Green Card Approvals for Nepalis via Immigrant Visas Jump After Trump Inauguration

In the initial months of U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term, which began on January 20, 2025, there has been a slight increase in the number of Nepalis obtaining immigrant visas. According to the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs, 797 Nepalis received immigrant visas in February 2025, surpassing the 778 issued in January 2025, the final month of President Joe Biden’s administration. This rise is particularly notable given that U.S. embassies had fewer working days in February than in January.

Of the 797 visas issued, 394 were granted to Diversity Visa (DV) lottery winners, making them the largest group, followed by 173 parents of U.S. citizens, who secured family-based visas. This pattern mirrored January 2025, where DV lottery winners and parents of U.S. citizens also dominated the visa recipient list.

February 2025’s total of 797 immigrant visas marks the highest monthly figure for Nepalis in the current fiscal year (FY) 2025, exceeding all prior months: 669 in October 2024, 476 in November 2024, 696 in December 2024, and 778 in January 2025.

From October 2024 to February 2025, a total of 16,503 Nepalis received U.S. visas, including 13,087 non-immigrant visas and 3,416 immigrant visas. The latter group primarily consisted of applicants processed in Nepal or outside the U.S.

Individuals receiving immigrant visas typically have their green card applications approved while residing outside the U.S. Upon arrival in the U.S., they can expect to receive their green cards within a month at their designated address. Those who authorized a Social Security Number (SSN) in their DS-260 application also receive an SSN automatically, facilitating their integration.

Historically, over 10,000 Nepalis have secured green cards annually, with FY 2023 seeing 11,640 recipients, including 7,560 through immigrant visas from Nepal and 4,080 via adjustment of status within the U.S. Of these, 3,375 were DV lottery winners, approximately 1,000 were asylum-based, and around 8,000 were family- or employment-based. Similarly, FY 2022 recorded 12,010 green cards, with 2,894 from the DV lottery, 1,262 from asylum, and nearly 8,000 from family or employment categories.

Green card approvals peaked at 13,046 in 2013 and dipped to 7,309 in 2021 due to pandemic-related disruptions. Figures such as 12,357 in 2014, 12,926 in 2015, and 11,953 in 2018 demonstrate consistent demand. The DV lottery, in particular, has been a cornerstone, contributing over 25% of Nepali green cards since 1995, totaling 56,124 by 2024.