HELP!!! I think I made a major mistake

[Kaaren]

Hi everybody,

I signed up for the green card lottery two days ago, but I made a mistake in filling up the form.

The mistake:

There were several address boxes. Some were optional to fill, one was required. I entered the required one, but then I also filled the address which said, 'In Care Of". Now apparently, I should have mentioned a name there, the name that appears on the mailbox. But I didn't. Instead, I just copied the same address I had put in the 'required' into the 'in care of' one.

I've read in plenty of articles that the smallest error can disqualify you.

Please tell me if this is going to affect anything. Will they throw my application away just because of that?

[Kaaren]

OK, I'm freaking out. Please, somebody, say something.

[rayb]

The "In care of" box should only be used if the owner of that mailbox (or address) is other than the addresses of the mail (you). By not showing anything in te "in care of" field, it automatically defaults to your name.

--Ray B

Hi everybody,

I signed up for the green card lottery two days ago, but I made a mistake in filling up the form.

The mistake:

There were several address boxes. Some were optional to fill, one was required. I entered the required one, but then I also filled the address which said, 'In Care Of". Now apparently, I should have mentioned a name there, the name that appears on the mailbox. But I didn't. Instead, I just copied the same address I had put in the 'required' into the 'in care of' one.

I've read in plenty of articles that the smallest error can disqualify you.

Please tell me if this is going to affect anything. Will they throw my application away just because of that?

[Kaaren]

The "In care of" box should only be used if the owner of that mailbox (or address) is other than the addresses of the mail (you). By not showing anything in te "in care of" field, it automatically defaults to your name.

--Ray B

Yes, I do realize that now. My problem is that I filled that box anyway and with wrong information. I just copied my home address into the in care of box. I've already signed up. I wanna know if that will create a problem.

[rayb]

I'm not sure I understand you, but the "in care of" box should only contain the name of a different person than the lottery applicant, if it is not your legal address.

--Ray B

Yes, I do realize that now. My problem is that I filled that box anyway and with wrong information. I just copied my home address into the in care of box. I've already signed up. I wanna know if that will create a problem.

[Kaaren]

I'm not sure I understand you, but the "in care of" box should only contain the name of a different person than the lottery applicant, if it is not your legal address.

--Ray B

Thank you for your response. But my main question is, "Now that I have put in wrong information in that box, are they going to throw my application away?"

[rayb]

I haven't seen the actual Lottery application form, so I don't have a clear picture in my mind of what you actually put in the "Care of" field. Give me a link to the form, so I can tell if you are describing something entirely different from what I am imagining from your written description.

Normally, however, putting your name in "Care of" field for a mailing address does not warrant the receiving agency tossing away your application.

--Ray B

Thank you for your response. But my main question is, "Now that I have put in wrong information in that box, are they going to throw my application away?"

[Kaaren]

I haven't seen the actual Lottery application form, so I don't have a clear picture in my mind of what you actually put in the "Care of" field. Give me a link to the form, so I can tell if you are describing something entirely different from what I am imagining from your written description.

Normally, however, putting your name in "Care of" field for a mailing address does not warrant the receiving agency tossing away your application.

--Ray B

Ok, Let me make this very very simple:

1. I know what I was supposed to type into the "Care of" field.
2. I didn't know back then when I registered, so I put in incorrect information.
3. I've read in many websites and also the instructions of the lottery that the slightest mistake in filling up the form can cause in your application being tossed away.
4. Now I have a question, "Are they really going to toss away my application because of that tiny mistake?"

[rayb]

Kaaren,

Thx for making it very, very simple for this mere mortal. My simple answer is that without seeing what you put in the "Care of" field, I can't give you a qualified answer. But my general answer is that putting your name in the "Care of" field was not a mistake, simply "overkill" on your part.

Send me a link to an example of the specific form you are describing and I'll tell you what can and cannot go in that field.

--Ray B

Ok, Let me make this very very simple:

1. I know what I was supposed to type into the "Care of" field.
2. I didn't know back then when I registered, so I put in incorrect information.
3. I've read in many websites and also the instructions of the lottery that the slightest mistake in filling up the form can cause in your application being tossed away.
4. Now I have a question, "Are they really going to toss away my application because of that tiny mistake?"

[Kaaren]

Kaaren,

Thx for making it very, very simple for this mere mortal. My simple answer is that without seeing what you put in the "Care of" field, I can't give you a qualified answer. But my general answer is that putting your name in the "Care of" field was not a mistake, simply "overkill" on your part.

Send me a link to an example of the specific form you are describing and I'll tell you what can and cannot go in that field.

--Ray B

No, I didn't put my name into that box. I put in that box the same thing that I put in the address box. I didn't put any names in there, I put in my home address.

[rayb]

Kaaren,

If you put your "address" in field 8a., then repeating your "same address" in field 8.b, there are three possible outcomes:
1. They'll ignore the redundancy and just print your physical address twice; or
2. They'll drop the redundant address and mail to only your address as shown on the address line; or
3. They'll disqualify the application because of the redundancy.

It's impossible to say what the office policy may be regarding this kind of error, but given the 40 years or so experience I have with U.S. state and federal agencies, I would guess that #1 above is the most likely outcome.

Please tell me your country so I can guess whether my sarcasm will be understood or make us lifelong enemies.....

--Ray B

This is the link that can get you there. (Thanks for the sarcasm. I don't mean to irritating.)

https://www.dvlottery.state.gov/application.aspx

No, I didn't put my name into that box. I put in that box the same thing that I put in the address box. I didn't put any names in there, I put in my home address.

[Kaaren]

Kaaren,

If you put your "address" in field 8a., then repeating your "same address" in field 8.b, there are three possible outcomes:
1. They'll ignore the redundancy and just print your physical address twice; or
2. They'll drop the redundant address and mail to only your address as shown on the address line; or
3. They'll disqualify the application because of the redundancy.

It's impossible to say what the office policy may be regarding this kind of error, but given the 40 years or so experience I have with U.S. state and federal agencies, I would guess that #1 above is the most likely outcome.

Please tell me your country so I can guess whether my sarcasm will be understood or make us lifelong enemies.....

--Ray B

I'm from Iran, but I get sarcasm, so it's all right.

Thank you so very much for putting my mind at ease. I guess now I can rest assured that all hope is not lost.
Thanks for going out of your way to answer my question.

[rayb]

I have a Pakastani client who didn't show up for an interview with me set for 45 minutes ago, so I was becoming a little "short" in my attitude while emailing on this thread. My Iranian clients were always very businesslike in our tax and immigration dealings.

--Ray B

I'm from Iran, but I get sarcasm, so it's all right.

Thank you so very much for putting my mind at ease. I guess now I can rest assured that all hope is not lost.
Thanks for going out of your way to answer my question.

[Kaaren]

I have a Pakastani client who didn't show up for an interview with me set for 45 minutes ago, so I was becoming a little "short" in my attitude while emailing on this thread. My Iranian clients were always very businesslike in our tax and immigration dealings.

--Ray B

Well, Iranians aren't very perceptive of sarcasm, they have other ways of not being straightforward.
And then there is Irony. Oh wait, there is no such thing as irony here.

But I get it. I'm a member of the "Americanized youth".