So many broken dreams. It is very cruel what is happening.
This is exactly what it feels like:
iReport — The day USA broke my heart
The day I found out I was selected for the DV lottery 2012 was one of the better days of my life. It was as if a magnificent gift was given to me, one that very few of those living outside of the Western World could say no to. I was given hope and made believe that my future may as well be there, in the promised land of free people, meritocracy and endless opportunities for those that worked hard to achieve their dreams.
To understand me, you must know that America has almost mythological dimension where I come from. Between the Hollywood movies and the endless stories of compatriots that moved there one way or another and succeeded in making a living, America has an irresistible allure.
For me personally, it seemed like a last opportunity to move away from this country with unemployment rate of over 30 % for 20 years straight, poverty, corrupted politicians, and ordinary people finding it difficult to get a decent job without political affiliation.
Despite that being selected did not actually mean getting the visa, I thought, what could go wrong? Having the education and the experience, and a good case number, a phrase I only learned in the days following the good new from the those alike, really, what could possibly go wrong? My hopes were running high and America seemed within a grasp.
More often than not, people were granted green card and moved to the USA to pursue their dreams. Sure, America has its problems, unemployment, economic hardship and illegal immigration. But still, it is the most desired destination for immigration. At least, I am yet to hear of anyone hoping to move to China for better economic prospects.
Not so fast, we were told yesterday, coincidently Friday 13th. Through an announcement on the US Department of state web site, two weeks after the initial notification of selection, we are being told the lottery results are annulled.
Certainly, there will be redrawing it says on the web site, and your entrance is eligible. But how often does the luck strike twice, if initial odds of success were already very very low?
I feel horrible the day after and judging by the many forums and groups on the internet, and I am not the only one. It is like being a guinea pig in an experiment gone wrong. It is the embarrassment of having to tell your family, friends and colleagues that you are not going after all. It is the smoke of the proverbial bridges ‘selectees’ already started burning behind. For all, it is the unbearable cruelty of being shown a vision of the promised land, only to see it fade away because of a computer ‘glitch’.
It’s a lottery, as they say.
Sorry for the inconvenience.
