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Green Card Lottery Might Be Ending Soon
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President Donald Trump has been pushing for immigration reform since he came into office in January, so this latest news isn’t that surprising to most: he wants to end the green card lottery. Every year for the past 22 years, 14 million people have applied for green cards through the Diversity Visa Lottery. Approximately 1 million people with no ties to the United States have been granted the American dream. As green card holders, they are granted permanent residency here in the U.S.
Trump wants to end this annual event, though, after finding out that the Uzbek immigrant who orchestrated the deadly truck attack in New York had won his green card through the lottery in 2010. His plan is to replace it with a merit-based system.
But can he get rid of the lottery on his own? The power ultimately lies in the hands of Congress. Congress would be tasked with creating new immigration laws. Immigration, however, is not a huge priority at the moment, with Congress currently focusing on fixing healthcare and taxes.
How Does the Lottery Work?
The lottery awards 50,000 green cards each year. The recipients are drawn at random by a computer. Those chosen do not need to have employment, sponsorship or any family ties to the U.S.
There are certain restrictions, though. The recipient must have a high school education and no connection to terrorism. They must also agree to an in-person interview with immigration officials. Also, people from countries where 50,000 green cards have been awarded in the past five years are not eligible. This includes countries such as Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, China and India.
How Else Can You Get a Green Card?
While winning the lottery may seem like an easy way to get into the United States, there are other ways to become eligible for a green card. Many foreigners are able to get a green card through family or employment. Immediate relatives, such as spouses, parents and unmarried children of U.S. citizens are eligible. A fiance or widow of a U.S. citizen is also eligible.
You may also qualify for a green card based on your employment status. Immigrant workers may come to this country to work. First preference goes to those who are outstanding teachers or researchers, are multinational managers or have extraordinary ability in arts, business, education, science or athletics. Second preference goes to those who have an advanced degree or are seeking a national interest waiver. Third preference goes to professionals with bachelor’s degrees and those looking to work in skilled or unskilled labor.
Foreigners may also be eligible to apply as immigrant investors. This refers to a person who is investing $1 million in a new commercial enterprise in the United States and will be hiring 10 full-time workers.
Contact a Green Card Lawyer Today
Only certain people are eligible for green cards, so if you don’t win the lottery, you may have missed your chance at securing American citizenship. But not all hope is lost. Depending on your employment status and other factors, you could still live the American dream.
Whether you’re trying to become a U.S. citizen through a green card or some other method, the knowledgeable immigration attorneys at Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC can help. Let us simplify the citizenship process. To get help with your immigration and citizenship needs in Illinois, give us a call today at (312) 332-2550 for a case evaluation.
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I had a wonderful experience working with Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC. From start to finish, the team was professional, knowledgeable, and truly dedicated to guiding me through every step of the process. They made what could have been a stressful situation feel smooth and manageable, always answering questions quickly and keeping me updated. I especially want to thank Khabit for his outstanding support—he was patient, detail-oriented, and went above…
Many thanks to attorney Kevin A Raica and his assistant Rafael Rodriguez for all their help. My immigration case went very smoothly and quickly.
We worked with Kevin Raica from Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC, and I can confidently say he went above and beyond for us. Our process was very long and at times overwhelming, but Kevin guided us every step of the way with professionalism, patience, and dedication. He was always available to answer our questions, explained everything clearly, and made sure we understood our options at each stage. What stood out…
A family friend referred me to work with Maya Flores at Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC to help me with my U.S. naturalization. Despite the current immigration tension, Maya helped make the process smooth and her familiarity with procedure helped ease my anxiety. She submitted the citizenship application on my behalf and let me know what to expect. I decided to retain her service for the civics interview as well,…
I really want to thank Justin and Kamila; they are the best. I waited almost 20 years and no one could help me get my green card and in 4 months they helped me get my permit, and I got my green card in less then 4 months. They are the best. I will always be grateful for what they did for me, thank you Justin and Kamila!!!!
I am writing this review to express my deepest gratitude for the hard work on our case by our Immigration Attorney, Lauren McClure and her Paralegal, Kamila Lada. My Green Card was approved! I know this wouldn't have been possible without their expertise and dedication. They both were extremely helpful, responsive, and guided us through every step of the way. Lauren took the time to train us for our interview…
I am incredibly grateful to Mr. Burton for his outstanding legal assistance in my immigration case, from my first consultation he heard me patiently demonstrating exceptional professionalism, expertise, and a genuine commitment to my case. Immigration process can be overwhelming and stressful, but he and his team provided clear guidance every step of the way, always answering my questions promptly and reassuring me with their deep expertise. Thanks to their…
I had an outstanding experience working with Brittni Rivera. From our very first consultation, she demonstrated deep expertise, professionalism, and genuine care for my case. Navigating immigration processes can be incredibly stressful, but Brittni made the entire journey much more manageable and transparent. She were always responsive to my questions, provided clear guidance at every step, and never made me feel like just another case. Thanks to her hard work…
Highly recommend this firm. I had the pleasure of working with Lauren McClure and she is absolutely the best. She was very helpful and walked me through every step of the process, she is patient and she got the job done. I am very grateful with her and her team for helping me with the process of my case. Thank you so much.
I have worked with Kevin Raica for my VAWA application. Let me tell you he has been AMAZING. Unlike other lawyers Kevin has always went above and beyond for me. Kevin is not in it for the money he is in it to HELP people and make a difference. He has walked me through the entire process and always answers any questions I have no matter what. This law firm…
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