Indian nationals will not be able to apply for the United States Diversity Visa (DV) lottery, also known as the Green Card Lottery, until at least 2028. The programme is designed to bring in immigrants from countries that have sent fewer people to the US in recent years.

The DV lottery allows participation only from nations that have sent fewer than 50,000 immigrants to the US over the past five years. Because India’s immigration numbers far exceed that limit, it has automatically been excluded from the programme.

In 2021, around 93,450 Indians moved to the United States. The number jumped to 127,010 in 2022, higher than the total number of South American (99,030), African (89,570), or European (75,610) immigrants combined.

In 2023, 78,070 Indians migrated to the US, which kept India over the eligibility limit for the DV lottery. These figures mean Indians will remain ineligible to participate until 2028.

Other countries that also do not qualify for the DV Lottery 2026 include China, South Korea, Canada, and Pakistan. The latest round of visa allocations for eligible countries was announced by the US State Department on Wednesday.

Fewer ways for Indians to settle in US

With this lottery route closed, Indians have limited paths left for gaining permanent residency in the US. The remaining options include converting an H-1B work visa into a green card, investing in US businesses, seeking asylum, or applying through family sponsorship.

However, under President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, many of these routes are becoming more difficult, adding to the concerns of both applicants and employers.

Tightened visa rules under Trump administration

Since taking office, the Trump administration has toughened rules for student and other visas as part of a wider immigration crackdown. Screening has been expanded to include social media checks, and US diplomats have been instructed to be extra cautious about applicants who might be seen as hostile or politically active.

According to new State Department guidelines, officials are also required to screen for those "who advocate for, aid, or support designated foreign terrorists and other threats to national security; or who perpetrate unlawful anti-Semitic harassment or violence."