Green Card Lottery (stats, suspect, money, USA)

[Bumbu]

beetlebee: thanks for the info!

Yeah that is quite a hassle your right. the fees do add up, but I know people who could help me with the legal part, so I could save those costs. Also the interview (flight costs) could be combined with a vacation, that would also "save" some money.

Your right about the job situation. Even more difficult because my wife is a dentist and she would have to do a DDS liscense or something like that which would take an aditional two years! and cost alot. As a service engineer in the field of structural biology / life science equipment it might be difficult for me to find suitable occupation as this is specific job is not available everywhere and limited.

The whole green card process makes it difficult for people to get settled in because you cant really apply for job without having one. When you get one (green card) you have to move ASAP wihtout even having a job. And then you just have to hope and pray that you find something, but you still dont know where (which state / area) so you can't really buy property, thus it only really makes sense getting all your stuff over (furniture and other belongings) when you know where your going to live on a long term basis. And this whole process takes a long time which adds up to a lot of money.

[STT Resident]

Originally Posted by Penguin_ie

...but once you receive your green card (about 3 months after you first enter the USA), you can travel freely back and forth, as long as you spend the majority of your time in the USA... Similarly, if you get your green card and then spend the majority of your time abroad, your green card may be taken away (this is somewhat up to the officer at the airport when you try to enter again- some will refuse you entry after as little as 6 months abroad, others, if you catch them on a good day, give you longer).

I don't believe this is correct. I have had a Green Card for many years and it's my understanding that it remains valid if I leave the US as long as my time away from the USA doesn't exceed one year.

[Penguin_ie]

Originally Posted by STT Resident

I don't believe this is correct. I have had a Green Card for many years and it's my understanding that it remains valid if I leave the US as long as my time away from the USA doesn't exceed one year.

That is a common misconception. While staying outside the USA for less than a year is often allowed, especially if it is clear you intend to return (such as you want to finish a course of study in your home country), the USCIS and / or border agent may refuse you entry after any length of time, and I know of cases where they took this to mean spending more time out than in the USA. The relevant part of the law is: You may lose your permanent residence status if you .... Remain outside of the US for more than one year without obtaining a reentry permit or returning resident visa. However in determining whether your status has been abandoned any length of absence from the US may be considered, even if it is less than one year.

The relevant official government website is here: USCIS - Now That You Are A Permanent Resident

[STT Resident]

I read that, but in this context it seems that it's put in there as a catch-all on a case by case basis to facilitate the removal of permanent resident status of someone who has already transgressed in other areas. I've known MANY PRAs over many years and none has had any problem re-entering after a couple of months. Cheers!

[Threestep]

Originally Posted by STT Resident

I read that, but in this context it seems that it's put in there as a catch-all on a case by case basis to facilitate the removal of permanent resident status of someone who has already transgressed in other areas. I've known MANY PRAs over many years and none has had any problem re-entering after a couple of months. Cheers!

The rules are being enforced a lot tighter. I presume you have one of the old GCs without expiration date. Please check into it. There was some legislation in the works to pull them as the purpose of a GC is a step to citizenship not unlimited stay.

[MarcNZ]

I'm just going through the diversity visa process myself right now and am up to the final stage, the interview, which I have scheduled next month.

I just wanted to confirm almost everything that Penguin_ie has been saying with just two small corrections. Firstly, the fee is $775 if you have your interview outside the US (but I know that it is cheaper if you are already in the US, so that might be the $400) Secondly, you can get married after your application and your spouse will still receive a green card too, but you have to be married before the day of your interview (i'm not doing this, but have a friend who did so successfully).

Also, regarding the loss of the greencard if you leave the US for an extended period of time. Again, what Pengiun_ie states matches with what I have been instructed. Up to 6 months, "should" be ok. 6 months to a year, "may" be ok but expect to answer some questions at immigration. over a year, green cards lost unless you applied for a reentry permit before you left.

Regarding beetlebee's comments. The basics are correct but it doesn't cost as much as implied. The fees are lower (as mentioned above), you definitely don't need a lawyer to do anything (although I'm sure they would like you to think otherwise) and you definitely don't need to go for an interview in kentucky. The most important thing is that if you don't have a sponsor already in the US, or an existing job offer, then you will need to show that you have enough money to support yourself while finding work. It's not really a direct cost as such, because you don't pay it to anybody for the green card, but you will need to make sure you have some savings in a bank account to show to the consulate processing your application.

[MarcNZ]

I should just mention that if you do enter the lottery you should be prepared for a very long process (assuming you win). The timeline Penguin_ie gave you is accurate (maybe even a little conservative). I entered in November 2007 and am just coming up to my interview.

[bentlebee]

The fees are in the application letter that a person gets after receiving the letter they won. $ 1010.- to change status if you already have a visa + all the extra costs. Than you have to get the medical which cost approx $ 200.- and that is for people who are already in the country and not working with a lawyer and have all proof. If you case is more complex you might need a lawyer and yes you need to fly over here...not every one who wins has all that money laying aside. Many enter with the blieve that they will receive a greencard upon winning and than can go here and find a job...you have no place to stay here and have to look for a job, go for the interviews, etc...it is a lot harder than described by some. But many did it before so will others, the only thing different is that thousands of American's are looking for a job right now, so that makes it harder....

[MarcNZ]

^ was the letter you saw an official one from the US government? or was it one via a lawyer or some other company?

I'm not trying to claim it's a cheap process and proceeding with it is definitely not a decision to take lightly (especially given the current state of the economy). But I just can't work out where the $1010 comes from. Here are the fees from the official website.

Fees for Visa Services

If you know somebody being told to pay more, then I think you should recommend to them that they verify the legitimacy of the letter before paying out. There are sadly a lot of scams out there and my concern would be that if the numbers don't match the official government numbers, there may be a problem (but I hope I'm wrong).

[bentlebee]

Originally Posted by MarcNZ

^ was the letter you saw an official one from the US government? or was it one via a lawyer or some other company?

I'm not trying to claim it's a cheap process and proceeding with it is definitely not a decision to take lightly (especially given the current state of the economy). But I just can't work out where the $1010 comes from. Here are the fees from the official website.

Fees for Visa Services

If you know somebody being told to pay more, then I think you should recommend to them that they verify the legitimacy of the letter before paying out. There are sadly a lot of scams out there and my concern would be that if the numbers don't match the official government numbers, there may be a problem (but I hope I'm wrong).

Official letter from USCIS and we even took the letter to their office to make sure it was really from the green card lotery.

USCIS - Immigration Forms

Look at form I-485 and you can read how the $ 1,010.- is described. That is not all the costs you have to pay. On the first form that you have to send back to kentucky you immediately have to fill out an address you will stay when you move to the USA. So that could be a huge hurdle for many people who are still abroad. The person that I know and got the letter already lives here on a visa.