Lottery winner sees dream come true

FLORENCE - For Araj Assadian-Arabi, the opportunity to live the American dream came in the most unlikely fashion - through a lottery.

He was chosen as one of 50,000 immigrants to obtain permanent legal residency through the country's green card lottery.

He doesn't know the mathematical odds of it happening, just that it did. His permanent legal residency came about as the result of Araj winning the American Green Card Lottery.

The 25-year-old is a native of Tehran, Iran, but for four years had been living and attending college in the Republic of Azerbajan, a post-Soviet Union country neighboring Iran. He studied computer engineering and management at the University of Khazar, and completed his degree in 2007. He had never been to the United States, but had always longed for the freedoms the country offered.

He found out about the green card lottery accidentally while searching the Internet. He saw an advertisement, clicked on a short form and filled it out with no real hope of winning. That was in 2005.

A year later, he was contacted by letter saying he was one of 100,000 people chosen in the first selection phase. From that group, the number was narrowed to 50,000 based on the additional paperwork and personal interviews. He made that cut also. Last June, Araj got confirmation that his permanent residence card, or green card, was on its way. The green card guarantees a person's legal right to live, work and study permanently in the United States and to enter and leave the country freely. Green card recipients may work in any government, public or private job available.

The Diversity Immigrant Visa Lottery program was established by Congress in the 1996 Immigration Act. The program's aim is to diversify the American population by creating an immigration opportunity to under-represented ethnic groups. Every country is eligible for lottery entry except for those with an already high immigration status, including Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Great Britain, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines, Peru, Poland, Russia, South Korea and Vietnam.

The lottery winners receive health, education, retirement, taxation, Social Security and other benefits. Those who obtain permanent visas through the green card lottery may apply for citizenship after five years of continuous residency in the U.S.

Araj arrived in the United States in March.

"It's a dream for many young people in Iran to go west and continue their education," Araj said. "The problems in these (eastern) countries are so great. Of course, relations aren't so good now between Iran and the U.S., so it's even more difficult to get out. I'm very lucky.

"My family still lives in Iran, my parents and two brothers. They're happy for me because they know this is a wonderful opportunity. No one in my family would have ever had this opportunity to come to America if not for the lottery."

Araj said he has always been interested in American culture and now that he's living in the U.S. he said it's been even better than he'd imagined.

"The kindness and hospitality of Americans, especially here in the South, attracted me," he said. "In my country, people are too busy trying to problem-solve to be (friendly)."

One of the problems Araj said he faced when he lived in Iran - and his family still faces - is religious persecution. As practitioners of the Baha'i faith, Araj's family in Iran must continue to be discreet in their worship. It's a worry that Araj no longer has in America.

"Everyone there must hide their faith because it can get them arrested," Araj said. "I've attended the (Baha'i) Center here in Florence and there's no fear at all."

The Baha'i faith is a religion founded in 19th century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind.

Araj lived with Florence residents Jerry and Patti Ferry, and recently moved to Nashville. He wants to get a job and save money for awhile and eventually further his education.

Jerry Ferry described Araj as a very nice person who is determined to settle into life in the U.S. During the time he's been seeking employment, Araj has volunteered to work on computers at Handy Headstart in Florence. The director there, Jacquie Osborne, who attends the Baha'i Center with Araj, said he's been "amazing at repairing glitches in our computers."

"He's absolutely in awe of the freedoms here in this country," Osborne said. "I took him to the bank and he was amazed at how efficiently the institution works. He told me that starting a bank account in his country would take weeks."

Osborne said she has no doubt that he'll make a good life for himself in America.

"He's extremely intelligent and dedicated to getting a job, working hard and being successful," she said.

Araj said he can't imagine himself ever returning to Azerbajan or Iran, except maybe as a visitor.

"This is where I want to be," he said.

Lisa Singleton-Rickman can be reached at 740-5735 or lisa.singleton-rickman@timesdaily.com.