THE AMERICAN DREAM -USA-NEWSLETTER 08/2000
Published by
THE AMERICAN DREAM – USA Services GmbH, Heinsestr. 16, 13467 Berlin, Germany
THE AMERICAN DREAM, Empire State Building, Ste. 3304, New York, NY 10118, USA
Tel.: +49 180-511 0511, Fax +49 180-511 0 512, http://www.greencard.info
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1. New Rules for GreenCard Lottery
2. H-1B Visa
3. News Break
4. Winners of last year´s lottery by country of
birth
5. Official Visa Bulletin
1. New Rules for
GreenCard Lottery
NEW ADRESS: On July 31st, 2000, the US government announced the new rules for
the DV-2002 lottery. The entries may be sent in between October 2nd and Nov
1st, 2000. For the first time, the "National Visa Center” is not the correct
American authority to process the lottery applications anymore. New entries
have to be sent to the Kentucky Consular Center in Williamsburg. Of course,
THE AMERICAN DREAM will send all applications to the correct address, according
to your country of birth.
ADMITTED COUNTRIES: All countries of the world are admitted to take part, except
for: Great Britain (except Northern Ireland), China, India, Pakistan, the Philippines,
Vietnam, South Corea, Canada, Mexico, Jamaica, El Salvador, Haiti, Columbia
and the Dominican Republic. Only people BORN in these countries are excluded
from the lottery.
PLEASE NOTE, that people born in Poland may take part again this year, whereas
people born in Pakistan are excluded for the first time. Entries may be sent
to THE AMERICAN DREAM until Oct. 15th, 2000. The form can be printed online
or requested by mail. To request the form by mail, please go to:
http://www.greencard.info
or to print the form online go to the same site and chose "print online
application”.
If you have already sent a form to THE AMERICAN DREAM, you may expect an official
confirmation form stamped by the US Postal office by the beginning of November.
This will be your proof that your application has been submitted correctly and
in time. The chances to win the greencard are generally about 1 in 20, although
this may vary slightly according to your country of birth. At the end of this
newsletter we publish a complete list of last year´s winners per country!
2. H-1B VISA FOR
SPECIALTY OCCUPATIONS
Of course, besides the GreenCard, which allows you into the US indefinitely
and for all purposes, there are many other visa types. We want to introduce
you to the most popular one: the H-1B Visa. More than 115.000 people are admitted
each year to the US on the basis of this visa. Of course, this can only be a
brief description of the visa for you to see if it might fit your needs. If
you are really interested in obtaining this kind of visa, please contact us
at info@americandream.de for professional
advice.
"Specialty Occupation” is a uniquely American term essentially referring to
the free professions. Most professionals with the opportunity to work in their
respective fields of endeavour in the United States do so under H-1B status.
Because of recent changes to this work category, which both lengthen and complicate
the approval procedure, professionals are well-advised to consider other categories
before applying for H-1B Specialty Occupation status.
WHO QUALIFIES FOR A H-1B Visa?
The twin bases for Specialty Occupation status are: (1) the duties of the offered
position require knowledge and skill on a level reflected by a university degree;
and (2) the proposed employee possesses such a level of knowledge and skill.
These bases can be explained as follows:
The Job: Is It Professional?
The principal criterion of a "Specialty Occupation” is that a university degree
(BA or higher) is the minimum requirement for entry into the particular occupation.
The term is thus appropriate for the free professions, which include architecture,
engineering, physical and social sciences, education, accounting, law, theology
and the arts. An occupation, even if not included in the free professions, can
be a "Specialty Occupation” if a university degree is commonly required of employees
of such occupation; or if the duties thereof are so complex as to require a
level of knowledge associated with the attainment of such a degree.
EXAMPLE: The Bismark Business Research Center has a position opening for a Business
Researcher. A university degree in business studies is required for fulfilling
the duties of the position. Given this requirement, the position at Bismark
should be considered a "Specialty Occupation”, allowing a non-American to be
hired in H-1B status.
NOTE: One advantage of H-1B Specialty Occupation status is that the U.S. employer
(such as Bismark in the above example) does not have to first recruit local
American workers before hiring a foreigner for the job.
The Worker: Is He A Professional?
Eligibility requirements applying to the individual are that he possess at least
one of the following:
A United States baccalaureate or higher degree in a specialty occupation.
EXAMPLE: Candy from Canada has earned an MBA degree from the University of California.
She learns that the Bismark Business Research Center has a job opening for a
Business Researcher. On the basis of her U.S. degree, Candy will be deemed as
meeting this requirement of H-1B status.
EXAMPLE: Dan from Denmark is the holder of a B.A. degree from the Danish School
of Design. Dan has been offered a temporary position by Philadelphia Fashions,
a U.S. apparel manufacturer interested in creating a Scandinavian line of mens’
suits. Dan’s Danish B.A. is evaluated by an accredited service as the equivalent
of a B.A. degree from a U.S. school of design. Assuming that other eligibility
requirements are met, Dan should qualify for H-1B Specialty Occupation status.
You can find an accredited evaluation service at http://www.wes.org
If you have not completed Unversity, it is possible that you qualify by having
the EQUIVALENT of a University degree, i.e. a similar education and a long experience
in your job which makes up for the loss of University education.
WHAT THE AMERICAN EMPLOYER MUST DO …
Labor condition application
The Labor condition application ("LCA”) requirement arises from recent changes
made to the H-1B category, and is one of the reasons why U.S. employers and
foreign employees should examine other options before selecting H-1B status.
The LCA is now the initial procedural step to be taken by the U.S. employer.
Submitted to the Department of Labor, the LCA is a document on which the employer
attests to the following:
It will pay the H-1B employee wages at least equal to the "actual wage” or the
"prevailing wage”, whichever is greater. It will provide working conditions
that will not adversely affect the working conditions of similarly employed
U.S. workers. It has given appropriate notice to its U.S. employees of its intent
to employ the foreigner in the offered position. Such notice is made by giving
a copy of the LCA to the employees’ union or, should there be no such union,
by posting copies of the LCA at two conspicuous places at the place of employment.
Upon receipt of the LCA, the Department of Labor reviews the document to ensure
it is complete and contains no obvious inaccuracies. Barring such imperfections,
the Department of Labor will certify the LCA within 7 days of filing, and send
a copy to the employer. Receipt of this certified copy enables the employer
to proceed to the next procedural step—the filing of the H-1B Specialty Occupation
petition.
Processing times for a Specialty Occupation petition vary in different areas
of the U.S., but in general a decision is made within 4-6 weeks. If the petition
is approved, notice will be sent directly to the American employer. A special
request can be made to the INS that it send another copy of the approval notice
directly to the appropriate U.S. Consulate in the prospective employee’s home
country.
A new fee of USD 500,- was introduced this year, which US employers will also
have to pay now, so consider this, before you ask a US employer to sponsor you
for a job.
There is a service on the internet which lists job openings only by employers
who are willing to sponsor you for a visa or even a greencard. However, this
service is not free of charge. If you want to check it out, please go to http://www.visajobs.com
WHAT YOU AS FOREIGN WORKER MUST DO…
Once the Consulate receives the notice of approval, the applicant can go to
the Consulate and request an H-1B visa. This visa request is made on the standard
nonimmigrant visa application form (Optional Form 156). A separate application
form, together with passport photos, must be submitted for the prospective employee
and all members of his family (regardless of age) who will be traveling with
him to the United States.
NOTE: The above does not mean that an application for Specialty Occupation status
will always be approved. If the Consul suspects, for example, that the petition
originally filed with the INS contains inaccuracies regarding the applicant’s
work or educational background, an H-1B visa will not be issued.
DURATION: An H-1B Specialty Occupation petition can be approved for an initial
period of up to three years. Extensions of the initial approved period may be
granted, but the total stay under H-1B status may generally not exceed six years.
A request for an extension of stay as a Specialty Occupation worker is made
by the U.S. employer (and not the worker himself). A letter explaining the reasons
for the extension request should accompany the application. The employer must
also submit a new approved labor condition application (see above) with the
request.
NOTE: A person who has been in the United States in H-1B status worker for six
years may not seek a further extension of stay or a change of status, and is
barred from reentering the U.S. in either "H” or "L” status until he has resided
outside the U.S. for a full year. Brief business or pleasure trips to the United
States during this period are allowed, but any time spent in the U.S. during
such trips is not counted towards fulfillment of the required year abroad. However,
while you are in the US on a H-1B Visa, you may continue to prepare an application
for a greencard or keep playing in the greencard lottery.
Visas For Family Members
The spouse and unmarried children under 21 of an H-1B Specialty Occupation worker
are eligible for H-4 visas. Work is not permitted in this status, meaning that
the spouse must independently qualify for one of the work visas discussed in
this book in order to legally work in the United States. On the other hand,
this status does permit attending school and undertaking studies in America.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THIS TYPE OF VISA OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF VISA, PLEASE
CONTACT US at info@americandream.de
TO SEE IF WE CAN HELP YOU! More Details about all other types of visa can also
be found in the book "United States, entry and work permits” by Liam Schwartz.
(http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/9041104313/)
3. NEWS BREAK
SENATOR LIEBERMAN (D), Vice-President Al Gore’s choice for running mate on the
Democratic presidential ticket, has a strong pro-immigration voting record during
his years in the Senate.
For example, he voted in favor of the Immigration Act of 1990, which significantly
increased the number of immigrants authorized to enter the US each year. He
also is in favour of letting more H-1B workers into the United States.
Lieberman himself is the son of Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe. His wife
was born in a refugee camp in Czechoslovakia in 1948 and immigrated to the US
with her parents in 1951. Her mother was imprisoned in the Dachau and Auschwitz
concentration camps, and her father was held in a Nazi slave labor camp. Her
own experiences as an immigrant, and as the child of Holocaust survivors were
reflected in a speech given on the day Gore’s selection of Lieberman was made
official. "Here I am, the daughter of survivors of the Holocaust. Whether you
and your family immigrated from Europe, Africa, Mexico, Latin America or Asia,
I am standing here for you,” she said.
+++++
ELIAN GONZALEZ: Almost four months after the raid that reunited him with his
father, and nearly two months after his return to Cuba, the little Cuban boy
is again in the news. This week the INS announced that it would hold an awards
ceremony to honor the agents who participated in the raid. The news was greeted
with anger by the Cuban-American community in Miami which plans to hold protests
against the ceremony.
+++++
VISA WAIVER PILOT PROGRAM: At the end of May 2000 the Visa Waiver Pilot, which
allowed people from many countries, including almost all countries of the European
Union, to come to the US without a visa and only with a passport, as long as
they stay no longer than 90 days, officially expired. A new law would have to
be established for the program to continue. However, in order not to cause anger
with tourists, the program was extended unofficially and people who would usually
be entitled to the visa waiver are still admitted at the border. An interesting
fact about the expiration of the Visa Waiver Pilot Program was now revealed.
Ordinarily people who enter on the VWPP are not eligible to change to any other
status in the US, that is they can not enter the US as a tourist and then apply
for a student or work visa. However, since the program expired a few months
ago, visitors are now being paroled into the US without a real law backing this
decision. As such these tourists are eligible to change status, including applications
for adjustment of status. The INS and the State Department have agreed to continue
granting parole to VWPP eligible travelers until September 30. After that date,
a new law should have been passed so things can go back to normal.
+++++
WATER IN THE DESERT: Volunteers have begun a program to supply water to undocumented
migrants crossing the desert southwest. They have stored two one gallon jugs
(about 8 litres) of water at 100 locations in the southern California deserts,
marking each site with a 30 foot tall flagpole.
During the past months, several dozens of illegal immigrants have died while
trying to cross the desert to avoid the strict border patrols in busier areas.
4. WINNERS OF LAST
YEAR´S LOTTERY
The following list was announced on June 24th, 2000 by the speaker of the State
Department. Names are never published, so please do not inquire about your individual
result. If you take part through THE AMERICAN DREAM, you will always be informed
by mail and e-mail about your individual result! The winners are divided in
six geographic regions, which are listed in alphabetical order. If you were
not among the winners, we wish you good luck for next year!
| AFRICA |
|
|
| ALGERIA 949 |
| ANGOLA 9 |
| BENIN 62 |
| BOTSWANA 21 |
| BURKINA FASO 18 |
| BURUNDI 11 |
| CAMEROON 653 |
| CAPE VERDE 11 |
| CENTRAL AFRICAN REP. 5 |
| CHAD 23 |
| COMOROS 0 |
| CONGO 45 |
| CONGO, D.R. 596 |
| COTE D’IVOIRE 199 |
| DJIBOUTI 25 |
| EGYPT 2,383 |
| EQUATORIAL GUINEA 3 |
| ERITREA 245 |
| ETHIOPIA 5,007 |
| GABON 11 |
| GAMBIA, THE 72 |
| GHANA 6,000 |
| GUINEA 283 |
| GUINEA-BISSAU 2 |
| KENYA 1,606 |
| LESOTHO 0 |
| LIBERIA 1,193 |
| LIBYA 34 |
| MADAGASCAR 29 |
| MALAWI 25 |
| MALI 59 |
| MAURITANIA 23 |
| MAURITIUS 23 |
| MOROCCO 5,000 |
| MOZAMBIQUE 8 |
| NAMIBIA 5 |
| NIGER 18 |
| NIGERIA 6,017 |
| RWANDA 56 |
| SAO TOME & PRINCIPE 0 |
| SENEGAL 316 |
| SEYCHELLES 2 |
| SIERRA LEONE 2,240 |
| SOMALIA 2,364 |
| SOUTH AFRICA 357 |
| SUDAN 1,661 |
| SWAZILAND 0 |
| TANZANIA 231 |
| TOGO 699 |
| TUNISIA 83 |
| UGANDA 154 |
| ZAMBIA 101 |
| ZIMBABWE 91 |
|
| ASIA |
|
|
| AFGHANISTAN 309 |
| BAHRAIN 4 |
| BANGLADESH 5,003 |
| BHUTAN 1 |
| BRUNEI 0 |
| BURMA 734 |
| CAMBODIA 152 |
| HONG KONG 126 |
| INDONESIA 369 |
| IRAN 740 |
| IRAQ 99 |
| ISRAEL 115 |
| JAPAN 408 |
| JORDAN 80 |
| KUWAIT 47 |
| LAOS 8 |
| LEBANON 78 |
| MALAYSIA 70 |
| MALDIVES 269 |
| MONGOLIA 24 |
| NEPAL 376 |
| NORTH KOREA 2 |
| OMAN 3 |
| PAKISTAN 4,721 |
| QATAR 7 |
| SAUDI ARABIA 88 |
| SINGAPORE 41 |
| SRI LANKA 410 |
| SYRIA 85 |
| THAILAND 163 |
| UNTD. ARAB EMIRATES 40 |
| YEMEN 201 |
|
| EUROPE |
|
|
| ALBANIA 4,255 |
| ANDORRA 0 |
| ARMENIA 989 |
| AUSTRIA 90 |
| AZERBAIJAN 300 |
| BELARUS 861 |
| BELGIUM 39 |
| BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA 59 |
| BULGARIA 2,893 |
| CROATIA 62 |
| CYPRUS 12 |
| CZECH REPUBLIC 137 |
| DENMARK 45 |
| ESTONIA 47 |
| FINLAND 27 |
| FRANCE 260 |
| GEORGIA 287 |
| GERMANY 1,902 |
| GREECE 63 |
| HUNGARY 120 |
| ICELAND 9 |
| IRELAND 221 |
| ITALY 141 |
| KAZAKHSTAN 876 |
| KYRGYZSTAN 184 |
| LATVIA 175 |
| LIECHTENSTEIN 0 |
| LITHUANIA 1,200 |
| LUXEMBOURG 2 |
| MACEDONIA, FORMER |
| MALTA 4 |
| MOLDOVA 269 |
| MONACO 0 |
| NETHERLANDS 53 |
| NORTHERN IRELAND 42 |
| NORWAY 14 |
| PORTUGAL 31 |
| ROMANIA 2,370 |
| RUSSIA 3,579 |
| SAN MARINO 0 |
| SERBIA-MONTENEGRO 401 |
| SLOVAKIA 331 |
| SLOVENIA 10 |
| SPAIN 37 |
| SWEDEN 87 |
| SWITZERLAND 1660 |
| TAJIKISTAN 46 |
| TURKEY 1,011 |
| TURKMENISTAN 48 |
| UKRAINE 5,029 |
| UZBEKISTAN 1,026 |
| YUGOSLAV REP. OF 190 |
|
| OCEANIA |
|
|
| AUSTRALIA 333 |
| FIJI 676 |
| KIRIBATI 0 |
| MARSHALL ISLANDS 0 |
| MICRONESIA 0 |
| NAURU 0 |
| NEW ZEALAND 224 |
| PALAU 0 |
| PAPUA NEW GUINEA 3 |
| SAMOA 8 |
| SOLOMON ISLANDS 0 |
| TONGA 55 |
| TUVALU 0 |
| VANUATU 1 |
| NORTH AMERICA
|
| BAHAMAS, THE 19 |
|
SOUTH AMERICA,
CENTRAL AMERICA,
AND THE CARIBBEAN |
|
|
| ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA 1 |
| ARGENTINA 117 |
| BARBADOS 4 |
| BELIZE 4 |
| BOLIVIA 17 |
| BRAZIL 397 |
| CHILE 9 |
| COSTA RICA 24 |
| CUBA 743 |
| DOMINICA 18 |
| DOMINICA 18 |
| ECUADOR 1,167 |
| GRENADA 3 |
| GUATEMALA 27 |
| GUYANA 47 |
| HONDURAS 47 |
| NICARAGUA 21 |
| PANAMA 30 |
| PARAGUAY 8 |
| PERU 872 |
| SAINT KITTS & NEVIS 1 |
| SAINT LUCIA 6 |
| SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES 6 |
| SURINAME 0 |
| TRINIDAD & TOBAGO 102 |
| URUGUAY 12 |
| VENEZUELA 130 |
|
5. STATE DEPARTMENT
VISA BULLETIN (official Version)
In this bulletin you can see the actual waiting periods for all kinds of categories
in which you can apply for a GreenCard. The three main categories are “Family
based“, “Employment based“, and “Diversity Immigrant Category“ (greencard Lottery).
Especially in Family based categories the waiting period may exceed 10 years.
greencard winners may read in this list, when, according to their case number,
they may expect to be invited to the final interview at the consulate. We will
publish the newest visa bulletin every month in this newsletter.
IMMIGRANT NUMBERS FOR SEPTEMBER 2000
A. STATUTORY NUMBERS
1. This bulletin summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers during September.
Consular officers are required to report to the Department of State documentarily
qualified applicants for numerically limited visas; the Immigration and Naturalization
Service reports applicants for adjustment of status. Allocations were made, to
the extent possible under the numerical limitations, for the demand received by
August 8th in the chronological order of the reported priority dates. If the demand
could not be satisfied within the statutory or regulatory limits, the category
or foreign state in which demand was excessive was deemed oversubscribed. The
cut-off date for an oversubscribed category is the priority date of the first
applicant who could not be reached within the numerical limits. Only applicants
who have a priority date earlier than the cut-off date may be allotted a number.
Immediately that it becomes necessary during the monthly allocation process to
retrogress a cut-off date, supplemental requests for numbers will be honored only
if the priority date falls within the new cut-off date.
2. The fiscal year 2000 limit for family-sponsored preference immigrants determined
in accordance with Section 201 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) is
294,601. The fiscal year 2000 limit for employment-based preference immigrants
calculated under INA 201 is 142,299. Section 202 prescribes that the per-country
limit for preference immigrants is set at 7 % of the total annual family-sponsored
and employment-based preference limits, i.e., 30,583 for FY-2000. The dependent
area limit is set at 2 %, or 8,738.
3. Section 203 of the INA prescribes preference classes for allotment of immigrant
visas as follows:
FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCES
First: Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Citizens: 23,400 plus any numbers not required
for fourth preference.
Second: Spouses and Children, and Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Permanent Residents:
114,200, plus the number (if any) by which the worldwide family preference level
exceeds 226,000, and any unused first preference numbers:
A. Spouses and Children: 77 % of the overall second preference limitation, of which
75 % are exempt from the per-country limit;
B. Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older): 23 % of the overall
second preference limitation.
Third: Married Sons and Daughters of Citizens: 23,400, plus any numbers not required
by first and second preferences.
Fourth: Brothers and Sisters of Adult Citizens: 65,000, plus any numbers not required
by first three preferences.
EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCES
First: Priority Workers: 28.6 % of the worldwide employment-based preference level,
plus any numbers not required for fourth and fifth preferences.
Second: Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional
Ability: 28.6 % of the worldwide employment-based preference level, plus any numbers
not required by first preference.
Third: Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers: 28.6 % of the worldwide
level, plus any numbers not required by first and second preferences, not more
than 10,000 of which to “Other Workers.“
Fourth: Certain Special Immigrants: 7.1 % of the worldwide level.
Fifth: Employment Creation: 7.1 % of the worldwide level, not less than 3,000 of
which reserved for investors in a targeted rural or high-unemployment area, and
3,000 set aside for investors in regional centers by Sec. 610 of P.L. 102-395.
4. INA Section 203(e) provides that family-sponsored and employment-based preference
visas be issued to eligible immigrants in the order in which a petition in behalf
of each has been filed. Section 203(d) provides that spouses and children of preference
immigrants are entitled to the same status, and the same order of consideration,
if accompanying or following to join the principal. The visa prorating provisions
of Section 202(e) apply to allocations for a foreign state or dependent area when
visa demand exceeds the per-country limit. These provisions apply at present to
the following oversubscribed chargeability areas: CHINA-mainland born, INDIA,
MEXICO, and PHILIPPINES.
5. On the chart below, the listing of a date for any class indicates that the
class is oversubscribed (see paragraph 1); “C“ means current, i.e., numbers are
available for all qualified applicants; and “U“ means unavailable, i.e., no numbers
are available. (NOTE: Numbers are available only for applicants whose priority
date is earlier than the cut-off date listed below.)
All Chargeability Family
| 1st |
15JAN99 |
| 2A* |
15APR96 |
| 2B |
01APR93 |
| 3rd |
08FEB96 |
| 4th |
01JUN89 |
*NOTE: For September, 2A numbers EXEMPT from per-country limit are available to
applicants from all countries with priority dates earlier than 08SEP94. 2A numbers
SUBJECT to per-country limit are available to applicants chargeable to all countries
EXCEPT MEXICO with priority dates beginning 08SEP94 and earlier than 15APR96.
All Chargeability Areas Employment-Based
| 1st |
C |
| 2nd |
C |
| 3rd |
C |
| Other Workers |
01AUG95 |
| 4th |
C |
| Certain ReligiousWorkers |
C |
| 5th |
C |
| Targeted Employment Areas/Regional Centers |
C |
The Department of State has available a recorded message with visa availability
information which can be heard at (202) 663-1541. This recording will be updated
in the middle of each month with information on cut-off dates for the following
month.
B. DIVERSITY IMMIGRANT (DV) CATEGORY
Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act provides a maximum of up
to 55,000 immigrant visas each fiscal year to permit immigration opportunities
for persons from countries other than the principal sources of current immigration
to the United States. The Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act (NCARA) passed
by Congress in November 1997 stipulates that beginning with DV-99, and for as
long as necessary, up to 5,000 of the 55,000 annually-allocated diversity visas
will be made available for use under the NCARA program. This reduction has resulted
in the DV-2000 annual limit being reduced to 50,000. DV visas are divided among
six geographic regions. No one country can receive more than seven percent of
the available diversity visas in any one year.
For September, immigrant numbers in the DV category are available to qualified
DV-2000 applicants chargeable to all regions/eligible countries as follows. When
an allocation cut-off number is shown, visas are available only for applicants
with DV regional lottery rank numbers BELOW the specified allocation cut-off number:
All DV Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed Separately
| AFRICA |
CURRENT Except: Nigeria AF 13,676 |
| ASIA |
CURRENT |
| EUROPE |
EU 21,030 Except: Albania EU 14,669 |
| NORTH AMERICA (BAHAMAS) |
CURRENT |
| OCEANIA |
OC 850 |
| SOUTH AMERICA, CENTRAL AMERICA and the CARIBBEAN |
SA 2,011 |
Entitlement to immigrant status in the DV category lasts only through the end
of the fiscal (visa) year for which the applicant is selected in the lottery.
The year of entitlement for all applicants registered for the DV-2000 program
ends as of September 30, 2000. DV visas may not be issued to DV-2000 applicants
after that date. Similarly, spouses and children accompanying or following to
join DV-2000 principals are only entitled to derivative DV status until September
30, 2000. DV visa availability through the very end of FY-2000 cannot be taken
for granted. Numbers could be exhausted prior to September 30. Once all numbers
provided by law for the DV-2000 program have been used, no further issuances
will be possible.
In the next newsletter you will read about creating your own business in America
and how to get the necessary E-visa for this type of business.
Any suggestions? Please e-mail: mail@greencard.info