Green Card Lottery Season!

Does the country in which you live play any role in your happiness? I recently had this discussion with a reader, and for me the answer is absolutely YES! I don't think America is the only country where I can lead a happy or prosperous life, but it's the location of my entire family and to be separated from them by a great distance for long periods of time is unimaginable. So, America is the place I have always called home. If I didn't have such close familial relations, I would no doubt be a global wanderer, living and working in many different countries and continents by this point of my life. But fate dealt me a different set of cards, and my feet remain grounded in what I believe is a beautiful and unique country. One that I love very much, for reasons I've tried to explain many times on this blog.

For others, their home country provides no joy, no hope and few opportunities. These are the exact people who should apply for the U.S. Diversity Visa Lottery, which opens next week. Since 1990, the Department of State holds an annual lottery in which citizens of other countries can apply for a chance to be granted permanent residency in the U.S., with luck being the only determining factor. With the exception of marrying an American, it's the easiest pathway to U.S. citizenship.

In order to qualify, you must simply be born in one of the specified eligibility countries and have a High School Diploma, or two years work experience. Applications are accepted for one month only, starting 1 October 2014 and ending 3 November 2014. If the pending U.S. Immigration Reform bills are passed in their current form, this program will likely be eliminated in the future. In fact, it's quite controversial but I strongly support this diversity initiative. How does it work?( Read more... )