The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs has announced a significant advancement in the case number cutoff for Nepali Diversity Visa (DV) 2025 winners in its latest Visa Bulletin. For July 2025, the case number cutoff for Nepali applicants has been raised to 8,950, a substantial increase from the June cutoff of 8,000.
This means that Nepali DV winners with case numbers up to 8,950 are now eligible to process their visa applications in July. This development reflects the U.S. government’s efforts to expedite visa processing for the DV 2025 program within the fiscal year, which began on October 1, 2024, and will conclude on September 30, 2025.
The progression of case number cutoffs for Nepali DV winners has been steady throughout the fiscal year. In October, November, and December 2024, case numbers up to 2,950 were eligible for visa processing. This cutoff increased to 3,500 in January and February 2025.
By March, the cutoff rose to 4,500, followed by 5,950 in April and 6,450 in May. The June cutoff of 8,000 set the stage for the latest jump to 8,950 for July. This consistent upward trend demonstrates the Department of State’s commitment to ensuring that as many eligible Nepali winners as possible can complete their visa processing before the fiscal year deadline.
For the DV 2025 program, a total of 3,861 Nepalis were selected, securing Nepal’s position as the third-highest recipient of DV selections in Asia, following Iran with 5,267 winners and Afghanistan with 4,009. Globally, 131,060 individuals were selected from nearly 19.93 million applicants, though only 55,000 visas will be issued.
In other regions, Uzbekistan led Europe with 5,564 winners, 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) topped the list. Nepal’s strong representation underscores its active participation in the DV program, which targets countries with historically low immigration rates to the United States.
The DV 2025 program operates under strict timelines and regulations. All selectees must complete their visa processing by September 30, 2025, or face automatic disqualification, as stipulated by U.S. law. Applicants are advised to retain their confirmation number until at least this date to check their status via the official U.S. Department of State website (dvprogram.state.gov), the sole authorized platform for verifying DV selection.
The Department has also cautioned applicants about fraudulent schemes, as scammers frequently send fake emails claiming DV selection to extort money. Nepali applicants are urged to remain cautious and rely only on official channels for updates.
Administered annually by the U.S. Department of State under Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program is a congressionally mandated initiative designed to provide immigration opportunities to individuals from underrepresented countries.
Applicants must meet stringent eligibility criteria, such as possessing a high school education or equivalent work experience. Visas are allocated across six geographic regions, with a cap ensuring no single country receives more than 7% of the available visas in a 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.
