The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs Visa Bulletin has announced a significant increase in the case number cutoff for Nepali Diversity Visa (DV) winners for the month of May, raising it to 6,450. This means that DV winners with case numbers up to 6,450 will be eligible to receive visas in May.
The case number cutoff was set at 3,500 for both January and February, then increased to 4,500 for March. For April, the cutoff rose to 5,950. Prior to that, in October, November, and December, case numbers up to 2,950 were eligible for visa processing. In January, the cutoff was raised to 3,500, but no further changes were made for February.
For the DV 2025 program, a total of 3,861 Nepalis were selected in the lottery, making Nepal the third-highest country in Asia in terms of selectees. Iran ranked first with 5,267 selectees, followed by Afghanistan with 4,009.
In other regions, Uzbekistan led Europe with 5,564 selectees, followed by Turkey (4,194) and Ukraine (4,002). In South America, Cuba had the highest number of selectees at 2,348. Meanwhile, in Africa, Algeria (5,526), Egypt (5,515), Sudan (5,505), and Kenya (4,459) had the highest numbers of selectees.
While 55,000 visas will be issued under the DV program, a total of 131,060 applicants worldwide were selected in the lottery. This year, 19,927,656 people applied for the program. Those selected must complete their visa processing by September 2025, as per existing regulations. Failure to obtain a visa within this period will result in automatic disqualification.
Applicants who submitted their DV lottery entries between October 4 and November 7, 2023, can check their selection status online. They are advised to keep their confirmation numbers safe until at least September 30, 2025.
The only official way to check DV selection results is through the U.S. Department of State’s website. Authorities have warned applicants to stay vigilant against fraud, as scammers often send fake emails claiming that individuals have won the lottery.
If an applicant is not selected, a notification will appear on the screen. Those who are selected will see further instructions regarding the next steps in the visa process.
The Diversity Visa program, mandated by the U.S. Congress, is conducted annually by the Department of State under Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The program provides immigration opportunities to individuals from countries with historically low immigration rates to the United States.
Selected applicants must meet specific eligibility requirements to qualify for the program. The allotted visas are distributed among six geographic regions, with no single country receiving more than 7% of the total available visas in any given year.
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Kishor Panthi
View More PostsKishor Panthi is the founder and editor-in-chief of Khasokhas and NepYork. He is the author of three books, “Kampan,” "UNTRANSLATABLE" and “Zero Mile.” He writes about social issues, immigration, and politics.
