The U.S. State Department has set Nepal’s cutoff number in the Diversity Visa program at 13,000 for July, up from 11,000 in June, according to the June 2026 Visa Bulletin.
For July, the bulletin sets the DV cutoff at 55,000 for Africa, except Algeria at 40,000 and Egypt at 31,000; 35,000 for Asia, with Nepal at 13,000; 23,000 for Europe; 50 for North America, limited to the Bahamas; 1,700 for Oceania; and 3,300 for South America and the Caribbean.
A total of 3,933 Nepali applicants were selected for DV-2026, while about 129,516 prospective applicants worldwide were chosen through the lottery. The larger pool reflects the fact that some selectees will not complete their cases or may be found ineligible, according to the State Department.
Fiscal year 2026 winners must receive their visas by Sept. 30, 2026. Eligibility for DV-2026 applicants ends on that date, and no diversity visas may be issued afterward.
The State Department said visa interviews are still continuing, but no diversity visas have been issued since Dec. 19, when U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services suspended adjustment-of-status processing for DV lottery winners inside the United States. The department said the program remains on indefinite hold while questions over admissibility are resolved.
Applicants may still submit visa applications and attend interviews, and the department said it continues to schedule appointments. Existing appointments will not be moved or canceled, and previously issued diversity visas have not been revoked.
The DV program is run annually under congressional authority and is designed to provide immigration opportunities to people from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States. Under the law, no country may receive more than 7% of the total annual diversity visas.
The State Department has not yet announced a registration date for DV-2027, though it said the lottery announcement will come soon. It has also put in place a passport requirement effective April 10, and a $1 registration fee is set to apply to future DV entries.
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.
