So I recently came across two "local" success stories - a Serbian actress and some Croatian TV-guy won the green card lottery lol. They guy's been in the USA for a few years now, and is doing really great! To me this is such a strange concept...to randomly give out green cards just like that! Anyways, I was wondering if anyone has any experience with this? Any stories? I am most definitely not thinking about applying (don't worry, Americans), it's just that the whole system baffles me.
Hello, not really a story. But at the age of 17 or so for some time I was interested in going to the US and the green card lottery was a way to start a life there. Remember, that was before the internet and all I had was small announcements and coupons in the newspapers. Well, times changes and for one or the other reason the US isn't my country of choice anymore. I guess I didn't know what to expect anyways at that age. Regards Gyro
Hello, it's hard to tell. Canada is nice, some country in Scandinavia, maybe the Swiss Confederation. But they all have some drawbacks. Maybe Iceland? Regards Gyro
CH would be my country of choice as well Luxembourg too, and Belgium for career reasons. Oh and Austria and Canada seem nice too.
Hello, a country whose government doesn't spy on its citizens and doesn't sell them would be nice. But I guess that's hard to find these days. Regards Gyro
Hello, if you aren't in the databases yet, after that you are . There is no screening process to find highly skilled workers or something like that. It's a lottery . As far as I know a reason for the programme is to bring diversity to the stream of immigrants. There is a quota per country. So your chances might be better if you come from a country with few people immigrating to the US from there. And I think the usual rules for immigration apply. Wikipedia says, that you have to perform a health test for instance, so drug user don't get a visa I guess. Regards Gyro
So, do you have a job to work when you win the lottery or do you just get to go over unemployed and become a national statistic?
Hello, winning the lottery neither gives you directly a job nor the visa. At the time I was interested in the programme you had to make clear that you don't be on dole the first day after arriving in the new world . You could come up with an offer from a company, someone who bails for you or with a certain amount of cash, if I remember correctly. But that may have changed over time. Regards Gyro
