Reasons Indians Are Excluded from US Green Card Lottery 2023

Indian nationals have been excluded from the United States Diversity Visa (DV) lottery program until at least 2028. This green card lottery is designed to promote immigration diversity by selecting individuals from countries with lower immigration rates to the U.S. over the past five years.

Eligibility for the DV lottery is limited to citizens from nations that have sent fewer than 50,000 immigrants to the U.S. within five years. India has exceeded this threshold, making it ineligible. In 2021, 93,450 Indians immigrated to the U.S., followed by 127,010 in 2022, and 78,070 in 2023. Due to this high volume, Indians will remain ineligible for DV lottery participation until 2028.

Other countries excluded from the 2026 DV lottery include China, South Korea, Canada, and Pakistan. The latest list of eligible countries was released recently for those who still qualify.

With the DV route closed, Indians now have fewer options for gaining permanent residency in the U.S. These include transitioning from an H-1B visa, investment-based routes, asylum, or family sponsorship. However, under the Trump administration’s stricter immigration policies, even these paths have faced increasing restrictions.

President Trump’s administration has significantly tightened immigration rules, especially concerning student visas. Enhanced vetting now includes social media checks and broader scrutiny of applicants who may be considered security risks. U.S. consular staff have been directed to identify potential threats, including those linked to terrorism or who engage in discriminatory violence.

diversity visa lottery, Indian immigration, green card, U.S. immigration policy, Trump administration