Thousands of Indians aspiring for permanent residency in the United States have been ruled ineligible for the US Diversity Visa Lottery, also known as the Green Card Lottery. Recent updates indicate that this restriction could remain in place at least until 2028.
The Diversity Visa Lottery aims to promote diversity in US immigration, allowing only nationals from countries that have sent fewer than 50,000 immigrants to the US in the past five years. India has exceeded this threshold, with 93,450 Indian immigrants in 2021, 127,010 in 2022, and 78,070 in 2023, surpassing the total immigration from regions such as South America, Africa, and Europe. Other countries affected include China, Pakistan, Canada, and South Korea.
With the lottery route unavailable, Indians seeking US permanent residency must explore alternative pathways, including work visas like H-1B, family sponsorship, or investment-based immigration programs such as EB-5.
However, recent tightening of US visa regulations has made these alternative routes more complex, posing significant challenges for thousands of Indians pursuing the dream of US citizenship.