Registration for the 2019 Diversity Visa program green card lottery begins Tuesday at noon and ends at noon Nov. 7. Get more information at the State Department website.
My recent column on the lottery generated an unusual number of letters. Here’s the answers to some of your questions.
Q I heard you can you submit a paper entry at a public library. Is that true?
Sara, by email
A No. You must submit your entry online. If you don’t have internet access at home, you may get help at your local library.
Q I was born in India, a country excluded from the lottery, but my wife was born in Saudia Arabia. Can she and I submit separate lottery entries? Suhail, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
A Yes. The law allows you to claim a spouse’s native country for lottery visa purposes. If either of you win, you can both immigrate to the United States.
Q I have many years of experience working as a technician repairing electronic devices. Do I meet the education or experience requirement for a lottery green card?
H.E., Agadir, Morocco
A Maybe. To get a lottery green card, you must have worked at least two years in a job that requires at least two years’ experience or, you must have completed at least 12 years of schooling. The State Department will use the Labor Department’s O*Net Online database (www.onetonline.org/) to determine whether your work experience qualifies you. If you are not sure if you qualify, you should still enter the lottery. You can worry about whether your work experience qualifies you if you win.
Q I was born in Nigeria, but I now live in another country. I see that Nigerians are not qualified this year, but I’m wondering if my residence qualifies me?
Peter, Nigeria
A You do not qualify for the 2019 green card lottery. Living in a qualifying country, even if you become a citizen of that country, does not make you a “native” of a qualifying country for lottery purposes.
Wernick is an attorney and director of the City University of New York’s Citizenship Now! project. Send questions and comments to Allan Wernick, New York Daily News, 4 New York Plaza, New York, NY 10004, or email to questions@allanwernick.com. Follow him on Twitter @awernick.
