The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs has announced a significant increase in the Diversity Visa (DV) 2025 case number cutoff for Nepali winners in its new Visa Bulletin, raising it to 8,000. This means that Nepali DV winners with case numbers up to 8,000 will be eligible to process their visas in June 2025.
The case number cutoff has seen steady growth throughout the fiscal year, which began on October 1, 2024. For October, November, and December 2024, case numbers up to 2,950 were eligible for visa processing. The cutoff rose to 3,500 in January 2025, remaining unchanged in February. March saw a further increase to 4,500, followed by 5,950 in April, and 6,450 in May.
Out of the 131,060 global selectees in the DV 2025 lottery, 3,861 Nepalis were chosen, placing Nepal third in Asia. Iran led the region with 5,267 selectees, followed by Afghanistan with 4,009. In Europe, Uzbekistan topped the list with 5,564 selectees, followed by Turkey (4,194) and Ukraine (4,002). In South America, Cuba had 2,348 winners, while in Africa, Algeria (5,526), Egypt (5,515), Sudan (5,505), and Kenya (4,459) were among the highest.
Globally, 19,927,656 applications were submitted for DV 2025. While 55,000 visas are available, the higher number of selectees accounts for those who may not meet eligibility criteria or complete the process by the September 30, 2025, deadline.
All DV 2025 selectees must obtain their visas by September 30, 2025, as per U.S. law, or they will automatically become ineligible. Applicants are advised to retain their confirmation numbers until at least this date and to check their status exclusively through the U.S. Department of State’s official website (dvprogram.state.gov). Authorities have warned against fraudulent emails claiming DV selection, as scammers often exploit applicants. Legitimate notifications appear only on the official website, displaying either a selection letter with next steps or a notice of non-selection.
Mandated by the U.S. Congress, the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, administered annually by the U.S. Department of State, provides a pathway for individuals from countries with historically low immigration rates to the U.S. Under Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, the program allocates visas across six geographic regions, with no single country receiving more than 7% of the available visas in any year. Applicants must meet strict but straightforward eligibility criteria, including educational or work experience requirements.
Nepali DV winners with case numbers up to 8,000 should prepare for their visa interviews in June 2025, ensuring all documentation is in order. As the fiscal year progresses, further updates to the case number cutoff are expected, potentially allowing more selectees to advance.
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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.
