Contact: Colleen Roche (212) 788-2958, Martin Barreto (212) 788-3256 or Shonna Keogan (DCA) (212) 487-4283
(Brooklyn) Before a gathering of hundreds of immigrants at the Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church in Brooklyn, Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today officially unveiled the details of the 1998 Federal immigration Visa Lottery slated to begin February 3, 1997 and conclude March 5, 1997.
Participating in the announcement were Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Jose Maldonado, Federal Trade Commission New York Regional Office Director Michael Bloom, Executive Director of the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs Angelica Tang, and City Council members Una Clarke and Lloyd Henry. Human rights advocate Bianca Jagger also took part in the ceremony.
"I am pleased to announce the Federal Immigration Visa Lottery, a terrific program that provides 55,000 opportunities nationwide for prospective immigrants to establish themselves in the United States," said Mayor Giuliani. "New York City benefits more from the contributions of immigrants than any other place in the country. Immigrants are an extremely vital and positive force for progress in our City, where they make up twenty-eight percent of the total population. Immigrants have helped revitalize the economy of entire neighborhoods throughout our City. I know that those who qualify to immigrate through this lottery will also prosper and succeed here. "
"My grandfather, Rodolfo Giuliani, arrived in New York City without much money in his pocket, but with a dream in his heart. And his dream of freedom and success became my dream. His dream of opportunity and achievement is shared by millions of immigrants who come to this country from every part of the world. Their dreams have transformed New York City, Los Angeles, Miami and many other American cities."
"Each one of us owes so much to immigration. That's why anti-immigration movements, like the one that is sweeping this country now, eventually die out. In the past we have always returned to the recognition that new Americans are good for our country. I know immigrants are a great source of cultural renewal and of positive change in our communities. We have to realize that any effort to eliminate immigration or unfairly burden immigrants could destroy the very process that is the key to American success, and the key to New York City's success," Mayor Giuliani added.
The Mayor also announced that the Department of Consumer Affairs will conduct an educational outreach campaign to steer prospective lottery participants away from the fraudulent practices of unscrupulous immigration services businesses.
DCA Commissioner Maldonado said, "We are joining forces to insure that the maximum number of prospective green card candidates will participate in this lottery which is absolutely free, and that they receive the easy-to-follow instructions. It is important that the Department of Consumer Affairs help educate immigrants about the Diversity Visa Lottery, not only to protect them from falling victim to con artists posing as criminal experts, but to welcome them as our newest consumers."
"The Federal program is an integral part of our country's continued faith in immigration and diversity," said Executive Director Tang. "The Giuliani Administration's active role in facilitating the information process of the program is crucial amidst the pervasive national, anti-immigrant climate. It is imperative that accurate information is effectively distributed to prevent misunderstanding, confusion and fraud. Working as a clearinghouse for information and resources for immigrant communities, the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs is proud to contribute to the strength of New York as the world's most diverse city."
From February 3 through March 5, 1997, the U.S. State Department will conduct its fourth annual Diversity Visa Lottery to award 55,000 permanent resident visas nationwide. The lottery program was established by the Immigration Act of 1990 to help expand the number of countries from which new immigrants to the United States originate. Being randomly selected in the Visa Lottery does not guarantee the "lottery winner" a permanent resident visa, but it does make the prospective green card candidate eligible to apply for a permanent resident visa immediately.
Mayor Giuliani and other officials explained the rules governing the free lottery competition. Visa Lottery applicants must now furnish a recent 1 «" X 1 «" photograph with their signature with their lottery entrance applications. The following rules and restrictions also govern the lottery:
* Lottery applicants must have a high school education (or its equivalent - not a GED) or two years of experience in an occupation requiring two years of training, with such experience being attained within the past five years.
* Each applicant can only submit one application. More than one application will result in automatic disqualification.
* Applications are made by mail only during the dates of February 3, 1997 through March 5, 1997. Any applications received before February 3, 1997 or after March 5, 1997 will be discarded.
* The Visa Lottery will be open to anyone abroad or in the United States, except for natives of Canada, China except Hong Kong, Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Philippines, Poland, South Korea, Taiwan, United Kingdom except Northern Ireland, and Vietnam. Some people from excluded countries may be eligible, if their spouses are from an eligible country.
At today's event Mayor Giuliani and Commissioner Maldonado asked prospective lottery applicants to take note of the following hotlines for assistance:
U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT HOTLINE
1-900-884-8840 (costs $5.10 per call)
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
(212) 264-1207
NEW YORK IMMIGRATION HOTLINE
(718) 899-4000
The New York City Department of Consumer Affairs and the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs and Language Services have issued a special publication to explain the rules and restrictions for the upcoming visa lottery. The Consumer Guide to the DV-98 Visa Lottery brochure is available in English, Spanish, Chinese, French, Haitian Creole, Russian and Arabic.
DCA and the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs have also published another brochure titled Beware of Immigration Services Fraud, available to the public in seven languages. To get a free copy of the guides, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Consumer Affairs Visa Lottery Guides, 42 Broadway, New York, NY 10004. Please specify the language in which you which to receive the material.
Consumers who believe they are the victims of fraud concerning the green card lottery program are urged to contact the Federal Trade Commission's Regional Office at (212) 264-1207.