lottery at $50 a time, months before it is known whether Bermudians will be eligible.

Green Card USA has placed an advertisement saying: "Live in America, 55,000 Green Cards offered by the US Government.'' Green Cards are the nickname for resident alien certificates, which enable people without American citizenship to live and work in the US.

However, Bermudians are being warned to contact the US Consulate before taking up the offer to process applications, which can be done free of charge.

According to the advert, Green Card USA will send free information on how to apply, but it will then charge $50 to handle an application which can be done for no cost at the Consulate.

People born in Bermuda were not eligible to apply for green cards in 1994 or 1995, as its people are given the same status as Britain, and an announcement detailing who is eligible to enter the lottery in 1996 will be made in the autumn.

Yesterday, Ms Sue Davis, of the Bermuda Consumer Affairs Bureau, said: "It is a waste of time and money. Someone can apply without using this service.

Everything that needs doing can be done by oneself.

"There is also no way of knowing whether the use of this service will be any good at all as an announcement will not be made until the fall.'' Mrs. Helen Prent, of Green Card USA, last night said the company sent out information about the Green Card service, how it works and how the system will select the winners.

"Then there is the application form. We process the forms and submit them at the correct time.'' The charge is $50. "There is a way people can do it for free, but it is difficult for people to get the information.

"A person can be disqualified if the form is not done to specific requirements and that is what we do well,'' she added.

"Applications for 1995 have closed, but we are not talking about 1995, we are talking about 1996 and a lot of countries are going to be eligible. A person will know the processing is done and ready. At the last minute it gets to be a jumble.'' A spokesman for the US Consulate in Bermuda, said the Green Card system was something "anyone can apply for and something they can do themselves''.

He said although it had not been open to Bermudians, some non-nationals such as the Irish or Portugese living on the Island could apply.

"People can fill in the forms free of charge,'' added the spokesman.