Sarasota Immigration Attorneys See Surge in Applications for What Could Be the Last Green Card Lottery

Applicants Rush in Before Congress Eliminates the Green Card Lottery

Sarasota, FL, 10/21/13 – Immigration attorneys across the Sarasota-Bradenton area are seeing a surge in applications for the Diversity Visa or Green Card Lottery this year.  Held every year in October, the Diversity Visa Lottery allows residents of countries that do not send many immigrants to America to apply for a Green Card.  In order to be granted a Green Card, applicants have to prove their nationality, demonstrate a clean criminal record, and show that they will not be a public burden.

This year’s surge is due to the ongoing debate in Congress about immigration reform.  In July, the Senate passed a comprehensive immigration reform bill that would eliminate the Diversity Visa.  Just a few weeks ago, in the midst of the shutdown, House Democrats produced their own bill which would do the same.

“What we are seeing is an attempt on the part of the House Democrats to use the momentum they gained from ending the shutdown to pressure House Republicans into compromising on Immigration Reform,” said Chris Jaensch, managing attorney of Jaensch Immigraiton Law Firm, Sarasota’s largest immigration firm.  “The Diversity Visa is already unpopular with conservatives and not seeing it on the Democrats’ bill means that if immigration reform passes, regardless of the form it takes, the Diversity Visa is out,” he continued.

President Obama has announced that Immigration Reform is one of his major objectives for the next 90 days, along with a budget and a farm bill.  We could see Immigration Reform before the end of the year.

This year the Diversity Visa application window is open until 12 noon eastern standard time on November 2^nd.

Updated 10/28/13:

On Monday, October 28th, Summer Smith of BayNews9, after hearing that this year’s may be the last Diversity Visa Lottery, came to our firm to interview Victoria Jaensch Karins.  Victoria is the president of the Central Florida Chapter of AILA.

Summer Smith from BayNew9 (right) interviews Victoria Jaensch Karins (center) on the state of this year’s Diversity Visa Lottery

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Written by Chris Jaensch

Attorney P. Christopher Jaensch received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History in 1992 and a Juris Doctor degree in 1995 from the University of Florida. While at UF, he was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity, Phi Beta Kappa Society and Florida Blue Key, the oldest and most prestigious leadership honorary in the state of Florida.

Mr. Jaensch is a member of the Florida Bar, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and the Sarasota Bar Association. He has served as President of the Sarasota-Manatee International Trade Club and served as Regional Vice Chair, Tampa Bay, for the Central Florida Chapter of AILA. He was a member of City of Sarasota Charter Review Committee and has been active in several local organizations, including the influential Laurel Park Neighborhood Association in downtown Sarasota.

Mr. Jaensch has over 18 years of experience in the field of immigration and nationality law and focuses his practice on four primary categories (a) investors and entrepreneurs, (b) business executives, managers and professionals, (c) amateur and professional athletes and coaches and (d) performing artists and immigrants with extraordinary ability.