Diversity Visa Fraud 多元化簽證計劃詐騙

On July 15 (last Friday), the State Department drew the winners for the Diversity Visa Program for fiscal year 2012 again after a hiccup back in May.  Unfortunately, some dishonest people are trying to take advantage of the American dream of millions of people.  In fact, the problem is serious enough that USCIS warns against Lottery Visa Fraud in its official blog.

Here are a few things to remember about the Diversity Visa Program and or the so-called visa lottery:

First, the State Department does not send out email or postal mail to notify the winners.  Instead, participants of the program need to go to the State Department's website to check whether they win. 

Second, a participant must have entered the draw for a particular year in order to be drawn.  For example, a one-time participant in the lottery held in FY 2007 will never get picked for FY 2012.

Third, if you are a citizen from a list of countries in which the U.S. has received a lot of immigrants from, you are ineligible to participate in the program.  For example, if you are from India or Mainland China, you know you will not be a winner of the lottery because you are not qualified to participate at the first place.

Finally, winners of the lottery do not need to pay anything until they apply for an immigrant visa at the U.S. Consulate/embassy.

Therefore, if you have received any communication about you winning the lottery that runs afoul of the above principles, you can know for sure it is a scam and you should discard it.

Disclaimer: Information included in this page does not constitute as legal advice and receipt of this page does not establish attorney-client relationship. For specific inquiries, please call my office and schedule an appointment.

由於電腦於5月出錯，國務院在7月15日(上星期五)再次為2012年財政年度的多元化簽證計劃進行抽籤。不幸的是，某些不誠實的人利用成千上萬希望一圓美國夢的人來進行詐騙。 由於問題嚴重，美國移民局於其官方部落格對此提出警告。

關於多元化簽證計劃，有四點大家應該注意：

首先，參加者需要到國務院的網站檢查結果，國務院不會發出電子郵件或信函通知被抽中的幸運兒。

其次，參加者要參加了該年度的抽籤才會有機會被抽中。 例如，一個参加者只曾參加2007年財政年度的抽籤，他一定不會在2012年財政年度被抽中。

第三，如果你在一個美國主要移民來源的國家出生，你沒有資格参加此計劃。 例如，如果你是在印度或中國大陸出生，那麼你一定不會被抽中，因為你根本不能參加此計劃。

最後，被抽中的幸運兒在他們到美國領事館申請移民簽證時才需付款。

所以，如果你收到任何與上述有衝突的通信，你便可以知道它是假的。

以上資料僅供參考之用，並非法律意見。如有個別問題，請致電本所查詢。