Jet posted this info in another thread.
I'm sure I'm not the only one who knows someone in FSU who could benefit from this option, even if it's a long shot at qualifying.
"...Just a note to anyone who is interested - if you have someone that you AREN'T specifically interested in bringing over on a fiance-visa or a tourist visa. The "Green Card Lottery" which provides 50,000 immigrant visa's to lucky recipients from anywhere in the world to come to the US with a green card is in its final days of application.
Some 3.5 million people applied for it last year. So with 50,000 available spots of course the odds are not good. But if there is anyone you would like to help apply - the web page is avaiable - all apllications have to be via the internet and a .jpg photo is needed (240x360, 300x300 or 360x240). And the person applied for must have a high school education or equivalent...."
Several months ago I chatted with and wrote to two ladies from Kiev who had won the green card lottery, but were frustrated because they claimed US Inmigration services required unattainable levels of funds for them to emigrate.
This thread should have been started MONTHS ago - but I urge all who are interested to start immediately.
Anyone born in a country or a citizen of a country that sent less than 50,000 immigrants to the US last year is eligible to enter the Green Card Lottery - it is a federal program that gives 50,000 Green Cards to people from those countries refered to above.
The DEALINE FOR APPLYING IS JANUARY 7th 2005. Ladies (and men for that matter) from Russia are INELLIGIBLE (because there were more than 50,000 immigrants from Russia last year) but ALL of the other FSU countries are eligible.
Please check the Department of Homeland Security's website. And so it soon. All the details can be found there. It costs nothing to apply.
Glad - in the useful links thread, points out a paysite for entry in the Green Card Lottery. They charge $39 to enter (reduced now in the final days from $54). at the US Government site it is free. The big promoted reason that the website claims for using their service is that if you win - they will provide a plane ticket to the US (up to $1,000).
Since it is expected that 3.5 million will enter and 50,000 will win. The odds on winning are i in 70.
If they collect even $39 from 70 people for every $1,000 payout - they will collect $2,730 for every $1,000 they have to cough up. Highway robbery for the simple questions like "What is your middle name?" "And what city you were you born in?"
The site also provides a service where you can mail your photo to them and they will scan it and create a .jpg. But there is barely time for that anymore - no doubt that is why they have dropped their price from $54 (when they were taking in $3,780 fo every $1,000 they might have to eventually pay out.)