Each year, thanks to the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, 50,000 foreigners receive permission to permanently reside in the United States, known to the general public as the 'green card.' Congress established this lottery in 1990 to increase the influx of people from nationalities with low immigration rates. Countries that have sent more than 50,000 emigrants in the last five years are not included in this list.
Lottery participants only need a high school diploma or two years of work experience in a field that requires two years of training. They can fill out an application for free on the State Department's website at www.dvlottery.state.gov.
Critics say that the random selection of lottery participants and the minimal requirements open the country's doors to anyone, even terrorists. Tony Edson, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Visa Services at the State Department, rebuts: 'The care we take with applicants, the attention during interviews, are sufficient to assure us of the integrity of the visa process and the security of our borders.'
Lottery winners will have to submit the following documents: birth and marriage certificates, education certificate, diploma, police clearance. After a medical examination and an interview at the U.S. embassy, the lucky winners receive their long-awaited 'green cards.'
However, this opportunity may not last much longer. This year, both houses of Congress have introduced a bill that would limit funding for the lottery program. The bill is currently under consideration to reconcile all points of discussion.