Entry bubble Visa Lottery

By: Joanne | October 27, 2009 | Category: General

statue of liberty

Would you, or someone you know, like to become a U.S. citizen? Then you should know that the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program is accepting applications until November 30, 2009. Some call it the Green Card Lottery, but the official program name is the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program. Each year, this program makes 50,000 diversity visas available to people who want to be U.S. citizens. Winners are drawn by a random selection among all entries.

The eligibility requirements are strict, and to qualify, there are work experience requirements, education requirements, and a prospective immigrant has to come from a country that has low immigration rates to the United States. Still, it’s a great opportunity.

Over the years we’ve seen many websites posing as official U.S. government websites that charge a fee to help people enter the Diversity Visa Program. Don’t be fooled, you can apply for free.

Good luck!

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Entry bubble Play the Green Card Lottery

By: Joanne | October 07, 2008 | Category: Home and Family

the statue of libertyEach year lots of people interested in immigrating to the U.S. send us email about the Diversity Visa, also known as the Green Card Lottery. There are many types of Visas, but what makes the Diversity Visa different is that it awards permanent resident visas to people who meet the basic eligibility requirements, and the recipients are chosen by a computer-generated random lottery drawing.

The U.S. Department of State is now accepting applications for the 2010 Diversity Visa Lottery and you can apply until Noon EST on December 1, 2008.

When people write to us about the Diversity Visa Lottery, they often ask about third parties that offer to “assist” with the application process for a fee. We know that there are scammers that operate fraudulent and impostor websites so I want to point out that the U.S. government is the exclusive operator of the Diversity Visa Lottery. Any third parties, like agents or brokers who offer assistance, are not affiliated with the U.S. government, and if you decide to use an agent or a broker, chose carefully and remember that you probably can complete the process on your own at no charge.

For the lucky winners, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service has a great guide for new immigrants, and prospective immigrants can learn a lot about various parts of the U.S. by contacting state travel and tourism offices.

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Entry bubble One Great, Big, Happy Family...of Weirdos.

By: Colleen | November 13, 2007 | Category: Home and Family

"You are all weirdos." These are astute words from Sam the Eagle, with which I must agree.

People's quirkiness is often what I like best about them. It creates character, and is never boring. Some of my favorite examples:

  • My best friend can't come within ten feet of styrofoam, or eat pointed ends of french fries. (The fries, he believes could potentially poke him in the stomach. The styrofoam fear is inexplicable and frankly, stupid.)
  • My Mother can't even fathom drinking out of plasticware. Strictly a "glass only" gal.
  • Another friend will not sleep until she has exactly three pillows on her bed, positioned at precise intervals and angles, ensuring her an ideal stay in dreamland.

I am no exception to bizarre human idiosyncrasies. I am unable to function without two elastic hair-ties securely around my left wrist at all times. (This makes for great formal-wear.) And if I come within smelling-range of canned tuna fish, the universe might explode.

Indeed, we are all weirdos. But one must not blame himself. A weirdo can't come to be without the genes of parental weirdos. It's all hereditary.

Last weekend, an extended family dinner complete with its fair share of oddity got me thinking how exactly we came to be the "Griswoldian" group we are today.

This was a question that required a bit more investigation than simply aunts, uncles, and cousins. I turned to USA.gov's "History, Arts, and Culture" page for information on genealogy and immigration records. Here I was able to reach the Ellis Island site, where I was able to register to see my family's passenger records , and even a picture of the ship on which they came to America.

Turns out my weirdness is an intricate blend of Slovak and Irish lineage. And I couldn't be prouder.

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