DV 2013 & Greencard questions

[mhsn1985]

Hi guys

I was selected in the DV 2013 program. I'm having a lot of doubts about continuing because for me it seems kind of impossible from a financial point of view.

I have a masters in Information Technology. I have a good job in my country, I've only been working for 2 years and I only have a savings of about 15,000 USD. I make around 500 USD a month, but that's more than enough for a living. I do have a house here that's worth around 150,000 USD, and I can provide documents for it as one of my assets. I can't stop thinking about if I go to the USA will I find a job or not? Will I be able to make a living?

Let's say I go to the USA and get a greencard. Will I be able to come back to my own country freely and visit the USA for say 1 month a year to keep my greencard? I can't leave my parents behind. I need to take care of them.

I have lived in the USA for about 6 years in the past, but I was there with a diplomatic visa. Is that going to count towards my citizenship?

How important are my intelectual assets in getting a citizenship? I have a 3.6 GPA in my masters degree. I'm fluent in several programming languages and computer networks.

I'd appreciate if someone who has experience with the DV lottery program could answer my questions, because I'm going to base my decision on the answers I get here.

Thank you in advance.

 

[kazore]

I know two guys from Europe that won the green card lottery. They had a decent life over. Once here they both never could have the same level of living. They both ended up going back to their country after wasting all their savings.

 

[Centrino]

Let's say I go to the USA and get a greencard. Will I be able to come back to my own country freely and visit the USA for say 1 month a year to keep my greencard?

No, that will not work. You have to stay at least 6 months in the US each year.

I can't leave my parents behind. I need to take care of them.

What you could do is move to the US, and once there, apply for a reentry permit [I-131]. This would allow you to return to your home country for up to 2 years without losing your green card, if you have a good reason for it and can prove it (e.g. caring for a sick parent). You have to be in the US when you apply for the I-131, as this involves biometrics.