The Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery is a US government programme that grants up to 50,000 immigrant visas every year to applicants from countries with low immigration levels to the United States over the previous five years.
It aims to promote diversity among immigrants by giving equal opportunities to underrepresented nations.
Why Is India Disqualified?
India has been excluded because it exceeds the immigration threshold set for the programme.
According to the US Department of Homeland Security, the DV lottery bars countries that have sent more than 50,000 immigrants to the US in the last five years.
- 2021: 93,450 Indians immigrated to the US
- 2022: 127,010 Indians
- 2023: 78,070 Indians
These figures surpass total immigration numbers from South America, Africa, and Europe, confirming India’s ineligibility until 2028.
Other excluded countries include China, South Korea, Canada, and Pakistan, all of which have also exceeded the limit.
Impact on Indian Aspirants
With the Green Card Lottery closed to Indian nationals, pathways for permanent residency in the US have become more limited.
Available alternatives include:
- Converting an H-1B visa to permanent residency (Green Card)
- Investment-based immigration (EB-5 visa)
- Asylum applications
- Family sponsorship
However, these routes are often more complex, costly, and time-consuming.
US Policy Tightening Adds Pressure
Experts link the situation to stricter immigration policies under the Trump administration, which introduced:
- Expanded social media vetting
- Tighter student visa regulations
- Enhanced security screening for applicants
Additionally, the US recently imposed a $100,000 (₹88 lakh) fee on H-1B visa applications and shifted from a lottery-based to a wage-based selection system — prioritising high earners and making it harder for students and early-career professionals.
Tourism and Travel Decline
Travel data from the International Trade Administration (ITA) shows that the number of Indians visiting the US fell from 15.54 lakh in 2024 to 14.86 lakh in 2025, reflecting the overall impact of restrictive immigration and visa policies.
The Road Ahead
India’s exclusion from the DV Lottery underscores growing challenges for Indians seeking to live and work in the US.
Unless immigration levels drop significantly in the coming years, eligibility for the Green Card Lottery is unlikely before 2028, keeping the dream of easy access to US permanent residency out of reach for millions of aspirants.
