The United States continues to draw millions of visitors and immigrants with its mix of world-class cities, national parks, beaches, and cultural landmarks. For many people from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the U.S., the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery, also known as the green card lottery, has long been one accessible pathway to permanent residency. This updated guide combines current information on the Diversity Visa program with highlights of top U.S. tourism destinations.
Current Status of the Diversity Visa Lottery
The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, authorized by Congress, normally makes up to 55,000 immigrant visas available each fiscal year through a random lottery for natives of countries that send relatively few immigrants to the United States. Entries are submitted online during a limited window, selectees are notified the following year, and visas must be issued by the end of the relevant fiscal year (September 30). You can take a look at the guide for Applying for the US Diversity Visa (Green Card) Lottery. It contains what you need to know in 2026.
Key 2025–2026 developments:
- In December 2025, the Department of State paused all diversity visa issuances, and USCIS placed a hold on related adjustment-of-status applications. The pause followed security and vetting concerns raised after a shooting incident linked to a past Diversity Visa recipient. As of mid-2026, the pause remained in effect; applicants could still submit paperwork and attend interviews in many cases, but no new DV visas were being issued.
- For DV-2026 (entry period October–November 2024), roughly 129,500 prospective applicants (including family members) were selected from more than 20.8 million qualified entries. Eligibility for DV-2026 ends on September 30, 2026; unused numbers do not carry over.
- Statutory deductions (including under NACARA and related provisions) have reduced the effective annual limit for DV-2026 to approximately 51,850–52,000 visas.
- Registration for DV-2027 has been delayed. Future entries are expected to include a $1 non-refundable registration fee and a requirement to upload a scan of a valid passport’s biographic page. Official dates will be announced on the Department of State’s Diversity Visa page.
The program remains highly competitive and subject to change based on policy, security reviews, and congressional action. Always check the official sources—travel.state.gov (Diversity Visa Program pages and Visa Bulletin) and uscis.gov—for the latest guidance. Beware of unofficial sites or third parties promising guaranteed selection; the only legitimate entry portal is the official government site during the announced registration window.
If selected in a future lottery, the process typically involves completing an online immigrant visa application, gathering civil documents, attending an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate, and meeting medical and admissibility requirements. Third-party services can assist with form preparation, photo compliance, and interview readiness checklists, but they cannot influence the random selection or guarantee approval.
What President Trump’s Administration has to say about Diversity Visa Lottery since he entered office
Since taking office in January 2025 for his second term, President Trump’s main action on the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery (also called the green card lottery) has been an indefinite pause on processing and issuance of diversity visas, ordered in mid-December 2025.
December 2025 pause
- On or around December 18–19, 2025, following the Brown University shooting (and related MIT incident), Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that, at President Trump’s direction, USCIS was immediately pausing its role in the Diversity Visa program. The stated reason was that the suspect, Claudio Manuel Neves Valente (a Portuguese national), had obtained a green card through the DV program in 2017.
- The State Department simultaneously paused all visa issuances to diversity immigrant visa applicants, effective immediately. Official guidance stated this was to allow a review of the program’s screening and vetting protocols for national security and public safety concerns.
- USCIS also placed a hold on pending adjustment-of-status applications (Form I-485) filed by DV selectees, along with related benefits.
- Applicants could still submit applications and attend scheduled interviews in many cases, but no new diversity visas were being issued. Existing valid visas were not revoked.
This pause remained in effect as of 2026. It has effectively frozen the program for DV-2026 selectees (whose eligibility expires on September 30, 2026) and delayed aspects of future cycles. The program itself was created by Congress in 1990 and cannot be permanently ended by the president alone without legislation; the administration’s action is a processing suspension tied to a security review.
Other related developments under the administration
- Registration for DV-2027 was delayed (it did not open on the usual early-October schedule).
- New rules for future entries (effective around April 2026) include a $1 non-refundable registration fee and a requirement to upload a scan of a valid passport’s biographic page.
- The effective annual visa cap for DV-2026 was reduced slightly (to roughly 51,850–52,000) due to existing statutory deductions, separate from the pause.
- Broader immigration restrictions (including travel/processing pauses affecting nationals of many countries) have overlapped with and compounded effects on DV applicants from certain nations.
Trump had previously criticized and sought to end or restrict the Diversity Visa program during his first term (including after the 2017 New York truck attack by a prior DV recipient), but those earlier efforts faced legal and congressional limits. The December 2025 pause is the primary concrete action taken since he returned to office.
For the absolute latest official status, check travel.state.gov (Diversity Visa pages and Visa Bulletins) and uscis.gov, as the pause and any review outcomes can change. There’s more information to Apply for US Electronic Diversity Visa Lottery also known as Green Card Lottery: A Guide for Africans, with Nigeria as Case Study.
Methods people use to enter the US since the diversity lottery is suspended
People can still enter the United States through many other legal pathways. The Diversity Visa (green card lottery) pause only affects that specific program. Other temporary and permanent options remain available, though some have tighter rules, longer waits, nationality-based restrictions, or higher scrutiny under current policies.
Temporary (Nonimmigrant) Entry
These allow visits or temporary stays but do not by themselves lead to permanent residency:
- Visa Waiver Program (VWP) + ESTA — Citizens of about 40–42 participating countries can travel for tourism or business for up to 90 days without a visa if they obtain Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) approval in advance. Requirements include a valid e-passport and meeting eligibility rules (certain prior travel to restricted countries or dual nationality can disqualify someone). Apply only on the official CBP site (esta.cbp.dhs.gov). Fee is currently around $40.
- B-1/B-2 visitor visas — For tourism, medical treatment, or limited business. Required for people from non-VWP countries or those ineligible for ESTA. Apply at a U.S. embassy/consulate.
- Student (F-1) or exchange visitor (J-1) visas — For full-time study or approved exchange programs. New rules effective mid-September 2026 replace open-ended “duration of status” with fixed admission periods (generally up to 4 years or the program end date, whichever is shorter), after which extensions must be requested.
- Temporary work visas — Examples include H-1B (specialty occupations, subject to annual lottery and caps), L-1 (intracompany transfers), O-1 (extraordinary ability), H-2A/H-2B (seasonal agricultural or non-agricultural work), E-2 (treaty investors from certain countries), and others. Many require a U.S. employer sponsor.
Entry is still subject to inspection at the border or port of entry. Approval of a visa or ESTA does not guarantee admission.
Pathways to Permanent Residency (Green Card)
These can lead to lawful permanent resident status:
- Family-based immigration — A U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident can petition for certain relatives. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens (spouse, unmarried children under 21, parents of adult citizens) have no annual numerical limit and are generally the fastest. Other family preference categories have annual limits and can involve multi-year waits depending on the relationship and the relative’s country of birth.
- Employment-based immigration — Roughly 140,000 visas per year across categories:
- EB-1: Extraordinary ability, outstanding professors/researchers, or multinational executives/managers (some self-petition options).
- EB-2: Advanced degree or exceptional ability (includes National Interest Waiver self-petition option).
- EB-3: Skilled workers, professionals, or other workers (usually requires labor certification).
- EB-4: Certain special immigrants.
- EB-5: Immigrant investors (minimum investment typically $800,000 in a targeted employment area or $1.05 million otherwise, plus job-creation requirements).
- Other specialized routes — Certain crime victims (U visa), trafficking victims (T visa), or other humanitarian/special immigrant categories exist but are limited and have strict eligibility rules.
Humanitarian Pathways
- Refugee resettlement — The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program has been heavily restricted since early 2025, with a very low annual ceiling and limited processing (primarily focused on specific groups such as certain South African applicants under recent determinations). Most new overseas refugee cases are not moving forward.
- Asylum — Available to people already in the U.S. or at a port of entry who meet the legal definition of refugee (persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group). Processing has faced significant pauses, backlogs, and policy changes that make approvals harder.
Important Current Realities
- Many nationalities face additional restrictions, including pauses on immigrant visa issuance for dozens of countries and expanded travel/vetting measures.
- Public-charge rules, heightened screening, and discretionary factors can affect approvals even when basic eligibility is met.
- Country-of-birth quotas and priority dates create long waits for applicants from high-demand countries (especially in family and employment categories).
- Always use official government sites: travel.state.gov (visas), uscis.gov (petitions and status), and esta.cbp.dhs.gov (ESTA). Third-party sites or agents cannot guarantee outcomes and scams are common.
Eligibility depends heavily on your nationality, family ties, education/skills, job offers, financial resources, and individual circumstances. The best next step is usually to review the official eligibility criteria for the category that fits your situation or consult a qualified immigration attorney. Rules can change, so verify the latest information directly from U.S. government sources before applying.
Iconic U.S. Tourism Destinations Worth Exploring when you Finally Enter
Whether you visit on a tourist visa, as a temporary resident, or after obtaining permanent status, the United States offers extraordinary variety across its 50 states.
New York City
The ultimate cosmopolitan hub. Explore the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s vast collections, catch a Broadway show, walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, and visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Neighborhoods range from historic Lower Manhattan to vibrant Harlem and Queens’ global food scene.
San Francisco and Northern California
Ride a cable car, walk or bike the Golden Gate Bridge, and explore neighborhoods shaped by successive waves of immigration—Mission (Mexican and Latin American influences), Castro, and Chinatown. A short ferry ride reaches Alcatraz Island. Nearby, Yosemite National Park delivers towering waterfalls, granite cliffs (Half Dome, Glacier Point), and classic trails such as the Mist Trail.
New Orleans, Louisiana
A unique blend of Caribbean, French, Spanish, and African influences. Enjoy live jazz on Frenchmen Street or Bourbon Street, sample gumbo, jambalaya, and beignets, and experience the city’s distinctive nightlife and historic architecture in the French Quarter and Garden District.
Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona)
One of the world’s most dramatic natural wonders. Raft sections of the Colorado River, hike the Bright Angel or North Kaibab trails, or simply take in the layered rock formations from the South or North Rim viewpoints.
Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks
Yellowstone (Wyoming/Montana/Idaho) features geysers (including Old Faithful), hot springs, and wildlife viewing in the Hayden and Lamar valleys—bison, grizzly bears, and wolves. Glacier National Park (Montana) offers alpine lakes, waterfalls, and Going-to-the-Sun Road; summer activities include hiking, fishing, and canoeing, while winter brings skiing opportunities.
Las Vegas, Nevada
World-famous for its casino resorts, Cirque-style shows, celebrity residencies, high-end dining, and nightlife along the Strip. A short drive reaches outdoor attractions such as Red Rock Canyon.
Orlando and Central Florida
Home to Walt Disney World Resort—the “happiest place on earth”—with multiple theme parks, water parks, and character experiences that appeal to all ages. Nearby options include Universal Orlando Resort and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.
Hawaii
Honolulu and Waikiki Beach on Oahu offer year-round sunshine and turquoise water; Pearl Harbor National Memorial provides a powerful historical site. On Maui, the Road to Hana and Waianapanapa State Park’s black-sand beach stand out. Lanikai Beach is frequently ranked among the most beautiful in the world.
These destinations illustrate the country’s range: dense urban energy, immigrant-influenced neighborhoods, dramatic landscapes, entertainment capitals, and Pacific islands. Many national parks and monuments are managed by the National Park Service and are accessible with an America the Beautiful pass for frequent visitors.
Notes for Travelers and Prospective Immigrants
- Tourism information is available through official channels such as VisitTheUSA.com, state tourism boards, and U.S. embassy/consulate pages.
- Immigration pathways (including any future Diversity Visa cycles) have strict eligibility rules based primarily on country of birth, education or work experience, and admissibility. Selection does not guarantee a visa.
- Always verify current entry requirements, visa waiver eligibility (ESTA), or nonimmigrant visa rules before travel.
- Scams targeting Diversity Visa hopefuls are common. Use only the official dvprogram.state.gov site for entries and status checks.
The combination of exceptional travel experiences and the possibility of building a new life continues to make the United States a powerful draw. Stay informed through official government sources for the most accurate and up-to-date details on both tourism and immigration programs.