The U.S. Department of State has issued an advance notification regarding the rank cut-offs for the Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) category effective May 2026. These rank numbers serve as the essential threshold for selected applicants, determining who is eligible to proceed with their visa interviews during that month. For May, visas will be available to qualified DV-2026 applicants whose regional lottery rank numbers fall below the specified allocation limits.
In the Africa region, the general cut-off is set at 55,000, though lower limits apply to Algeria (37,000) and Egypt (30,000). For Asia, the threshold is 35,000, with a specific limit of 10,000 for Nepal. The Europe region maintains a cut-off of 20,000, while limits for the Bahamas, Oceania, and South America remain unchanged at 50, 1,500, and 3,000, respectively.
Applicants are reminded that eligibility for this category is strictly time-bound; all registered DV-2026 applicants, including accompanying spouses and children, must finalize their status by September 30, 2026.
Because visa numbers may be exhausted before the end of the fiscal year, availability through September cannot be guaranteed. Selectees are strongly encouraged to monitor updates from the Bureau of Consular Affairs to ensure they complete processing before the program concludes.
For the DV-2026 cycle, a total of 129,516 potential applicants were selected from over 20.8 million eligible entries. Among these, 3,933 Nepalese citizens have been cleared to move forward.
The Department of State intentionally selects a larger number of winners than available visas to account for those who may be found ineligible or fail to complete the application. All successful candidates must receive their visas between October 1, 2025, and September 30, 2026.
Administered by the U.S. Department of State under a Congressional mandate, the Diversity Visa program provides a pathway for individuals from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States.
While the registration period typically opens in October, the Department has not yet announced the dates for the DV-2027 cycle. However, a new federal rule has established a $1 registration fee, which must be paid electronically at the time of entry. This fee is expected to generate approximately $25 million in annual revenue.
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.
