemala
- Haiti
- Honduras
- India
- Jamaica
- Mexico
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Philippines
- South Korea
- United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories
- Vietnam
Nigeria the only African nation excluded
Nigeria became the latest country to be excluded from the US green card lottery after the number of Nigerian migrants in the US exceeded the maximum of 50,000, and is the only African nation not to be included.
However, people born in Macau SAR and Taiwan are eligible for this year’s green card lottery. Under the rules of the diversity visa, people born in ineligible countries can apply using a spouse’s country of birth. Equally, if neither of an applicant’s parents were born in an ineligible country, people can qualify using the country of birth of their parents.
Qualifying criteria
To qualify for the US green card lottery, a person must:
- Be born in a qualifying country or be eligible by claiming a parent or spouse’s country that’s not on the exclusion list
- Meet educational and work experience criteria by having a minimum of a high school education or two years of equivalent work experience within the past five years. This must be in an occupation that requires at least two years of qualifying training or experience
Under green card lottery rules, each applicant is allowed to submit one entry only. Those applying more than once will be disqualified.
New qualifying criteria added
This year’s lottery has had a new qualification added, which requires the primary applicant to have a valid passport at the time of applying for entry into the lottery.
There is no fee to apply for the lottery and applications must be made online. Once an application is submitted, entrants will receive a confirmation number. The number allows applicants to check the status of their entry via the Department of State website from May 8, 2021.
No other official notification will be provided as the program does not issue emails or letters.
Workpermit.com can help with US employment-based visas
If you would like to apply for a US work visa – including L1 visas, E2 visas, O1 visas and H1B visas - Workpermit.com can help.
Workpermit.com is a specialist visa services firm with over thirty years of experience dealing with visa applications. We can help with a wide range of visa applications to your country of choice. Contact us for further details. You can also telephone 0344 991 9222.
