The U.S. Department of State has issued official guidelines for the 2026 Diversity Visa (DV) Program. This program, governed by the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), offers up to 55,000 immigrant visas to individuals from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States. The application process will run from October 4, 2023, to November 7, 2023.
What’s the goal?
The Diversity Visa Program, established by Section 203(c) of the INA, aims to diversify the pool of immigrants to the U.S. by offering visas to individuals from countries that have sent fewer than 50,000 immigrants to the U.S. in the past five years. For the 2026 fiscal year, applicants will be selected through a randomized computer drawing. The allocation of visas is regionally based, and no country can receive more than seven percent of the total visas available in a given year.
Are you eligible? Find out now!
Natives of certain countries are not eligible to apply for the DV-2026 program due to high immigration rates to the U.S. in recent years. These countries include Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (including Hong Kong), Colombia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Korea, Venezuela, and Vietnam. Notably, while Taiwan and Macau remain eligible, Cuba is no longer eligible for DV-2026. No other changes in eligibility have been made compared to the previous fiscal year.
All applications for the DV-2026 program must be submitted electronically through the official website between 12:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, and 12:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday, November 7, 2023.
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Understanding U.S. immigration law can be complex, and having expert support is essential to ensure your application is both accurate and timely. Get in touch with us to enhance your chances of success and confidently advance in your immigration journey!
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