How I won the green card and moved to America
'29.10.2018'
Source: ZagraNitsa
As a reminder, October 2, 2019 at noon Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) open acceptance of applications for the 2021 Green Card Lottery. Entries can be completed and submitted until noon Eastern Standard Time (EST) on Tuesday 5 November 2019. we told in detailhow to do it right to increase your chances of winning.
We are telling the story of the winner of the Green Card Lottery Anait Grigorieva, whom she shared with the portal “ZagraNitsa».
The first pancake is lumpy
Back in the 10-11 class, I learned that there is some kind of lottery that gives the right to get a green card. But I did not know any details. I always wanted to move to America, I don’t remember at what age. And somehow, stumbling on the Internet for an advertisement for the “Green Card Lottery”, clicked on a link, filled out a questionnaire, sent it and forgot it. After some time they call me and say that I won. The room was American and spoke English. They said you need to pay some amount (up to $ 100) to get a green card. But since I was still a schoolgirl and did not have that kind of money, I said “OK, thank you” and hung up the phone. Even then, I understood that this call is pure fraud.
Before the 4 course, I no longer made any attempts to get a green card. And one day my dad told me that our relative had won the lottery and left for the USA with her husband. I found out everything from her, I realized that a lottery still exists and it is completely free. Since then, they began to play with the then future husband. We played 4 times in a row, and from 4, we won a husband's questionnaire.
I kept the date of checking the winnings in my head. But still managed to forget! I remembered 2 weeks later and commissioned a check to my husband. And when he showed me the results, I almost went crazy with joy!
Execution of documents
We had no problems with paperwork. The only difficulty may seem to be that when filling out the DS-260 form (application form after winning), you need to specify the US address where your green cards will be sent. We were lucky, we have friends who agreed to the indication of their address. But those who are not familiar with the US address, fall a little into a stupor. But there are various forums dedicated to the lottery, where good people can provide their address, perhaps for some fee. Upon arrival in the US at customs, you are asked whether the address specified in the form DS-260 matches the address where you are going. If not, you can change it on the spot, but I recommend to avoid it or to very carefully dictate the new address and make sure that the officer has recorded it correctly. We changed the address, and our green cards were lost somewhere along the way. Instead of 3-4 weeks, we received them only in 3 months.
Our parents have long known that we want to leave. But when everything was decided, they were shocked. And even after 3 a month, like us in the US, they have not moved yet. In general, responded calmly and adequately, as far as possible to the parent, whose children are going to relocate overseas. Attempts to dissuade were to the last, but all in words. And there was no American phobia.
Moving and searching for an apartment
There was no choice, one might say. My dream is New York. Having been here in 2012 year, I finally realized that this is my city. After the win, we looked at Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. On the west coast were not, did not know what to expect. And there were friends and acquaintances. They wanted to get as close as possible to New York. But not in the city itself, because it is expensive here, it is difficult to find a normal housing and at an adequate price. We have long and painfully considered different options: first Philadelphia, then Westchester County in New York.
Upon arrival, we stopped at a friend in the suburbs. We lived with her for a week, settled all the paperwork (SSN, opening a bank account, buying an American SIM card). After talking with the residents of this small village, where we stayed, it was decided that we should rent housing and work in the city - in New York. Then we moved into a rented apartment (Airbnb) in New York itself, where we lived 3 weeks. Then began the search for permanent housing and work. Everything is much more complicated than it seems at first glance. Let's start with the fact that there are three of us: my husband and I are a small child. Therefore, all options with rooms, with the shares, and basement apartments disappear. Immediately looking for a normal apartment in a good area at the right price. We were recommended an agent, whose services we used.
In order to rent an apartment (again, normal housing), you need to have a credit history, a certificate from work, the minimum wage (a multiple of 40 rents). Someone requires all the paperwork at once, someone is missing one. In addition, when signing a contract, it is necessary to pay for the first month and a deposit (monthly rent). Naturally, we had nothing of the above, except for rent for several months. Our agent somehow agreed with the owner of the apartment, and we signed the contract without all these papers, just paying the first month and the deposit.
Advice to novice lottery players
I would advise not to tie my life to the lottery. Do not make plans around her. Good luck can come either from the first time or from 10. Learn a better language, without it is very difficult. And most importantly, do not build illusions. But if there is an opportunity - do not dare let her go!
