Indian nationals will be unable to participate in the 2026 Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) program, often referred to as the green card lottery. This program is designed to diversify the United States’ immigrant population by selecting individuals from countries with historically low rates of immigration over a five-year period.
The US State Department has announced that approximately 55,000 Diversity Visas (DVs) will be available for the 2026 fiscal year.
Why Indians Won’t Be Eligible for DV-2026
The reason Indian nationals are ineligible for the 2026 green card lottery is that more than 50,000 people from India have immigrated to the US within the last five years. The rule states that any country exceeding this threshold becomes ineligible for the DV program in the following year.
Joining India on the list of ineligible countries for DV-2026 are Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Pakistan, Philippines, Venezuela, South Korea, and several others.
The State Department allocates these DVs across six geographic regions, ensuring that no single country receives more than seven percent of the total diversity visas issued annually.
Understanding the DV Program Requirements
The Diversity Immigrant Visa program has two primary requirements:
- Country of Eligibility: Applicants must be citizens of countries with historically low immigration rates to the US. If an individual’s country of birth is not eligible, they may be able to use their spouse’s country of birth if it meets the low immigration criteria. The same applies if they claim their parent’s country of birth.
- Education or Work Experience: Applicants must possess either a high school education or its equivalent, or have at least two years of qualifying work experience within the past five years in an occupation that requires a minimum of two years of training or experience.
Information Needed for a DV Application
The application period for the DV-2026 program took place in 2024, from October 2 to November 7.
There is no fee to apply for the DV program. However, successful applicants who reach the interview stage must pay a visa application fee before their formal application is processed and evaluated by a consular officer.
Key information required for a Diversity Visa application includes:
- Full name (as per official ID, like a passport)
- Gender
- Date of birth
- Place of birth (City and Country)
- Country of eligibility for the DV program
- A recent photograph (taken within the last six months)
- Mailing address
- Current country of residence
- Phone number (optional)
- Email address
- Highest level of education achieved
- Marital status
- Number of children
The DV Selection Process
The Department of State uses a computer-based random selection process to choose eligible applicants based on the visa allocations for each region and country.
Selected DV applicants must meet all admissibility requirements to immigrate to the United States.
The application process involves completing the DS-260, Online Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration Application, followed by an in-person interview with a consular officer who assesses eligibility under US law. This interview may also cover criminal and security-related matters.
The US government caps the issuance of diversity visas at approximately 55,000 per year.
Impact of Trump Administration’s Immigration Policies
Since taking office, US President Donald Trump has implemented a stringent approach to immigration. The administration has introduced measures to curb illegal immigration, including stricter visa regulations, enhanced social media vetting, and broader screening processes.
From increasing fees for H-1B visa applications to implementing rigorous social media checks, the Trump administration has significantly complicated the immigration landscape in the United States.
Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary for Homeland Security, noted that increased immigration enforcement, targeting individuals with criminal records, is actively removing undocumented immigrants, sending a clear message that illegal immigration will not be tolerated.