Green Card Lottery December 2025: Latest Updates
The green card lottery program has undergone significant changes in December 2025, with the U.S. State Department releasing new cutoff numbers for DV-2026 selectees while DV-2027 registration remains postponed. These updates affect millions of diversity visa applicants worldwide.
The December 2025 Visa Bulletin shows forward movement for most regions, but applicants from 19 banned countries face unprecedented challenges due to new travel restrictions implemented in June 2025.
December 2025 DV-2026 Cutoff Numbers
The State Department has published the latest cutoff numbers determining which lottery selectees can proceed with their green card applications.
- Africa: 17,500 (Algeria: 17,250; Egypt: 16,000)
- Asia: 10,000 (Nepal limited to: 6,000)
- Europe: 7,750
- North America (Bahamas): 20
- Oceania: 1,100
- South America & Caribbean: 1,850
If your case number falls below these thresholds, you may schedule your visa interview. Selectees with higher numbers must wait for future bulletin updates. Additionally, the DV-2026 annual allocation has been reduced from 55,000 to approximately 52,000 visas due to NACARA provisions.
DV-2027 Registration Delayed: New $1 Fee Required
The DV-2027 green card lottery registration, which typically opens in early October, has been delayed by more than two months.
- Delay Announcement: November 5, 2025 - State Department confirmed postponement
- New Registration Fee: $1 electronic payment required for all applicants
- Expected Opening: Late December 2025 or January 2026
- Shortened Window: 2-3 weeks instead of the traditional 30+ day period
- Revenue Projection: Fee expected to generate $25 million annually
The fee, established through a final rule published on September 16, 2025, aims to deter fraudulent entries and reduce duplicate submissions. However, the proposed passport requirement will NOT apply to DV-2027.
Who Is Affected by These Changes
These green card lottery updates impact several distinct groups of applicants differently based on their selection status and country of origin.
For DV-2026 Selectees
Current lottery winners should monitor the monthly Visa Bulletin and prepare all required documents, including proper passport photos meeting U.S. visa requirements. Your deadline to obtain a visa is September 30, 2026—there are no extensions.
For Applicants from 19 Banned Countries
The June 2025 travel ban has suspended visa processing for nationals of Afghanistan, Chad, DRC, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. As of December 2025, USCIS has frozen all green card processing for these nationals.
For Future DV-2027 Applicants
Prepare your digital passport photo and payment method now. When registration opens, the window will be shorter than usual, so having your materials ready is essential.
How to Check Your DV-2026 Status - Step by Step
Follow these steps to verify your green card lottery selection status.
- Visit the Official Portal: Go to dvprogram.state.gov (the ONLY official source)
- Enter Your Confirmation Number: Use the number from your original registration
- Provide Personal Information: Enter your last name and birth year exactly as submitted
- Review Your Status: The system will display whether you were selected
- Save Your Case Number: If selected, note your case number for tracking cutoff eligibility
Important Dates and Timeline
Mark these critical dates for the green card lottery program.
- Now - September 30, 2026: DV-2026 results remain available for status checks
- Late December 2025 - January 2026: Expected DV-2027 registration opening
- Monthly: New Visa Bulletin cutoff numbers released around the 15th
- September 30, 2026: Final deadline for all DV-2026 visa issuance
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I won the green card lottery?
The State Department does NOT send emails, letters, or phone calls to winners. You must check your status yourself at dvprogram.state.gov using your confirmation number. Any other communication claiming you won is fraudulent.
What does the $1 registration fee mean for DV-2027?
Starting with DV-2027, all applicants must pay a $1 electronic fee when submitting their lottery entry. This is the first fee in the program's 30+ year history. The fee must be paid online at the time of registration.
Can I still win if I'm from a banned country?
Nationals from the 19 banned countries cannot currently receive diversity visas while the June 2025 travel ban remains in effect. However, dual citizens traveling on passports from non-banned countries may have options. Consult an immigration attorney for specific guidance.
What You Need to Know
The green card lottery program continues operating despite significant changes in 2025. DV-2026 winners should act quickly to process their applications before the September 2026 deadline, while prospective DV-2027 applicants should prepare for a shorter registration window with the new $1 fee requirement.
Before submitting your application, ensure your passport photo meets all visa specifications—incorrect photos are a leading cause of application delays and rejections. VisaPics can help you create compliant photos for your diversity visa application, ensuring your image meets the exact U.S. State Department requirements for size, background, and formatting.
Sources: - [U.S. State Department Visa Bulletin December 2025](https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin/2026/visa-bulletin-for-december-2025.html) - [Official DV Lottery Status Check](https://dvprogram.state.gov/) - [USAGov DV Lottery Results Guide](https://www.usa.gov/dv-lottery-results) - [NPR - Immigration Applications Paused for 19 Countries](https://www.npr.org/2025/12/03/g-s1-100218/trump-administration-halts-immigration-19-nations) - [American Immigration Council - 2025 Travel Ban](https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/report/trump-2025-travel-ban/)