Significant changes are expected in the Green Card Lottery in 2026

The US government is preparing to introduce important updates to the Diversity Visa Program, commonly known as the Green Card Lottery. Zamin.uz reported on this matter.

These changes are scheduled to take effect by April 10, 2026, and will apply to the DV-2027 cycle. According to Federal Register data, the main goal of the new regulations is to increase program transparency and prevent fraud as well as duplicate applications.

Under the proposed rules, applicants will be required to submit a scanned copy of their valid passport. This copy must include pages with personal information and signatures.

Additionally, a nominal fee of $1 is planned to be introduced during the application submission process. To assist applicants, the time allocated for completing the online form will be extended from 30 minutes to 90 minutes.

Officials also intend to clarify terminology, replacing terms such as gender and age with biological sex and date of birth. Stricter verification protocols are being developed for consular officers.

These measures are being implemented due to an increase in fraud cases. Approximately 2.5 million fraudulent or duplicate applications were identified during the DV-2025 cycle.

However, the main eligibility requirements will remain largely unchanged, and a mandatory English language requirement is not currently being introduced. The Diversity Visa Lottery remains an important opportunity for citizens of countries with low immigration rates to the United States.

Through this program, many people will have the opportunity to live and work in the United States.