Students, workers learn how to boost chance of winning US diversity visa |15 October 2015

Students and employees have had the opportunity to learn how to boost their chances of winning a green card to the United States.

The presentation, held yesterday, was led by the US consular officer Seth Schleicher at the American Corner Seychelles (ACS) of the University of Seychelles (UniSey).

He said that this programme’s aim is to diversify the immigrant population of the US.

“Seychelles is a great example of people that are underrepresented in the US, so whether they are students or already in a profession it does not matter; it’s just an opportunity to get the word out on the programme,” he said.

The entry period for the US Diversity Visa-2017 is currently on and will close at noon, Eastern Standard Time on Tuesday November 3, 2015.

Applicants who are selected in the programme must meet simple, but strict, eligibility requirements in order to qualify for a diversity visa.

They are chosen through a randomised computer drawing.

The applicants who have won will know their results by May 3, 2016 and if you do not win you can try again once every year.

It is free to enter the Diversity Visa Lottery.

Unscrupulous visa facilitators have been known to assist applicants with their entries, retain the confirmation page and then demand more money in exchange for information on the entry.

It is important for the applicant to enter their own information and follow all instructions.

The State Department will never send you a letter or email to say you won.

If you see that kind of message, it is a scam.

Learn the facts about the Diversity Visa Lottery programme on www.dvlottery.state.gov and it can help you avoid these scams.

During the presentation Mr Schleicher also provided information on how to apply and obtain a visa to work or study in the US.

The tourist visa which is also known as the non- immigrant visa lasts up to 10 years and visa interviews are held at the US embassy in Mauritius on Monday and Wednesday.

For further information the embassy’s website mauritius.usembassy.gov. might be helpful.

After the interview with the consular officer it takes one day to print the visa which costs US $160 that can be paid in Seychelles rupees or Mauritian rupees in cash only.

For student and work visas the person must find and apply to a school or the job on their own.

It is after you have been accepted by the institution that an interview can be made with the embassy to obtain a visa.

Mr Schleicher pointed out that the visa is temporary and it is not necessarily a path to a green card, compared to the lottery whereby your citizenship is permanent unless you do not visit the US within one year, then it is revoked.