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Music and Art at the Ukrainian Institute of America
Posted by K.Diwakar on December 03, 2001 at 18:36:57:
In Reply to: Re: Interview at the Embassy posted by Tatiana B. Durbak on August 17, 2001 at 20:00:29:
: : I am applying to F-1 visa and have an interview at the US Embassy in Kyiv soon. Should I indicate my participation in 'Green Card Lottery' in my application form (I didn't win)? Although I didn't find a direct question about that in the application form. Does anybody had similar experience?
: : Thank you
: When someone applies for the "visa lottery," that person is participating in a lottery. Application for that lottery does not, by itself, indicate immigrant intent. Many people apply for the lottery and do not win. Many others apply and win, but do not come to the US.
: Applying for an immigrant visa IS a sign of immigrant intent.
: It is rare that anyone even asks questions about "visa lottery" participation.
: If someone is denied an F-1 visa it is not because that person participated in the lottery. It is for any one of many other reasons.
: No one should answer questions that are not specifically asked. However it is EXTREMELY important to answer truthfully any questions that one is asked. Lying to a consular official (i.e. answering a question untruthfully) during a visa interview usually constitutes visa fraud. It is EXTREMELY difficult to get a waiver after one has committed visa fraud. Most people do not even qualify to apply for such a waiver.
: No honest attorney will help a person who has committed visa fraud to hide that fact. And an attorney or immigration practitioner who is willing to defraud the US government is certainly going to be more than happy to defraud a private person.