Now that the 2016 Diversity Visa (DV-2016) Lottery program has officially started, political sentiment across the United States is being strongly expressed on this controversial immigration issue. The electronic DV lottery is more commonly referred to as the green card lottery; it presents a random opportunity for 50,000 foreign applicants to legally immigrate to the U.S. even if they are not sponsored by family members or employers. In previous years, the DV programs issued 55,000 visas to lucky applicants from around the world.
DV-2016 hopefuls must register online from October 1st, 2014 to November 3rd, 2014. Certain eligibility requirements must be met. The applicants must not have been born in nations where more than 50,000 immigrants have arrived from in recent years. For DV-2016, the U.S. Department of State has announced that those countries will be:
– Bangladesh
– Brazil
– Canada
– China
– Colombia
– Dominican Republic
– Ecuador
– El Salvador
– Haiti
– India
– Jamaica
– Mexico
– Nigeria
– Pakistan
– Peru
– Philippines
– South Korea
– United Kingdom
– Vietnam
The exception to the above would only apply to applicants born in Northern Ireland. Although registration for the green card lottery is free, applicants are still expected to meet all the requirements set forth by the U.S. Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS). To this effect, the best way to determine if an applicant meets said requirements would be to inquire with a reliable and professional San Diego immigration lawyer who specializes in immigration procedures.
Applicants who obtain residency through this lottery program will also be allowed to sponsor their spouse and minor children as immigrants to the U.S. To learn more about family law immigration, click here.
One concern surrounding the DV-2016 lottery this year is the spread of the deadly Ebola virus, which has already claimed the lives of thousands in Africa and at least one person in the U.S. Anti-immigration political columnists such as Michelle Malkin of the National Review Online have already voiced their concerns about immigrants from West Africa arriving in the U.S. and possibly spreading this dangerous disease. These same columnists have already characterized the green card lottery as a potential contagion vehicle.
It is important to note that the U.S. has not imposed travel restrictions as a response to the Ebola epidemic; however, screening and containment programs are being closely observed and implemented at the ports of entry.
To learn more about the DV-2016 lottery for 2014, reach out to Kazmi and Sakata, Attorneys at Law today at 858-874-0711. We offer free consultations and are more than happy to answer your questions and assist you with any of your immigration paperwork, filing or other concerns.
