The green card lottery, also known as the diversity lottery, or visa lottery, is set to begin in November. Instructions for DV-2006 are now available (at www.usgreencardlottery.org). Each year, thousands of foreigners apply to the green card lottery, with the hope of getting a green card so that they can live and work in the United States. Legislation is pending that could put an end to the diversity lottery in future years, so if you ever hope to be a winner, it may not be a good idea to procrastinate on this. It's free to enter the visa lottery. Want to know how? Entries to the green card lottery will be accepted for a limited period of time, starting in November. To get started, simply read the instructions. It is free to enter. You do not need to pay a service to do so. However, if you do need help with the questions, or with the photo specs, you can contact a nonprofit organization for free or low-cost assistance. Backgrounder: The visa lottery was established to ensure diversity in the immigrant population of the United States. Full-scope diversity. This is why citizens from countries like India, China and England, from which many people already migrate to the U.S., are not eligible to enter the diversity lottery. The DV program was designed to offer equitable opportunity around the world for people to live in the United States. Recently, some lawmakers voted to put an end to the green card lottery, but the results of this movement remain to be seen. Every year the US government issues 50,000 permanent Green Cards through the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program; the Green Card Lottery. Applicants are selected randomly by a computer generated drawing. If you are selected, you and your family will be authorized to live and work permanently in the United States. Apply before October 30th 2004 and receive a FREE Airline Ticket to the United States. Visit www.usgreencardlottery.org for details. (EDITOR'S NOTE: THE ABOVE WEB SITE IS NOT A GOVERNMENT WEB SITE) SOURCE: IMMIGRATION.ABOUT.COM