USSR Issue: Country of Birth vs Country of Eligibility on Application

[ElliePro 32]

Maybe it's a stupid question but I'm confused. My mom is thinking of applying this year and the instructions say to put the country of birth by the name it is called now.

My mom was born in USSR in a city that's now in Uzbekistan. But her parents were born in Russia and she'd lived in Russia all her life and is a Russian citizen.

Does she put Uzbekistan as a country of birth and then Russia as a country of eligibility? (both countries are eligible for the lottery)

[millefleur 5,035]

Maybe it's a stupid question but I'm confused. My mom is thinking of applying this year and the instructions say to put the country of birth by the name it is called now.

My mom was born in USSR in a city that's now in Uzbekistan. But her parents were born in Russia and she'd lived in Russia all her life and is a Russian citizen.

Does she put Uzbekistan as a country of birth and then Russia as a country of eligibility? (both countries are eligible for the lottery)

Seems like having a different country of birth from a different country of eligibility would be fine. I'm sure there are loads of people in that situation.

If the city of birth is modern-day Uzbekistan, it probably makes sense to list it as country of birth. And if she's currently a Russian citizen, then Russia would be the country of eligibility, right?

[SusieQQQ 11,584]

Maybe it's a stupid question but I'm confused. My mom is thinking of applying this year and the instructions say to put the country of birth by the name it is called now.

My mom was born in USSR in a city that's now in Uzbekistan. But her parents were born in Russia and she'd lived in Russia all her life and is a Russian citizen.

Does she put Uzbekistan as a country of birth and then Russia as a country of eligibility? (both countries are eligible for the lottery)

Uzbekistan for both. That is very clear from the instructinon you quoted too...

Seems like having a different country of birth from a different country of eligibility would be fine. I'm sure there are loads of people in that situation.

If the city of birth is modern-day Uzbekistan, it probably makes sense to list it as country of birth. And if she's currently a Russian citizen, then Russia would be the country of eligibility, right?

NO. Eligibility is based on birth country, not current citizenship.

[EmilyW 1,222]

Just to reiterate what Susie said (because we see ALOT of these types of cases once people win and then find themselves in a pickle), eligibility is based on birth country. Your citizenship and where you live is irrelevant for DV. Your birth country and eligibility country is Uzbekistan.

[ElliePro 32]

Just to reiterate what Susie said (because we see ALOT of these types of cases once people win and then find themselves in a pickle), eligibility is based on birth country. Your citizenship and where you live is irrelevant for DV. Your birth country and eligibility country is Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan for both. That is very clear from the instructinon you quoted too...

NO. Eligibility is based on birth country, not current citizenship.

Thank you both! It was just weird to me that she would apply for Uzbekistan not being Uzbek and I also saw a provision that if your parents were just visiting the country where you were born (which is the case with her - her parents were both born and lived in Russia) - you could opt for your parents' countries instead.

Chances for Uzbekistan and Russia I'm sure are the same, I just don't want her to mess her application up:)

[SusieQQQ 11,584]

Thank you both! It was just weird to me that she would apply for Uzbekistan not being Uzbek and I also saw a provision that if your parents were just visiting the country where you were born (which is the case with her - her parents were both born and lived in Russia) - you could opt for your parents' countries instead.

Chances for Uzbekistan and Russia I'm sure are the same, I just don't want her to mess her application up:)

She would have to be able to have solid proof that her parents were just visiting BUT anyway if you read the instructions properly that option is available to people who were *not* born in an eligible country. She was.

[EmilyW 1,222]

She is needlessly making it difficult for herself if she were to claim Russia. If she was born in an ineligible country, then it would make sense to claim Russia. But she was born in an eligible country so her easiest option is to select Uzbekistan.