Diversity Visa program (DV-2017) / US Green Card is now open

Hello everyone. Sorry we haven’t been here for a while. I was involved in an international research, like one of those researches carried out by the Girl's High School in Kelaniya on CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease) in Sri Lanka. We all know what they found. Jackshit. Oh, here I am back again.

Now to the important topic, it's the US diversity visa time. In other words, American Green Card season, which I call the silly season. For those who are interested, please visit the OFFICIAL SITE at www.dvlottery.state.gov. As again, please don't go to anywhere else – because the real McCoy is here, not somewhere else. 

This perennial hassle of having to help DV Lottery entrants has taken its toll on me. So, as in previous years, I am trying to add my two cents worth - so you won't come here to waste my time and your money! Your money most certainly because you will be taxed heavily if you came here.

Remember that Green Card – or the DV Lottery, is absolutely FREE. That means don't pay anyone. Simple. Secondly, please please only apply through the official portal (www.dvlottery.state.gov ). There are fake sites with similar spellings – so be ware. A good rule of thumb is to see if you can see .gov at the end of the web address... Third, all you need is your own details and a photograph. Nothing more. If anyone asked for your credit card details, or phoned you about DV Lottery, then just run a mile from them.

Oh, and on the bright side, you don't need a university degree to qualify, and those occupational lists are for people who don't have minimum educational qualification – so don't panic after paying a visit to the qualifying occupations list! Is that clear? If you are a person living in Sri Lanka but born in Bangladesh, India, or Pakistan, then, you are out of luck. You could put yourself in an application if your spouse is born in Sri Lanka. Otherwise, sorry. I write this because there is a substantial number of people living here from those countries – and asking us about DV programme. Sorry kids.

If you qualify for entry, here is what you do.

1. You must have an email address to complete the form. If you don't have one, get a free email from Yahoo or Google (or somewhere else you fancy).
2. Gather your personal details – this means your address, date of birth, photograph, etc.
3. If you are married, then get your wife's/husband's & children's details too. Including clear photographs.
4. Visit the official site (given above), read the instructions, and click begin entry.
5. Follow the instructions given on the site – it is simple, true, and you just can't go wrong.
6. Please do not duplicate applications – meaning only apply once. Once you get the Submission Received / Confirmation – stop!!! Print the page for reference and keep it safe.
7. Your spouse (wife or husband) can make their own application, with you included in it. This means if you are in a relationship, you get two chances. Don't confuse this. Your partner's application is a separate one – where they are the APPLICANT, you are just mentioned in passing.... So don't fill two applications yourself!!!

After you apply, it is a waiting game, meaning you have to wait a long time for the results. Once the results dates are officially announced, you can log into the same site and click the link to see if you have won. This will need the reference number on that confirmation page you printed - so please keep that printout in a safe place.

Oh, and good luck to all of you.