New DV Visa Provisions Out

The United States used to open applications for the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery every year from October 2 to November 5. However, this year, that hasn’t happened yet. In other words, the U.S. has not opened DV lottery applications so far.

“According to information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the DV lottery could open anytime within the next 7 days to a month. However, the reason for the temporary suspension has not been announced yet,” Phular said. “It can be confirmed that the DV lottery program has not been canceled. Moreover, the schedule for sending applicants to the U.S. in 2027 has not been changed either.”

Phular believes there are two possible reasons for the delay in opening applications this year:

First, the fee.
Previously, DV lottery applications were free. This time, a $1 fee is required, which may have caused a delay in opening the applications. Rules on how to pay this fee have not yet been finalized, as applications were free until now. The authorities need to set up a system for this payment.

Second, the U.S. government shutdown.
The delay could also be due to the U.S. Congress not passing a budget, which has temporarily halted many government services and programs. Administrative processes have therefore not been running smoothly. “The government is now reopening, so the DV lottery application process is expected to begin soon,” Phular added.

He emphasized that the temporary suspension should not be interpreted as the DV program being canceled. The delay is likely due to technical and administrative reasons only.

Even with the delay, Phular advised applicants to exercise caution while filling out their applications. He noted that many Nepalis make errors in their personal information.

“Some married people list themselves as unmarried and vice versa. Others fail to include information about their children. Such mistakes can create problems when applying for family visas in the U.S. or later when applying for citizenship,” he explained. “In some cases, providing false information has even led to deportation. Therefore, any mistakes should be corrected honestly from the start.”