Green Card Lottery How many per country?
What is the Green Card Lottery?
The Green Card Lottery, also known as the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, is a program that allows individuals from certain countries to apply for permanent residence in the United States. The program was created by Congress in 1990 to promote diversity in the US population.
The lottery is open to citizens of countries with low rates of immigration to the US. Each year, 50,000 visas are made available through this program. Applicants must meet certain eligibility requirements and submit an application during the designated registration period.
How Many Per Country?
The number of visas available per country varies each year, but generally no single country may receive more than 7% of the total number of visas available. This means that no single country can receive more than 3,500 visas in any given year.
In addition, if a country has sent more than 50,000 immigrants to the US in the past five years, its citizens are not eligible for the lottery. This rule applies even if fewer than 7% of all visas were issued to citizens of that country.
Eligibility Requirements
In order to be eligible for the Green Card Lottery, applicants must meet certain criteria. These include: being a native of an eligible country; having at least a high school education or its equivalent; and having two years of work experience within the past five years in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience.
Applicants must also pass a background check and be admissible into the United States under current immigration laws.
Applying for a USA ESTA
If you are selected through the Green Card Lottery, you will need to apply for a USA ESTA. An ESTA is an electronic travel authorization that allows travelers from certain countries to enter the United States without obtaining a visa.
An ESTA is valid for two years and can be renewed as long as you remain eligible for it. It is important to note that an ESTA does not guarantee entry into the United States; it only authorizes travel.