Other countries also excluded from the 2026 DV lottery include China, South Korea, Canada and Pakistan
17 October, 2025 – Chandigarh : Indian nationals have been excluded from the United States Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery Programme, with ineligibility expected to continue until at least 2028. The DV program, commonly known as the green card lottery, is designed to diversify the U.S. immigrant population by offering permanent residency to individuals from countries with historically low immigration rates to the U.S.
However, India has surpassed the threshold, which disqualifies any country that has sent more than 50,000 immigrants to the US in the past five years.
According to official data:
93,450 Indians immigrated to the US in 2021
127,010 in 2022 and 78,070 in 2023
These numbers place India well above the qualifying limit, automatically excluding it from the programme through at least 2028.
Other countries also excluded from the 2026 DV lottery include China, South Korea, Canada and Pakistan.
Fewer immigration pathways for Indians
The exclusion from the DV lottery further narrows the already limited routes available to Indian nationals seeking permanent residency in the United States. Currently, most rely on:
Employment-based visas, such as converting an H-1B to a green card
Family sponsorship
Investment-based immigration
Asylum or humanitarian routes
Broader immigration crackdown
The pathway to US residency has also become increasingly restrictive due to tough immigration policies initiated under President Donald Trump.
These included:
Stricter vetting of student and work visas
Expanded background checks, including social media scrutiny
Increased security screenings for individuals with perceived political affiliations or activism
Heightened focus on national security and anti-terrorism measures
State Department directives have instructed consular officers to be cautious when evaluating visa applicants, especially those suspected of posing any security threat or promoting extremist ideologies.
The Tribune