The U.S. Department of State’s latest Visa Bulletin shows a significant increase in case numbers for Nepali Diversity Visa (DV-2026) winners, reaching 10,000 for April 2026, up from 6,500 in March and February. This advancement offers hope to more applicants, though the actual issuance of visas remains halted.
Persistent Visa Issuance Pause
Since December 19, 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) have suspended DV-based green card processing inside the U.S., prompting the State Department to pause visa issuance at embassies worldwide.
The halt stems from national security reviews, including concerns following recent incidents, and will continue until interagency policies on U.S. admissions are finalized. Interviews and applications proceed as scheduled, but no Diversity Visas (DV-1) are being printed or issued, with existing visas unaffected pending Homeland Security decisions.
DV-2026 Program Details for Nepalis
For DV-2026, 3,933 Nepalis were selected from about 129,516 global entrants drawn from 20,822,624 applications submitted between October 2 and November 7, 2024. Winners must secure visas by September 30, 2026, with the cap accounting for potential dropouts. Nepal’s allocation aligns with the program’s rules under the Immigration and Nationality Act, limiting any country to 7% of the roughly 55,000 annual visas across six regions.
DV-2027 Lottery Delay
Unlike typical October openings, DV-2027 registration dates remain unannounced as of February 2026, though the State Department promises a soon-to-come reveal and a new $1 electronic entry fee expected to generate $25 million. Applicants are advised to monitor travel.state.gov for updates amid the ongoing suspension.
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.
