[Odinn]

Hi,

Does anyone know about this USAFIS Green Card Program ? I recently got an e-mail from them after i partly applied for it but i'm not sure wether it is legit Any in-house americans know about this ?

[_Taz_]

I don't know anything personally about it, but it looks like there are quite a few scames out there. there is a green card lottery and you can sign up on the goverment website. Read more on this site.
FTC -- Diversity Visa Lottery: Read the Rules, Avoid the Rip-Offs

[Odinn]

ok, thanks for the info

[rippinchikkin]

It looks like one of those ads offering to sell viagra or software (hmmm it that

[poisonbl]

well, all i gathered is that the owner of that domain name is based in New York, and it is held under the name of that organization, but i don't know any details on the organization itself ... :

-----

the site is certified by TRUSTe, and there is a full address and telephone number attached to the WHOIS info on it, so i personally think it may be legitimate. i would call the number and/or verify the address before i trust it with any info ... anyone in NY wanna make a quick visit to broadway? ... the only reason i'd consider risking going through them is that it involves the possibility of a free airline ticket, but their service isn't free ... you can apply for the lottery on an official government site for free, so you're probably still better off going that route ... it'll cost a little more if your name is in the list drawn to recieve a green card, but if it isn't, you won't be out however much that site charges to register you ...

[Odinn]

I will contact them when their office opens. btw, i can get in to USA without any problem at all with my danish passport but having a free green card is something else..

[phileysmiley]

Here is their website:
USAFIS

I think I know what this is. For a fee, they do for you what you can do on your own. They make it sound like you have a better chance with them. But in reality, you don't need to go through any 3rd party to do this.

I've seen this happen with other services. For example, a company will charge a fee to "help you fix your credit rating." Well, all they do is send you a book that tells you that to fix your credit rating, you should check for errors on your credit report and write to the agency.

Well, duh, you just paid for someone to tell you what you could have found out by just doing a little reading.

Technically, this may not be illegal. They are always very careful in their wording. But it is certainly misleading.

[Neuromancer]

"This is not a dream"

Sounds like a scam

Also they GAHRUNTEEE that you have a 1 in 70 chance of being accepted.

Sounds like a scam to me.

[phileysmiley]

I think the government says 1 in 70. So if they say they guarantee 1 in 70, all they are saying is that they guarantee the government's guarantee. That's what I meant above about how they word it.

[Neuromancer]

Yup thats what I was referringto Larry... thanks for decoding my eclectic typing patterns for the normal person