On October 1, the Diversity Visa Lottery, popularly known as DV, is set to open for applications. Like every year, this is bound to create a rush of people submitting their applications, hoping to fly to where the grass is greener. [break]
Some people are even known to apply religiously every year. But while the prospect of the license to live, work and own homes in a developed nation are certainly attractive, applicants would do well to keep a few things in mind before they apply.
First of all, not every person who wins the primary lottery gets a visa to the US. Though Nepal has one of the highest rates of visas obtained per lottery winner (85 percent), many are still left by the wayside if they do not fulfill the visa requirements. More importantly, few immigrants have a true idea of what awaits them in the US. The DV gives them a license to work, but due to different educational standards, very few immigrants qualify to work in white collar jobs in the US.
As a result, many who are unaccustomed to physical labor in Nepal can be found working menial jobs in the US. The limited employment opportunities are known to frustrate talented people quickly. Even elderly people are forced to seek employment, because it is not possible to support many dependants on hourly wages. Immigrants often sell their land, house or properties in Nepal for a chance at a better life in the US.
After converting the currency, the capital they have proves sufficient only to provide bare necessities for a few months, and is exhausted quickly. This leaves them in a vulnerable situation, without backup to fall back on in case of emergencies of medical problems.
Besides, winners of the DV suffer from isolation. Dependants migrate near their families, and students typically migrate in groups, both of which provide them the necessary social support. Winners of DV are typically on their own in a new place, which leaves them with few resources to learn the ropes, find jobs, or socialize in a new place. The US government provides very little in terms of orientation, which leaves immigrants struggling to understand the culture of a strange place.
Those who do not speak English find it even harder to find employment and connect with their new surroundings. Many social organizations provide some groups of immigrants, like Bhutanese refugees, with housing and help with job search.
However, for many immigrants that may not be sufficient. Isolation and lack of opportunities has driven the suicide rate among Bhutanese to one of the highest in the US (while the country average is 16 per 100,000 persons, resettled Bhutanese refugees commit suicide at the rate of 25 persons per 100,000).
Admittedly, not all is grim for those who go to the US. Many have successfully assimilated into the country, obtained education and wealth, and created better lives for themselves and their families. Many have even given back to the country in the form of investment and knowledge. While we applaud these achievements, it is worth knowing that the world is not all rosy in the fabled land of opportunities, and that if one is determined to take the plunge, it is best to be mentally prepared to handle the issues that immigration may bring up.
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