Currently there are about 140,000 EB Green Card Visas issued each year and only a maximum of 7% can be issued to any one nationality annually. What that has meant in practice for the EB2 and EB3 categories is that b/c of the sheer number of Indian and Chinese applicants in particular, that there is a large backlog of waiting lists of people working in the US in limbo not being able to move up or on in their jobs, passing up promotions and better offers, etc. waiting for their visa number in the queue to be called.

For the EB2 category it is about a 4-6 year wait for Indians and Chinese and in the EB3 category that goes up to 10 years and beyond. Of course if the nationality cap is removed then many citizens from other countries in both these categories who had jumped ahead in the queue b/c of these limits may have to wait a bit longer.

Sadly each year many of the 140,000 green card visas go to waste with people who have abandoned their application and returned home or moved elsewhere and b/c of the nature of the law these are wasted for good. If all the green card visas that had been wasted over the last few years had allowed to be reused (so not increasing any caps just using what was already authorized by the US Congress), then the entire current backlog for EB2 and EB3 would be removed for all nations. This actually has been done once before in the early 2000s but such a “radical” or more correctly logical move would seen to be too hard in today’s politically charged, cable news driven, extreme partisan US Immigration landscape.

The startling part of this so far is that it was able to pass with such overwhelming support from Conservative and Tea Party backed Republicans and Liberal and Most Left Leaning Democrats alike. The major premise is so that the US retains high skilled talent to help grow the economy and create jobs. According to Bloomberg, only 15% of visas are granted for economic reasons, a policy that undermines U.S. companies competing in a global talent pool.

Then foreign students studying in the US account for the majority of computer science and engineering doctorates earned from U.S. institutions. (In 2006, more than 4,500 foreign students earned engineering Ph.D.’s in the U.S., almost two-thirds of the total.) There is no policy or incentivized scheme to get them to stay in the U.S. after graduation given that these immigrants have a much higher propensity to create new businesses. We have mentioned before the Duke University study found that foreign immigrants helped found more than a quarter of the technology and engineering companies established in the U.S. between 1995 and 2005 (inc. Google, Yahoo, Paypal, etc.) so a huge amount of jobs and wealth for the US and her citizens.

However there is a roadblock!

One of our “favorite” politicians, Senator Charles (Chuck) Grassley, a Republican from Iowa placed a hold on the bill now it has reach the Senate. Even though it is expected to have broad support in the Upper House of the US Congress, it is now effectively in limbo due to the actions of one Senator for reasons that are not quite clear and that he has not fully expressed. Of course Iowa whose economy is still heavily influenced by Agriculture is not really a mecca for driving US innovation and wealth and nor is it a massive location for foreign highly skilled immigrants to reside, so really this bill would have very little effect if anything there.

However Senator Grassley seemingly unilaterally has put everything on hold possibly because of an earlier 2009 H1B and L1 Visa reform bill he put before Congress with Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois which thankfully has not gone anywhere as would be a major dent in the US economy.

We hope sanity prevails as it has in the House branch of the US Congress but I certainly would not be getting to excited as with the December – January Congress recess coming up and 2012 being a Presidential election year and where partisan politics is at its peak, anything getting done sometimes is a miracle.

Cj

©2012 E3 Visa. All Rights Reserved.

The Lottery is run by the US Government and is very simple application for the most part with just basic details required along with a digital photo. More official information can be found at the official Green Card Lottery Information area of the US State Department.

This year is began October 4, 2011 and if successful you will be notified via a formal letter as well as be able to check online between around May to July in 2012. These dates of announcement will be formally confirmed later The dates of the Green Card Lottery entrance period are fixed so get your entry in early to ensure you do not miss out or leave it to the last minute and risk any issues with site outages. Official instructions and eligble countries are yet to be announced for this year but if you read our Diversity Visa Lottery Instructions you will get a pretty good year about a lot of this as it doesn’t change that much

The green card lottery winners (diversity visa lottery) winners have been announced for Dv-2012 held online from October to November in 2011 twice in May and then again in July due to a computer glitch which we documented. Given a US Federal court upheld the decision to decide the winners again and deny the applications of those that were originally nominated as winners this year in May, that we will never see anything like that where false hopes are raised for so many around the world. Anyway you should note that being selected as a winner does not guarantee you a green card as you must pass some additional criteria as well in the application process.

Unfortunately those who missed out on the green card and permanent residency will NOT receive any notification but you will be able to check the status of their entry through the E-DV website. You MUST keep the confirmation page information from when you entered the DV Lottery

Between April and July 2012 results should be sent out to the lucky applicants with an official letter from the U.S. Department of State Kentucky Consular Center in Williamsburg, Kentucky. All notifications are by mail to your nominated address and you should note that there is NOT any email notification. It seems like already people have started receiving their winning letters so hopefully this will be the case for all of you that read this post and applied!

The notification letters will have additional instructions, including information about additional forms and other documentation required as well as immigrant visa application fees.

A couple of additional points to note.

1. Be patient with receiving the 2nd letter if you have received the first as sometime the mail is slow. The only people that you can contact that will give you any insightful information if you are a winner and received the first letter is the KCC.

2. Check the US government websites to see the current dates for your number if you are a winner

3. If you were a child on a winner’s application and since turned 21 after being 20 at the time of application, you are still eligible as your age is frozen. However you must take up the green card within a year as otherwise you will be ineligible

4. High School education or its equivalent as per the requirements of the primary applicant means the successful completion of a twelve year course of elementary/primary and secondary education in the U.S. or successful completion in another county of a formal course of elementary/primary and secondary education that is comparable to the US 12 year education system.

5. If you are currently residing in the US on another non-immigrant visa, you are able to adjust your status within the US if you are a winner

Good Luck

CJ

©2012 E3 Visa. All Rights Reserved.

IMPORTANT: (DV-2013) Green Card Lottery or it’s official title Diversity Visa Lottery is completely FREE to enter!

So do not think that you have pay as their are many sites out there that charge a fee saying they wil enter you multiple times over many years, ensure your application is correct and enhance your chances of winning as well as pay for your ticket over here partially or in full if you win.

The Lottery is run by the US Government and is very simple application for the most part with just basic details required along with a digital photo. More official information can be found at the official Green Card Lottery Information area of the US State Department.

This year the online lottery will run from October 4, 2011 to November 5, 2011 and if successful you will be notified via a formal letter as well as be able to check online between around May to July in 2012. These dates of announcement will be formally confirmed later The dates of the Green Card Lottery entrance period are fixed so get your entry in early to ensure you do not miss out or leave it to the last minute and risk any issues with site outages. Following an interview at the US Consulate you will then be able to enter the US in the 2013 Immigration year in their calendar which begins on October 1, 2012.

Official instructions and eligble countries are yet to be announced for this year but if you read our Diversity Visa Lottery Instructions you will get a pretty good year about a lot of this as it doesn’t change that much

The green card lottery winners (diversity visa lottery) winners have been announced for Dv-2012 held online from October to November in 2011 twice in May and then again in July due to a computer glitch which we documented. So it is our hope for everyone that the false hope that many received in May 2011 when checking their results online is never repeated.

You should note that being selected as a winner does not guarantee you a green card as you must pass some additional criteria as well in the application process. The actual DV-2013 visas to enter the US will be issued between the period of October 1, 2012, and September 30, 2013. Applicants must obtain the diversity visa or adjust status by the end of the fiscal year.

Unfortunately those who missed out on the green card and permanent residency will NOT receive any notification but for the second year running, you will be able to check the status of their entry through the E-DV website. You MUST keep the confirmation page information from when you entered the DV Lottery

Between April and July 2012 results should be sent out to the lucky applicants with an official letter from the U.S. Department of State Kentucky Consular Center in Williamsburg, Kentucky. All notifications are by mail to your nominated address and you should note that there is NOT any email notification. It seems like already people have started receiving their winning letters so hopefully this will be the case for all of you that read this post and applied!

The notification letters will have additional instructions, including information about additional forms and other documentation required as well as immigrant visa application fees.

A couple of additional points to note.

1. Be patient with receiving the 2nd letter if you have received the first as sometime the mail is slow. The only people that you can contact that will give you any insightful information if you are a winner and received the first letter is the KCC.

2. Check the US government websites to see the current dates for your number if you are a winner

3. If you were a child on a winner’s application and since turned 21 after being 20 at the time of application, you are still eligible as your age is frozen. However you must take up the green card within a year as otherwise you will be ineligible

4. High School education or its equivalent as per the requirements of the primary applicant means the successful completion of a twelve year course of elementary/primary and secondary education in the U.S. or successful completion in another county of a formal course of elementary/primary and secondary education that is comparable to the US 12 year education system.

5. If you are currently residing in the US on another non-immigrant visa, you are able to adjust your status within the US if you are a winner

Good Luck

CJ

©2012 E3 Visa. All Rights Reserved.

Though one can become a citizen voluntarily through the Naturalization process, some are granted this status being born in the US or born to US citizen parent(s).

Children born outside to US citizen parents can claim US citizenship through their parents’ status subject to certain strict requirements which makes the process very much sophisticated. The immigration law at the time the child was born is also vitally important while claiming citizenship through the Child Citizenship Act (CCA). But the process is pretty simple for children born in the US as they automatically become US citizens, immaterial of whether their parents were US citizens or not.

If your child was born in the US, you can directly apply for a US passport as a proof of his/her US citizenship. Should you want to document your child’s citizenship status, you can file Form N- 600, Application for Certificate of Citizenship with the USCIS to get the citizenship certificate.

There are a combination of requirements that are to be satisfied before applying for child citizenship. One such criteria is that at least one parent was a US citizen when the child was born and should have lived in the US or its possessions for a stipulated period of time. Additionally, child(ren) born outside the US can also claim citizenship after birth based on their parents’ citizenship or naturalization.

As stated above, you can become a US citizen only if you fulfill certain important conditions. Few are:

- You should be under 18 years old and at least one of your parents should be a US citizen, either by birth or through Naturalization.

- You should reside in the US in the legal and physical custody of your US citizen parent and is subject to lawful admission for permanent residence in the US.

- To qualify as a “child” for the purpose of getting a certificate of citizenship through your parents’ status, you (the child) should not be married. If you are born out of wedlock, you should have been “legitimated” when you were under 16 years old and in the legal custody of the legitimating parent. But if you are a stepchild who was not adopted, you will not qualify as a “child” for citizenship purposes.

- If you meet the above mentioned requirements before becoming 18 years old, it means you establish the eligibility for US citizenship without having to file an application. Make note however, if you want to document your citizenship status, you have to file Form N-600.

- Per the CCA, if you were 18 years old or older as of February 27, 2001, you will not be eligible for citizenship, under this classification. You however, can apply for naturalization (Form N-400) based on qualifying on your own. There is also another option where persons above the age of 18 as on February 27, 2001, are eligible to apply for a citizenship certificate per the law in effect before the enactment of the CCA.

Even if you the biological or an adopted child who regularly resides abroad, you can still qualify for citizenship. This however, has additional requirements to be met.

©2012 E3 Visa. All Rights Reserved.

There is no charge to enter the Green Card lottery. Therefore for many foreigners where visas like the E3 work visa, H1B work visa, J1 Work and Travel Visa, J1 Internship visa, F1 Student visa and even the B1 tourist visa or tourist waiver among others are prohibitive due to obscure criteria or sheer cost to apply, travel and otherwise be eligible, the diversity visa lottery provides a way to first enter the US and begin a new life. 15 million hopefully applied for Dv-2012 Green Card Lottery in October and November last year which shows the popularity and the hope it gives so many around the globe.

The only information required were as follows below meaning that the barrier to entry is relatively low. The only main prohibitive factors were lack of at least a high school education for the primary adult, being at least 18 years of age, not being a security risk, not being a health risk or having a criminal history and finally not being from a select few countries. The reason certain countries’ citizens are excluded each year is due to the previous US Immigration year (October 1 – September 30), there being a significant threshold of that nation’s citizens becoming US permanent residents.

This is the information you have to give on the Green Card Lottery application.
1. FULL NAME
2. DATE OF BIRTH
3. GENDER
4. CITY WHERE YOU WERE BORN5. COUNTRY WHERE YOU WERE BORN
6. COUNTRY OF ELIGIBILITY OR CHARGEABILITY FOR THE DV PROGRAM
7. ENTRY PHOTOGRAPH(S)
8. MAILING ADDRESS
9. COUNTRY WHERE YOU LIVE TODAY
10. PHONE NUMBER
11. E-MAIL ADDRESS
12. WHAT IS THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION YOU HAVE ACHIEVED, AS OF TODAY?
13. MARITAL STATUS
14. NUMBER OF CHILDREN
15. SPOUSE INFORMATION
16. CHILDREN INFORMATION

In recent years these were some of the main countries EXCLUDED from participating in the annual Green Card Lottery;
BRAZIL, CANADA, CHINA (mainland-born), COLOMBIA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, ECUADOR, EL SALVADOR, GUATEMALA, HAITI, INDIA, JAMAICA, MEXICO, PAKISTAN, PHILIPPINES, PERU, POLAND, SOUTH KOREA, UNITED KINGDOM (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, and VIETNAM.

Now is the Green Lottery About to End….

Due to the Great Recession in the US, combined with rise of fringe elements within all sides of the US political spectrum, the pressure on programs like this and the H1B visa have intensified. Despite numerous studies showing that strong US immigration creates jobs and grows the economy, not to mention that it has and is still is the genesis of the American DNA which has made it the world’s largest economy and only superpower. The combined factors of  short sighted and opportunistic politicians, ignorant constituents and a complicit media has meant that negative pressure on foreigners in the last 4 years in the US has grown excedingly worse.

In addition to this, a major stuff up by the US State Department in announcing the Green Card Lottery winners in May 2011, forced a recall 12 days later and a redraw and subsequent reannouncement of winners on July 15, 2011. This gave a window for many of the anti-lottery proponents to pounce due to the increased media attention as the whole lottery is largely unknown to the American people.

Interestingly and unlikely ally has emerged in Foreign Immigrants (or more accurately what the US government calls non-immigrants) who are currently in the US on work visas or studying at US academic institutions particularly at the Graduate and phD level. Apart from the Green Card Lottery and direct Family sponsorship, the major avenue to a Green Card is sponsorship via an Employer under the EB2 and EB3 visa categories.

However due to long wait lists, non-sensical application criteria, costs and timelines and limited flexibility for an Immigrant, this option is frustrating and arduous as well. However many immigrants who have ensured years of long and difficult study and working in the same role for lesser pay and opportunities than their local counterparts with the constant danger (particularly in recent times) of job loss and having to return home immediately, watching others who just fill out an online form jumping the queue has been for some particularly hard to endure.

Some of the more rationale Green Card Lottery elimination proponents have proposed replacing the 55,000 Green Cards in the lottery to giving it to foreign graduates of US Academic Institutions in Engineering, Science, Technology and Media with Graduate or phD level degrees. Others argue this discounts the many foreigners who have show immense skills in the workplace and particularly in the start up world where so many new jobs and industries have been created benefiting the entire US economy.

Whatever the eventual result of this debate may be it is likely DV-2013 Green Card Lottery will still be held as normal in October and November 2011 with winners announced in May 2012. There currently is legislation before the US congress to end the Green Card Lottery. However it is our hope the US continues to be a vibrant economy and continues to realize the enormous value and potential of a constantly evolving society bring to all Americans.

Cj

©2012 E3 Visa. All Rights Reserved.

However soon following the results the State Department announced that due to a technology glitch, the winners would have to be redrawn as the announced winners were not random and purely just the first people who entered. This is obviously very unfortunate for those who thought they had won but of course completely unfair to those that entered properly but never really had a chance.

Ultimately the fair result is happening and every who entered last year still has a chance when the new winners are announced for the 55,000 lucky Green Cards on or around July 15, 2011.

You should note that being selected as a winner does not guarantee you a green card as you must pass some additional criteria as well in the application process. The actual DV-2012 visas will be issued between the period of October 1, 2010, and September 30, 2011. Applicants must obtain the diversity visa or adjust status by the end of the fiscal year.

Unfortunately those who missed out on the green card and permanent residency will NOT receive any notification but for the third year running, you will be able to check the status of their entry through the E-DV website.
You must have kept the confirmation page information from when you entered the DV Lottery between October and December 2010.

The results should be sent out to the lucky applicants with an official letter from the U.S. Department of State Kentucky Consular Center in Williamsburg, Kentucky. All notifications are by mail to your nominated address and you should note that there is NOT any email notification. It seems like already people have started receiving their winning letters so hopefully this will be the case for all of you that read this post and applied!

The notification letters will have additional instructions, including information about additional forms and other documentation required as well as immigrant visa application fees.

The Interviews for the DV-2010 visa lottery program begin in October 2009 and foreigners who applied overseas will receive an appointment letter from the Kentucky Consular Center about 5 weeks before the scheduled appointment.

A couple of additional points to note.

1. Be patient with receiving the 2nd letter if you have received the first as sometime the mail is slow. The only people that you can contact that will give you any insightful information if you are a winner and received the first letter is the KCC.

2. Check the US government websites to see the current dates for your number if you are a winner

3. If you were a child on a winner’s application and since turned 21 after being 20 at the time of application, you are still eligible as your age is frozen. However you must take up the green card within a year as otherwise you will be ineligible

4. High School education or its equivalent as per the requirements of the primary applicant means the successful completion of a twelve year course of elementary/primary and secondary education in the U.S. or successful completion in another county of a formal course of elementary/primary and secondary education that is comparable to the US 12 year education system.

5. If you are currently residing in the US on another non-immigrant visa, you are able to adjust your status within the US if you are a winner

Also FYI, the Green Card Lottery (DV-2012) will begin in October 2009 for those wanting to enter this year with more information about this lottery due by September.

Good Luck

CJ

©2012 E3 Visa. All Rights Reserved.

Recently, the United States Immigration and Customs Services (USCIS) regulations governing how long green card holders can spend outside the US have become more stringent. Generally, they may not be outside the United States for more than 6 months each year. In the past, green card holders were able to return every 6 months for a brief trip, and not have USCIS fully enforce this rule. Now, this is not the case.

Exceeding this 6 month time limit may jeopardize their ability to retain a green card. As a result, many Green Card holders are being placed in removal proceedings and/or having their green cards confiscated, for failure to maintain continuance physical presence inside the United States.

Continuous physical presence can be established by showing that there was no intent to abandon the green card and that the lawful permanent resident maintain their ties in the United States. This can be easily established through proper documentation such as owning a home, renting an apartment, bank accounts, pay taxes, and other forms of proof establishing that although the trip abroad was lengthy, there was always an intent to return. It becomes far more difficult to prove when the green card holder has been absent from the United States for more than a year.

Removal proceedings are a type of hearing held before an immigration Judge. The green card holder will be considered an immigrant, who at the time of admission, was not in possession of valid unexpired document. Again, this is usually based on the green card holder’s absence in the United States.

Where a permanent resident’s absence exceeds the one year mark, and they are placed in removal proceedings, most persons will have the option of requesting Voluntary Departure. Voluntary Departure allows the relinquishing the current application for which the green card is based, and they can go back to their home country. If the request for voluntary departure is granted, then the process for a new green card starts anew.

There are no bars as to how soon one can re-apply after they voluntarily depart. If the alien elects for voluntary departure they forfeit their rights to present a defense to removal, such as asylum, withholding of removal, cancellation of removal, a petition through a family member, or any other pending motions. It is important when voluntary departure is granted that they depart on the date specified by the Judge, otherwise they will be barred from re-entering the United Sates for anywhere between 3-10 years.

There are precautions that one can take if they are in fact they are going to be out of the United States for a period longer than generally prescribed, preventing the whole removal process from even occurring. The primary and most effective way to be outside the United States for more than a year is by having a re-entry permit. A re-entry permit can be issued by filling out a travel authorization (I-131 form) and checking the box that applies. This allows a green card holder to be out of the country for up to 2 years without disrupting their continuous physical presence requirement.

If this option is available to the applicant, they must also fill out an N-470 which establishes that they are not abandoning their continuous physical presence requirement. It should be noted, that a re-entry permit is different from an advance parole which merely lets you travel.

While the possibility of losing a green card can be a hassle, this circumstance is not uncommon and ability to re-apply still allows a person to reunite with their loved ones. If other circumstances arise, or you have other questions, then you should contact an immigration attorney as soon as possible.

Guest Post Author

©2012 E3 Visa. All Rights Reserved.

A permanent resident card is normally valid for ten years. On its expiry, you have to go through the Green Card renewal process by filing Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card with the USCIS. Though those renewing expired GreenCards will not be penalized, make sure you renew your card at the earliest without waiting for the card to expire. Form I-90 is also used when you want to change any biographic information on your GreenCard ( if your name has changed because of marriage, divorece, etc.) and also when you lose your card and need a replacement. You will also not lose your permanent resident status if you do not renew/replace your Green Card. Permanent resident status does not expire.

Though permanent resident status does not expire, per immigration laws, you should carry evidence of your status (a valid, unexpired Green Card or temporary passport stamp). If you do not renew your card, you might experience difficulties in getting employment, benefits and re-entry into the United States from abroad. Apply for your new GreenCard before you travel abroad and have with you on any trip the temporary documentation you received. If you try to re-enter the US with an expired Green Card, you might experience a delay during the inspection process at the port of entry,

Additionally, your employers will not accept an expired GreenCard while verifying employment authorization for new hires. You can use other documents that you will find on Form I-9 (Employment eligibility verification form) such as social security card and driver’s license or carry temporary evidence of status, such as an I-551 stamp or even the receipt notice that you received for your I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card.

A permanent resident is different from a conditional permanent resident. A conditional resident will be issued a card that is valid for two years only. A conditional card cannot be renewed and such card holders have to remove the conditions during the 90 day period before the card expires. You will lose your status if the conditions are not removed. You should file Form I-751 to remove the conditions. Once the application is approved and conditions removed, you will get a permanent resident card that will be valid for the next ten years.

After you send the completed application to the USCIS, you can expect an Application Receipt Notice with a 13-character Application Receipt number in it within 30 days of having filed the application. This notice acts as a proof that USCIS received your Green Card renewal application and that it is being processed. You can also check the status of your application with this receipt number. Subsequently, you also will be intimated about the dates for fingerprinting and your interview date with detailed instructions related to the supporting documents you need to carry.

Guest Post Author

©2012 E3 Visa. All Rights Reserved.

Some individuals coming to work in the U.S. may obtain an Employment-Based Green Card (also known as a permanent residency card). Most employment based green cards require a permanent employment offer for the intending immigrant. Each year up to 140,000 applicants are awarded a green card in employment-based categories. There are also per-country limits per category. With our ever expanding global population and mobile workforce, this has resulted in many backlogs.

Employment Based Green Cards are divided into 5 categories. EB-1, EB-4, and EB-5 are typically current (eligible petitions are adjudicated immediately) while the EB-2 category is current except for those aliens from India or China.

EB-3 consists has significant backlogs.

Current processing times can be found in the current visa bulletin at the Department of State website.

Priority Workers: EB-1

EB-1 is the most sought-after category because there is no backlog of cases and labor certification is not required. Only the top people in their field qualify for this category, and applications are intensely scrutinized. Individuals that qualify for this category are:

Aliens of extraordinary ability

Foreign nationals with extraordinary achievements in the Arts, Sciences, Education, Business, or Athletics. The acclaim may be demonstrated through sustained national or international recognition and the individual’s achievements have been recognized in the field.

No employer sponsorship is not required, but one must still seek to enter the U.S. to continue work in the area of extraordinary ability.

Outstanding professors and researchers who have at least 3 years’ experience in teaching or research in their field and received international recognition for their work.

A U.S. University or other research facility must sponsor the Green Card application for foreign national professors and researchers with outstanding abilities.

Executives or managers of multinational companies managing an organization or a major function or division of an organization.

The multinational company must sponsor the Green Card application for executives and managers.

The U.S. company must have been in existence for at least one year.

The foreign national must be coming to perform executive or managerial duties.

Immediate family members of EB-1 Green Card applicants

EB 2: Professionals with advanced degrees or persons with exceptional ability

28.6% of the 140,000 available employment based green cards are reserved for this category plus any visas not used up by EB-1 applicants. Petitions in this category must be accompanied by an approved labor certification or the foreign national may self-petition if the permanent position is in the national interest (National Interest Waiver).

Individuals that may qualify under the EB-2 category are:

• Persons of exceptional ability in the sciences, arts, or business doing work in the national interest
• Professionals with an advanced degree
• A degree beyond a bachelor’s, typically a Master’s, Ph.D, or other doctorate degree.
• A bachelor’s degree plus 5 years of progressive experience. The Department of Labor will not count experience from the petitioning employer.
• Physicians in an underserved area of the U.S.

EB 3: Skilled, Professional, and Other Workers

28.6 % of the total visas are allocated to this category. Labor certification is required for all petitioners in this category unless they qualify under Schedule A as a shortage occupation. This category is subdivided into 3 subcategories:

• Skilled workers
• Positions requiring a minimum of 2 years of experience.
• Professionals
• The beneficiary must have a Bachelor’s degree or foreign equivalent, and the degree must be the normal requirement for that position.
• Other workers
• This category is open for positions requiring less than 2 years of experience.
• Only 10,000 visas are available each year.
• Long backlogs.

EB 4: Special Immigrants

This category is for Religious workers, government employees, and armed forces translators.

EB 5: “The million Dollar Green Card”

10,000 visas each year to investors in a new commercial enterprise. Purchasing an existing business may qualify. EB-5 petitioners must:

• Invest a minimum of $500,000 if the investment is made in a “targeted employment area.” often through a Regional Center. The Regional Center approach has become very popular in recent years as it requires less involvement from the investor, and there are many attractive investment opportunities.
• Otherwise a minimum investment of $1,000,000 is required.
• Create full-time employment for 10 or more individuals.
• Family members also obtain a green card

©2012 E3 Visa. All Rights Reserved.

You should note that being selected as a winner does not guarantee you a green card as you must pass some additional criteria as well in the application process. The actual DV-2012 visas will be issued between the period of October 1, 2011, and September 30, 2012. Applicants must obtain the diversity visa or adjust status by the end of the fiscal year.

Unfortunately those who missed out on the green card and permanent residency will NOT receive any notification but for the second year running, you will be able to check the status of their entry through the E-DV website.
You must have kept the confirmation page information from when you entered the DV Lottery between October and December 2009. The Status information for DV-2011 lotter is available online from July 1, 2011, until June 30, 2012.

Between April and July 2011 results should be sent out to the lucky applicants with an official letter from the U.S. Department of State Kentucky Consular Center in Williamsburg, Kentucky. All notifications are by mail to your nominated address and you should note that there is NOT any email notification. It seems like already people have started receiving their winning letters so hopefully this will be the case for all of you that read this post and applied!

The notification letters will have additional instructions, including information about additional forms and other documentation required as well as immigrant visa application fees.

The Interviews for the DV-2011 visa lottery program begin in October 2010 and foreigners who applied overseas will receive an appointment letter from the Kentucky Consular Center about 5 weeks before the scheduled appointment.

A couple of additional points to note.

1. Be patient with receiving the 2nd letter if you have received the first as sometime the mail is slow. The only people that you can contact that will give you any insightful information if you are a winner and received the first letter is the KCC.

2. Check the US government websites to see the current dates for your number if you are a winner

3. If you were a child on a winner’s application and since turned 21 after being 20 at the time of application, you are still eligible as your age is frozen. However you must take up the green card within a year as otherwise you will be ineligible

4. High School education or its equivalent as per the requirements of the primary applicant means the successful completion of a twelve year course of elementary/primary and secondary education in the U.S. or successful completion in another county of a formal course of elementary/primary and secondary education that is comparable to the US 12 year education system.

5. If you are currently residing in the US on another non-immigrant visa, you are able to adjust your status within the US if you are a winner

Also FYI, the Green Card Lottery (DV-2012) will begin in October 2010 for those wanting to enter this year with more information about this lottery due by September.

Good Luck

CJ

©2012 E3 Visa. All Rights Reserved.