India will remain excluded from the U.S. Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery, also known as the green card lottery. India is not included in the Diversity Visa Program lottery due to exceeding the immigration threshold set by the US Department of Homeland Security.

The Diversity Visa Program allows people from countries with low US immigration rates, who meet eligibility requirements, to enter for a chance to apply for a U.S. immigrant visa. The DV Program is administered by the Department of State and makes diversity visas available to foreigners who are “natives” of “low-admission” states, subject to certain numerical limitations.

The rule defines “low-admission states” as those with equal to or fewer than 50,000 natives admitted to the United States during the most recent five-year period.

The country has sent over 50,000 Indian immigrants to the US in the last five years, surpassing total immigration numbers from South America, Africa, and Europe.

Natives of the following countries and areas are not eligible to apply, because more than 50,000 natives of these countries immigrated to the United States in the previous five years:

Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, The People’s Republic of China (including mainland and Hong Kong born), Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea (South Korea), Venezuela, and Vietnam.

Millions of petitioners register annually for the Diversity Visa Program through an electronic entry form. After the close of the DV Program entry period, certain petitioners are selected through a randomized computer drawing, and selectees may apply for a DV or, if physically present in the United States and otherwise eligible, may apply to adjust status as a diversity immigrant.

Under section 201(e) of the INA, the number of available Diversity Visas each year is 55,000. Visa numbers made available to NACARA applicants in FY 2024 will result in a reduction of the DV-2025 annual limit to 54,894.

Certain other amendments will further reduce the DV-2025 annual limit to 52,056. DVs are divided among six geographic regions. No one country can receive more than seven percent of the available diversity visas in any one year

To be issued an immigrant visa as a diversity immigrant, individuals must establish their qualifications and eligibility for the visa in accordance with the INA and Department regulations.

There is no cost to register for the DV program, but selectees who are scheduled for an interview will be required to pay a visa application fee before making their formal visa application, where a consular officer will determine whether they qualify for the visa.

Applicants who are selected in the program (selectees) must meet simple but strict eligibility requirements to qualify for a DV.  The Department of State determines selectees through a randomized computer drawing. The Department of State distributes diversity visas among six geographic regions, and no single country may receive more than seven percent of the available DVs in any one year.    

The U.S. State Department has proposed new rules for the Diversity Visa (DV) Program, requiring foreign applicants to submit a scanned passport for lottery entry, to reduce fraud and enhance application process integrity.

The new rule mandates all Diversity Visa applicants to submit a valid, unexpired passport number, a clear image or scan of the passport’s photo and signature pages, with failure to upload or use expired passports resulting in immediate disqualification.

The entry period for the DV-2026 Diversity Visa Program was between October 2, 2024 and November 7, 2024. DV-2026 Entrants should keep their confirmation number until at least September 30, 2026.