Computer Giltch Causes Redo for US Immigration Lottery
Thousands of people told that they won U.S. immigrant visas through a worldwide lottery recently received disappointing news after a computer problem in the State Department program was discovered, and the selections were thrown out.
According to the Associated Press the drawing should be random, but a computer glitch caused 90 percent of the winners to come from entries submitted on the first two days of a 30-day registration period from Oct. 5 to Nov. 3, 2010. Winners can live in the United States legally without the usual requirement of having family or employer sponsor.
The computer problem has been fixed, the State Department said, and a new lottery will take place in mid-July. Applicants do not need to re-enter to be eligible to win the do-over. Nearly 15 million people had entered the 2012 lottery, which ultimately awards 50,000 U.S. immigrant visas, the Associated Press reports.
