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 Winning the US Visa lottery:Loosing the faith in the American Dream
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Posted on 07-26-12 1:37 AM     Reply [Subscribe]
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Dear Sajhaites,

Many Nepalese will come to USA, this year winning DV, as Nepal is also principal receipent of the DV quota, and most probably second in Asia after Iran.

But America is not only cake walk. You have to be prepared for hard realities and struggle.

This does not mean, I want to discourage people from coming to USA, but they  should be prepared well.

So, I would like sajhaites to provide sugggestions for Nepalese coming to USA under the diversity visa.

And I have also copy pasted this article from (http://newamericamedia.org/2010/12/the-other-side-of-diversity-visas-lucky-immigrants-adrift-and-alone.php) for discussion and typical responses of Americans.This may be worst case scenario, but you should be prepared for anything.

Winning the US Visa lottery:Losing the faith in the American Dream

QUEENS, N.Y.—Sunita K., a petite, 46-year-old woman with freckled skin, peeked through the door of a 7-Eleven in Queens, trying to catch a glimpse of the person behind the billing counter. She was searching for Indian faces, confused by similar brown-skinned Hispanic ones. A Nepalese immigrant, Sunita speaks only a few words of English and was hoping to find a benevolent Hindi-speaking Indian to give her a job. Any job.

“I felt defeated,” she says in scarcely coherent Hindi, her first and only language being Nepalese. In the two years that Sunita* and her family have spent in the United States, they have been sucked into a vicious cycle of isolation, unemployment, illness and shattered dreams. “We were supposed to be lucky to be in America, but this has been the worst time of my life.”

Sunita was one of the 50,000 winners of the 2008 “Green Card” lottery. Officially called the Diversity Visa lottery, it is offered by the U.S. State Department in countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. Winners, chosen through a random computer-generated lottery, are given permanent resident visas to live, work and study in the U.S. Each year, more than 10 million people apply; like Sunita, 70 percent of the winners come from developing countries in Africa and Asia.

But without any assistance, family or guidance in a new country, many find themselves unprepared to start their lives from scratch.

When he applied for the lottery, Sunita’s husband, 48-year-old Bijay, had worked for 20 years as a civil irrigation engineer for the Nepalese government. He had a comfortable job, the perks of government employment and a settled life, but was persuaded by his 18-year-old son’s desire to study computer engineering in the U.S. and his own wish to be among the “lucky” Nepalese to win the “golden opportunity to go to America.”

Three months later, the consular officer at the U.S. embassy in Kathmandu shook his hand and said heartily, “Welcome to America.” The K. family had won the Green Card lottery.

In preparation for their new life, Bijay mortgaged the family home to raise 1 million Nepalese rupees, roughly $14,000. The family paid around $700 each for the lottery fee, spent $4,500 on three one-way air tickets, and set aside the rest to cover their initial expenses in the U.S.

Lottery winners are unique in their lack of a support system. Unlike immigrants who are “sponsored” by families or employers based in the U.S., those with diversity lottery visas often don’t have a family or job waiting for them. Nor do they have avenues for help or information— the State Department does not offer orientation sessions or programs to integrate them into mainstream American society. A booklet, “Welcome to the United States: A Guide for New Immigrants,” published by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office, is available in 17 languages. But immigrants are seldom aware of even this rudimentary resource.

Sunita and her family certainly weren’t. They first arrived at the home of a friend of a friend in Springfield, Maryland, where they rented a two-bedroom apartment for $1,000 a month. But they quickly realized that Bijay's engineering degree from Nepal would not get him a job in the U.S., unless he supplemented it with a six-month American diploma. Nepalese neighbors and acquaintances told the family to apply for jobs in stores like Wal-Mart and Home Depot, just to pay the bills till they found better work. But Sunita and Bijay were turned down there, too. Without references, they couldn’t get jobs.

“This is the plight of most people who come to the U.S. on DV lottery,” says Narbada Chhetri, a senior community organizer at a New York–based Nepalese not-for-profit, Adhikaar. “They are normally educated Nepalese, but when they come here, they become cheap labor for local businesses. They are desperate and willing to work very hard for very little money.”

Unlike other visas, the Diversity Visa requires applicants to have a high school education or at least two years of work experience. A 2008 report by the Migration Policy Institute, called “Uneven Progress,” said lottery winners were the second-largest group of legal immigrants, after refugees and asylees, to suffer significant occupational downgrading in the U.S. Immigrants with college, even masters’ degrees, are employed as babysitters, domestic help, cab drivers and waiters.

Upwardly Global, a New York–based organization, helps foreign-trained immigrants to develop job search techniques, craft U.S. style resumes, and hone interview skills. A third of their clients are lottery winners, says Nikki Cicerani, the executive director.

Job-hunting is only a part of the problem though. The K. family was uninformed about many aspects of living and working in the U.S: What is a Social Security number? How does health insurance work? How could they get proof of permanent address?

Sunita spent her days worrying and her nights crying. Chronic anxiety and haphazard meal times led to her developing severe gastric problems, and the cold weather stirred Bijay’s asthma from hibernation.

Broken, the family decided to start over and moved to a crammed, one-bedroom basement apartment in Annandale, Virginia. Their son, Sunil, landed a job as a waiter at an Indian restaurant, where he worked 12 hours a day and returned home so tired, Sunita recalls, he couldn’t even bend to remove his shoes.

“In Nepal, my boy had never so much as lifted a cup of tea,” she says, tears springing to her eyes. “And here he was, working like a servant. I used to cry to myself. I wanted to ask the American government, ‘What do we do? Where do we go? Who should we ask for help?’ This wasn’t the America we had signed up for.”

Winners of the Domestic Visa lottery often complain that they have been thrown into the deep end, with not even a helpline to call, says Segun Kerry, founder of the New York–based Nigerian Community Help Center, which provides emergency assistance, counseling and referral services to Nigerians in America. “But despite the hardships and isolation, people keep coming because the situation in our country is bad and unsafe,” he adds.

In addition to everything else, the K. family's new country felt unsafe. One night, as Sunil was walking home from work, he was mugged at gunpoint. That’s when the family decided to move again, this time picking Queens, New York, where a large Nepalese community lives.

Sunita got a job as a nanny for an Indian family that paid $400 a week; her son took a string of restaurant and other jobs.

But New York’s promise of a better life proved elusive too. Sunil, disillusioned about his work and guilt-ridden about his parents’ plight, fell into a severe depression and eventually moved to New Jersey to work at a gas station.

Most nights, Sunil has trouble sleeping, but he says he feels better knowing that he is contributing $400 a month to his father, who was recently diagnosed with a liver disorder. Sunita often thinks about returning home, but without a house or money to pay her debts, Nepal is no longer an option.

“My husband doesn’t eat and is too weak to move. He still tries to get up and hunt for a job. If he dies, I don’t think I’ll even have the money to cremate him,” Sunita says, unable to hold back her tears. “There is no God here."

*some names and details have been changed
 

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Anonymous

Posted Dec 17 2010

This is a sad but not surprising story. People like this have nothing in common with US citizens. I think the antiquated lottery system should be done away with. We should only allow immigration with people who WANT to assimilate and be Americans.

Anonymous

Posted Dec 17 2010

This is a sad but not surprising story. People like this have nothing in common with US citizens. I think the antiquated lottery system should be done away with. We should only allow immigration with people who WANT to assimilate and be Americans.

Anonymous

Posted Dec 19 2010

It is funny how this is obviously a major problem -- and has been for a long time -- yet has been unaddressed.

It seems that even in this Internet age, even when at lease one family member is educated and may be an English speaker, the family is utterly unprepared for what they will find here.

Or did they sort of know the truth and choose to ignore it and hope for the best. How did they family develop enough link to move three times within the U.S. yet have next to no practical knowledge of how things worked here?

Should our State Department issue more detailed information? Should they warn as well as welcome Lottery Winners?

What should be done? Certainly U.S. taxpayers cannot be expected to spend much money on these immigrants, who we admit out of a sense of fairness. We do not need them to come here. Would it be easier if the lottery winner came first and the family later?

jerseycityjoan
Dec. 21, 2010

Anonymous

Posted Jan 5 2011

This Nepalese immigrants' experience is the same I am going through.

Anonymous

Posted Jan 11 2011

i am a DV winner and i am going through the same condition.i tought i was going to be provided with a job and accomodation but here i am in the middle of no where.

Anonymous

Posted Feb 11 2011

dear Ambasster,
I Need Immgration Visa Lattery Please Send Me
Address,House#8St#8Nolakha Park Faiz Bagh Lahore Pakistan
Post Coad#54900
Mohsin Nasar

Anonymous

Posted Mar 2 2011

test

Anonymous

Posted Mar 15 2011

I Need Green Card Lottery.Please Send Me.
Mohsin Nasar
Tel,042-37280997
Address.House#8St#8Nolakha Park Faiz Bagh Lahore Pakistan
Post Coad,54900

Anonymous

Posted Apr 20 2011

dear sir,
I Need Green Card Free Lottery.Please By Post My Send Me.
Address,House#8St#8Nolakha Park Faiz Bagh Lahore Pakistan
Tel,042-37280997
Mohsin Nasar

Anonymous

Posted moments ago

i love amereca

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Last edited: 27-Jul-12 12:35 AM

 
Posted on 07-26-12 1:54 AM     [Snapshot: 46]     Reply [Subscribe]
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 Very sad but true story. Poor people like us can't help ourselves and still we are running for DV Lottery, asylum or withholding of removal. 
 
Posted on 07-26-12 10:06 AM     [Snapshot: 275]     Reply [Subscribe]
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 You cannot expect to live the American Dream without proper education or proper work experience.
 
People in Nepal have a false illusion of leading a superior life in the US compared to that in Nepal. Life's a bitch in the US. No one cares about anyone. It is an independent living and the bills never end - rent, grocery, car payments, insurance, gas, phone bills, utilities. Life is not easy here. 

As I have seen, people who win the DV Lottery are usually doing slave labor in the US. Except for a few, most of the DV winners are either working at restaurants, gas stations or working for Indians. They exploit the crap out of you. Working 50+ hours every week with minimum pay on a hourly basis. 

People coming from remote areas of Nepal, who can't speak English, are the ones who suffer the most.

- they can't find a job due to lack of English
- even if they do, its usually with minimum pay
- they can't go back to school either
- even if they do, they have to start from scratch

Young people (18-25) who come here are running after the dollar as soon as they get here. All they want to do is "tanna ghanta hanne". Week in, week out, work as much hours as you can - buy latest gadgets, buy a car, and show-off. I have met very few people who have actually completed a Bachelors degree from the US who arrived here winning the DV. And for those who do, the opportunities are endless.

Some of my friends who came here winning the DV and have completed their Bachelors are making ~$60k-100k a year. Others, are still working in the same gas stations, same restaurants as before and are making $10-$15 an hour. 



 
Posted on 07-26-12 10:27 AM     [Snapshot: 365]     Reply [Subscribe]
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 spelling "LOSING" huna parney hoina ra bhanyan..... "loose" bhaneko ta tight ko opposite po ho ta....
 
Posted on 07-26-12 2:23 PM     [Snapshot: 681]     Reply [Subscribe]
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thebigone is absolutely right.
First of all, they should get a english training before coming to US otherwise US is like a alien planet where nobody understand you.
Most of the nepaese i have talked and met so far who won the DV lottery are very stubborn and think they can win the American with their talk and skill which they had back in the country.
If you want to live in America then you have to act like a american which means get a education/training from here, Work hard to get the education.
------Education, Education & Education----That is how you live in America
 
Posted on 07-26-12 4:10 PM     [Snapshot: 826]     Reply [Subscribe]
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The situation given above is rare althought it seems like we hear it very often. The situation above happens to people who do not have any relatives or good friends who are already here in the states to guide them through the initial phase. I really do not see what a 45 years old middle age people can learn or teach themselves here. They are bound to become a DESHI slave.

I do not understand why these DV holders come to US all at once. How about the husband comes first and figures out the country settles himself and then after 3 - 6 months he calls his wife and his "lala balas". If he is alone, he is able to travel to where ever the work and and can sleep in a car or a couch if needed. If he comes with a family including little children then there is a need of an apartment immidiately. The apartment then asks for a car, which leads to driving liscence then the mountain of learning english to pass the written exam. Instead, the men need to come alone first and then call their family once settled.

Here in TX, most DV holders come and get job via some temp agencies working for Verizon or ATnT. There is a run down furnished apartment nearby and there are lots of other Nepali who communite to the same work place ( heard more than 1000 nepali work in that warehouse) whom you can pay for the ride until you save up for your own car and liscence. In 3 - 6 months they have some cash, they learn how to say "whats up" and even buy their own car. After that they move out of that place saying too many Nepali living there.

I know a story of one DV winner who was pretty well off back in Nepal but not educated. They tried working at some warehouse then quit becasue of the pay. They are living in an apt, eating out in a resturant, and roam around with the money brought from Nepal. They manage their expenses by bringing money from Nepal each month. They would not go back to Nepal because they are afraid of being called " US ma nasakera bhagera aayo" . This country is indeed one crazy place.

 
Posted on 07-26-12 7:38 PM     [Snapshot: 1023]     Reply [Subscribe]
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Where ever you are.. what ever you do ...no need to worry getting multiple colors of life.
Do not judge people comparing their earnings, education and skill of language.In US
beggers ask $ in English.I think ,95% people in the world are facing similar challenges living
overseas.




 
Posted on 07-27-12 12:28 AM     [Snapshot: 1248]     Reply [Subscribe]
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 This is so sad. As a member of DV winning family, I can completely relate to this family's story. Organizations like the ANA need to do better in helping individuals that come to the US--whether they are students, asylees, or DV winners.
 
Posted on 07-27-12 12:41 AM     [Snapshot: 1273]     Reply [Subscribe]
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Thanks, Biwash ji for correction

Lose vs Loose

A lot of people are mixing up lose and loose. In particular, a lot of people are writing loose when they really mean lose. Here are the definitions of the two words from the  Penguin dictionary:

loose [lOOs] adj not fastened or pre-packed; not tied up or confined; able to move freely; not tight, not firmly fixed; not close-fitting; careless, inaccurate, vague; dissolute, immoral; not closely woven; flabby; (of bowels) inclined to diarrhoea; l. box stable or van in which an animal can move about; at a l. end uncertain what to do next; unoccupied ~ loose adv in a loose way; play fast and l. behave rashly or unscupulously ~ loose n release; on the l. free from restraint; on a spree; ~ loose v/t untie, undo; release from confinement or constraint, set free; detatch; fire (gun); shoot (arrow); (eccles) absolve.

lose (p/t and p/part lost) [lOOz] v/t and i no longer have; be deprived of by accident or misfortune; mislay, fail to find; fail to get or win; be too late for; be bereaved of; waste; be defeated or beaten; suffer loss, become worse off; fail to hear, see or understand; cause or allow to perish; (of clock or watch) go too slowly; (refl) miss the right path; become absorbed in; l. one's head become flustered, panic; l. one's temper grow angry; l. one's way fail to find the right path; l. out (US) be defeated after a struggle.

Examples:

 

   This knot is too loose.
   Please do not lose my book.
   I had better not lose that file.

One way to remember the difference between the two words is to think that "lose has lost an 'o'".


Last edited: 27-Jul-12 12:43 AM

 
Posted on 07-27-12 12:47 AM     [Snapshot: 1279]     Reply [Subscribe]
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It's not about spelling it's about getting the message across...
 
Posted on 07-27-12 1:16 PM     [Snapshot: 1499]     Reply [Subscribe]
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 i did get the message across but was just pointing out the minor spelling mistake that is very common with people these days.

lose vs loose
their vs there
bear vs beer vs bare
hear vs here


definitely ANA could do something with all the money they have raised rather than spending that on some fashion extravaganza and miss nepal USA kind of stuff

 


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