GOOD NEWS FOR THE TECH SECTOR: THE GREEN CARD LOTTERY

The Green Card Lottery, which provides 55,000 Green Cards to entrants started October 2nd and ends Wednesday November 1st. For all the H-1Bs who want to remain permanently, this is the perfect and inexpensive opportunity.

The drawing is random, by computer, and the application is straightforward. Ineligible countries this year are: Canada, China (both mainland born and Macau), Colombia, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Korea, the United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, and Vietnam.

The program is also known as DV-2002" or the 2000 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program". Only one application per person is allowed and it must be signed. A recent photograph must be included, however there is no formal application form required. The application is the same for everybody, but the zip codes differ, according to the persons continent of nationality. There are regulations as to envelope size, as well as several other requirements that must be met in order to qualify.

There will be more than 55,000 entries chosen, as some persons will not accept the offer if they win. Five thousand of the entries will be used for persons qualifying for NCARA (Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act).

For further details, log on to the new immigration-based web site launched out of San Diego, www.ClearedForLanding.com. ClearedForLanding.com is the premier web site when it comes to explaining all the laws, not just presenting them. ClearedForLanding uses its proprietary system of questions-and-answers in order to clarify U.S. Immigration. All information is free, and you can subscribe to a targeted newsletter covering your specific area of interest. ClearedForLanding.com will provide FREE updates to the lottery as they become available. ###