The US has suspended the Green Card programme: details

The United States has temporarily suspended the Green Card lottery programme following a high-profile tragedy — the authorities promise to review the security system and conditions of participation. The decision has already sparked a wave of debate among migrants and experts, as millions of people count on this opportunity every year. Find out what caused the suspension, what changes are planned, and what applicants can expect now

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The United States has temporarily suspended the Diversity Visa lottery programme for obtaining Green Cards. The decision was made after a high-profile shooting at Brown University by 48-year-old Portuguese immigrant Claudio Manuel Neves Valente. He arrived in the United States under the Green Card programme in 2017. As a result of the tragedy, two people were killed and nine others were injured.

The suspension of the programme was announced by US Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen on social media X.

According to her, the suspension is necessary to review security mechanisms so that similar incidents ‘do not threaten Americans in the future.’ She also recalled that the discussion about closing the DV programme first intensified in 2017 after the terrorist attack in New York, when the perpetrator also entered the country through the lottery. At the direction of President Donald Trump, the DV1 programme has been temporarily frozen, and the US Citizenship and Immigration Services has been instructed to stop processing applications.

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What is a Green Card and how does the DV programme work?

A Green Card is a document that grants a foreigner permanent resident status in the United States, the right to legally live, work and eventually apply for citizenship. The Diversity Visa programme has been in existence since the 1990s and annually grants up to 55,000 visas to citizens of countries with low levels of immigration to the United States. Winners are selected at random from millions of applicants worldwide.

However, winning the lottery does not guarantee automatic receipt of the document. Participants must meet a number of requirements: have at least a secondary education or proven work experience, pass a security check, interview and medical examination. Only then will candidates receive permanent resident status.

What will happen next

The authorities say that the suspension of the programme is temporary, but the timing of its resumption has not yet been announced. Experts do not rule out that the selection criteria may be tightened, security checks strengthened and additional restrictions introduced. This means that millions of potential participants will have to wait for clarity and possible new rules.

The question remains open: will this be a short pause or the beginning of major changes in one of the world's most famous immigration programmes?

When applying for a visa, it is always important to have proper legal support. You can always turn to the immigration law specialists at Visit Ukraine for help. Our lawyers provide professional advice on staying abroad, preparing documents and preventing risks that could lead to visa cancellation or deportation.

Reminder! The new immigration programme in the United States is already attracting the attention of foreign investors and specialists: Donald Trump's administration has introduced the Golden Card visa, which changes the usual rules for obtaining American status. Find out who is eligible for it and what opportunities it opens up.

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