Latest news with #DiversityVisaLottery
Canada News.Net
4 days ago
- Business
- Canada News.Net
State Department proposes bond requirement for high-risk applicants
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The U.S. State Department has suggested a new rule that could make it more complex and more expensive for people to visit the United States for business or tourism. The plan would require some visa applicants to pay a refundable deposit, or "bond," of up to US$15,000 before they are allowed to enter the country. This idea was officially announced on Monday and will begin as a 12-month test program. It will target people from countries where many travelers tend to stay in the U.S. longer than allowed, or where passport and document security is weak. Depending on the situation, visitors may be asked to pay bonds of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 when applying for a visa. The Trump administration has been making it harder for people to get U.S. visas. Just last week, the government said that more people renewing their visas will now have to attend in-person interviews, even if they didn't have to before. The government also wants applicants for the Diversity Visa Lottery (a program that gives people a chance to get a green card) to show they have a valid passport from their home country. A preview of the new bond rule was posted online on August 4. It says the test program will begin 15 days after the official announcement. The bond is meant to protect the U.S. government from financial loss in case a visitor breaks the rules of their visa, for example, by staying in the country too long. According to the notice, the rule may apply to people visiting the U.S. for business or tourism from certain countries. These countries might have: High rates of people overstaying visas, Weak background-check systems, Or offer citizenship without requiring people to live in the country first (a process called "citizenship by investment"). The exact list of countries affected will be announced once the program begins. In some cases, the bond may be waived, depending on the applicant's situation. This new bond rule does not apply to travelers from the Visa Waiver Program, which lets citizens of 42 countries (mainly in Europe, plus a few in Asia and the Middle East) visit the U.S. for up to 90 days without a visa. The idea of visa bonds is not new. It has been discussed before, but never implemented. The State Department has usually opposed the idea, saying it would be too complicated and might create the wrong impression. However, the department now says that there is no recent proof or examples to support that view since such bonds haven't actually been used recently.
Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
You'll need more than luck in the Visa Lottery: Trump administration wants to change the rules
The rules for the popular Diversity Visa Lottery — which allows thousands of people each year to legally immigrate to the United States and apply for a green card — could soon change under a new proposal from the U.S. Department of State. The proposed measures, published Tuesday in the Federal Register, are aligned with several immigration and national security policies reinstated under the Trump administration. Officially known as the Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) Program, the initiative is now under review to improve 'vetting and combatting fraud.' The Department of State's proposal would increase screening for applicants to the program, whose immigrant visas are granted through a computerized lottery. The agency is seeking to require DV applicants to submit 'valid, unexpired passport information and a scanned copy of the passport biographic page and signature page uploaded with their electronic entry form.' Another change would involve replacing the term 'gender' with 'sex,' in compliance with Executive Order 14168, as well as using 'date of birth' instead of 'age' in an effort to improve 'the accuracy of information collected and maintained by the Department throughout the immigrant visa process.' The DV Program is administered by the Department of State and benefits countries with historically low rates of immigration to the U.S.: specifically, nationals of countries from which fewer than 50,000 people have immigrated to the U.S. over the past five years. According to official data, millions of applicants submit their DV entries every year through an online registration form. The Department of State says the proposed requirements would strengthen the security framework against fraud in the DV application and adjudication process. 'Requiring passport information with the DV entry would make it substantially more difficult for unauthorized third parties to submit entries on behalf of individuals with partial information,' the rule states. 'This requirement would also enable the Department to more effectively and efficiently confirm the identities of entrants. The Department also anticipates that this requirement would reduce the number of fraudulent marriages that occur within the DV Program.' Early identification of potential fraud would reduce the need to dedicate 'significant resources' to resolving inconsistencies between the DV entry and the visa application, and to 'determine whether the explanation provided by the applicant is credible or whether the entry was fraudulent.' Each year, 55,000 Diversity Visas are made available to those who meet eligibility criteria and qualify under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and State Department regulations. The proposal includes amending certain visa application forms to require 'a passport number or unique identification number associated with the applicant's valid, unexpired passport; the name on the passport; the country or authority that issued the passport; and the expiration date of the passport.' Additionally, DV applicants would be required to submit a scanned image of the passport's biographic and signature pages. This would, according to the proposal, 'significantly enhance' the department's ability to verify applicants' identities — part of the response to Trump's Executive Order 14161, Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States, issued on January 20, 2025. With access to a scanned passport image, the department 'seeks to reduce the likelihood of a falsified passport number' and enable adjudicators 'to compare the spelling of the principal entrant's name in the native alphabet on the passport with the spelling of the entrant's name in English as provided on the entry form.' Under the new rules, some applicants would need to obtain a valid passport at the time of submitting their DV entry, rather than after being selected for an interview at a consular office or embassy. The proposed rule is open to public comment for 44 days and is scheduled to close on September 19, 2025.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
01-07-2025
- Business
- First Post
Explained: What are the legal ways to get a US green card?
The United States grants about 1 million green cards each year, formally known as lawful permanent residency, allowing recipients to live and work in the country indefinitely, as long as they are not convicted of disqualifying crimes. With interest in US immigration continuing to grow, here's a brief overview of how the current US legal immigration system works and the main pathways available read more The United States also admits hundreds of thousands of workers, foreign students and exchange visitors a year on temporary visas. File image/ Reuters The United States has been granting about 1 million green cards a year, formally known as legal permanent residency. Legal permanent residents can remain in the country indefinitely if they are not convicted of any disqualifying crimes and can apply for citizenship in five years. The current system was built in 1965 and retooled in 1990. About two-thirds of green cards are granted based on family ties. The rest are based on employment or for humanitarian reasons. A 'diversity visa lottery' is for people from countries that are underrepresented in the US, including many in Africa. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The United States also admits hundreds of thousands of workers, foreign students and exchange visitors a year on temporary visas. Permanent Legal Status Securing lawful permanent residency in the US, often referred to as obtaining a 'green card,' allows individuals to live and work in the United States indefinitely. A green card can be obtained through family sponsorship, employment, humanitarian programs, or other pathways. Family Based Immediate Relatives of US citizens: No cap; US citizens can sponsor their spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents. Family Preference: 226,000 per year; US citizens can sponsor unmarried children over 21, married children, and siblings. Green card holders can sponsor spouses and unmarried children. A green card can be obtained through family sponsorship, employment, humanitarian programs, or other image /Reuters Employment-Based The US allows 140,000 people per year to legally enter the country for employment opportunities. There are five primary categories based on skill, job offer, or investment: EB-1: People with extraordinary ability, professors and researchers, and multinational executives EB-2: People with advanced degrees EB-3: Skilled workers, professionals, and other workers EB-4: Special groups, including religious workers and certain US government employees EB-5: Investors The US allows 140,000 people per year to legally enter the country for employment opportunities. Representational image Other Permanent Pathways Refugees and Asylees: No cap; can apply one year after being granted refugee or asylum status in the US. Diversity Visa Lottery: 55,000 per year; awarded to applicants from countries with historically low US immigration. Tens of millions apply annually. Temporary Legal Status These visas allow individuals to live and work in the US for a limited time, often for purposes like work, study, or travel. These visas do not lead to permanent residency but can sometimes be renewed or extended. Travel, Study and Exchange Tourism and business: No cap; B, C, and D visas are issued to tourists, business visitors, and crew members on ships or planes, respectively. They typically allow stays of 6 months or less. Students and cultural exchange: No cap; F, J, and M visas are issued to academic students, exchange visitors, and vocational students, respectively. They allow stays ranging from a few months to several years, depending on the program. Temporary legal visas allow individuals to live and work in the US for a limited time, often for purposes like work, study, or travel. AP/File Photo Temporary Workers H-1B: 85,000 per year, plus exemptions, for skilled workers. 20,000 places are reserved for US master's degree holders. Typically valid for three years. Some positions, such as those in higher education, are exempt from the cap. H-2A: No cap; for agricultural workers. Typically valid for no longer than a year. H-2B: 66,000 per year, plus DHS expansion; for seasonal non-agricultural workers, often in fields like construction or hospitality. The Department of Homeland Security can expand this cap as needed. L: No cap. for workers transferring within a company. Typically valid for three years and can be extended up to seven years. O: No cap; for workers with extraordinary ability. Typically valid for three years but can be indefinitely extended. TN: No cap; for Mexican and Canadian professionals. Can be renewed indefinitely in three-year increments. Humanitarian Relief These programs provide temporary relief to individuals facing extraordinary circumstances or emergencies. They are not legally capped and do not automatically lead to green cards. Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Granted to nationals from designated countries experiencing armed conflict, natural disasters, or other crises. The status lasts for between six and 18 months and can be renewed at the discretion of the Homeland Security secretary. Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) Granted to protect nationals of unstable countries from deportation. It is similar to Temporary Protected Status but is granted at the discretion of the president, rather than by the Homeland Security secretary. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) For individuals brought to the US before age 16. They must meet certain education and residency criteria. It offers work authorisation and temporary protection from deportation, but not permanent residency. Since a 2021 court order, Homeland Security has granted two-year renewals but cannot accept first-time applications. Humanitarian Parole Case-by-case permission to enter the US for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public interest. Used for groups like Ukrainians, Cubans, and Haitians, with some capped and some uncapped programs. Parolees can apply for work authorisation. Limits and Backlogs Limits to individual countries, wait times, and the large backlog in cases complicate the process of obtaining a green card or temporary visa. Per-Country Cap Each country is limited to a maximum of 7 per cent of both family‑ and employment‑based green cards annually. This means that countries with high numbers of applicants, like India and China, can face significant competition. Wait Times Some countries and visa categories have extremely long wait times due to high demand and limited availability. Some applicants may wait more than twenty years for a green card. Backlog There are approximately 3.7 million pending applicants for family-based green cards, and around 121,000 waiting for employment-based green cards. Demand far exceeds supply, and slow processing times mean a growing backlog of cases. Repeated attempts to expand legal immigration have failed in Congress. In 2013, the Senate approved legislation that would have granted a path to citizenship to millions of people, but it died in the House of Representatives. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Express Tribune
31-01-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
US Diversity Visa Program: What's the future of the Green Card lottery under Trump?
Listen to article As President Donald Trump embarks on his second term after his re-election in November 2024, the future of the US Diversity Visa Program, commonly known as the Green Card Lottery, hangs in the balance. Trump, a long-time critic of the program and diversity initiatives in general, has voiced strong opposition to the Diversity Visa Program. What is Diversity Visa (DV) Program/ Green Card Lottery? The Diversity Visa (DV) Program grants 55,000 visas each year to applicants from countries with historically low immigration rates to the US, including Germany. While the chances of being chosen are slim, the program is seen as a more accessible option for potential immigrants, requiring only a high school diploma or equivalent or two years of work experience within the last five years. Trump's stance on the Diversity Visa Program has been clear. He has labeled it the 'Democrat Lottery' and tied it to concerns over terrorism. He has called for a shift toward a merit-based immigration system and even sought to terminate the program. Though there were no major legislative changes during his first term, the Trump administration did introduce some restrictions, such as passport requirements, which disproportionately affected low-income applicants. Looking ahead to his second term, it remains to be seen whether Trump will intensify his efforts to eliminate the Diversity Visa Program. He has expressed his desire for a merit-based immigration system, but has yet to provide details on how such a system would operate. Creating such a system would require comprehensive legislation from Congress, which would fundamentally overhaul the US immigration system. Should Trump succeed in eliminating the Diversity Visa Program, it would close off a significant immigration route for many individuals from countries. Although the program's future is uncertain, there are likely to be additional restrictions or alterations to its structure, meaning potential applicants must be prepared for a potentially tougher immigration process. For those relying on the Green Card Lottery, seeking legal counsel to navigate the complex and evolving immigration landscape will be essential as the policy landscape changes and becomes more restrictive. This was not the first time Trump had voiced his opposition to the Diversity Visa Lottery. In August 2017, he threw his support behind the Reforming American Immigration for Strong Employment (RAISE) Act, which sought to abolish the program. The RAISE Act proposed drastic reductions to legal immigration and introduced a merit-based system for awarding green cards, a proposal that faced opposition from various factions within Congress. Despite Trump's calls for an end to the program, the likelihood of Congress passing legislation to eliminate the lottery remains uncertain. The Diversity Visa Lottery has survived several attempts to repeal it in the past. Additionally, any legislation to abolish the program would not impact the 2019 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, as the registration period for that year's lottery was already open.
