Every year the United States grants about 50,000 green card visas to “aliens” from other countries that enable them to stay and work as legal citizens in the country. The Diversity Immigrant Visa is given out in the Lottery Green Card system and this according to many people is a faster way of getting the green card visa. The importance of the green card visa shouldn’t be underestimated. For a person from foreign land, the green card visa is that document that he or she would have to produce at all times.

The US prepares a list of countries that is under represented and the Lottery Green Card is a better option for people coming from any of these countries. The names of the individuals are chosen randomly and the system is fair to every person who has applied. The applications are processed as and when they are received. Hence, most people submit the online forms at the earliest. This is also because the lottery is held at least two years ahead of time. Thus, the Lottery Green Card for 2009 and 2010 is already done. For the green card visa to be issued in 2011, you have to apply by October 2009.

Before applying you have to know more about the documents required and if you have any chance at the Lottery Green Card; apply online at the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) website. After the last date some people are chosen by a computer to avoid any controversies. Later, the applications are thoroughly examined and about 50,000 people are chosen for the green card visa. The US Department of State then dispatches a regular mail to inform the “winners” and tell them the procedure to be subsequently followed. Nothing is told over an email. Only those who receive the Lottery Green Card are told; if you don’t get any mail, then you can assume that your name wasn’t among those that were picked by the computer.

You must be warned that there are websites that claim to help you in the Lottery Green Card. There are legal firms that help an individual with the online application and gathering the required documents. But the only place where you could and should submit your application is the USCIS website.

Work and Education Criteria for Green Card Lottery

It isn’t just the individual’s country that matters but also the profession. Every year, five “job zones” are selected for the Lottery Green Card. You can check this “eligible” list in the Department of Labor O*Net Online database. Being from one of the listed jobs could greatly swing things in a person’s favor. Sometimes, retraining could be required. The education must consist of twelve years of elementary and secondary education, a high school diploma or its equivalent. Alternatively, the individual could have two years of relevant work experience.

The photographs that are submitted must be latest and should comply with the specific rules. It’s very important that the digital photographs show every feature of the person’s face in ample detail. Many a time, the application could get rejected because the digital photo wasn’t clear enough or that the photo is very old.

The fact that the wait for green card can be too long should make the person ensure that at the time of the online application everything is done right. Some countries are identified by the US as sponsors of terrorism; when you’re entering the Lottery Green Card you must see if your country is on this list. The people are scrutinized and every application is checked to ensure that there are no discrepancies between the facts stated and documents submitted.