Consulates will not schedule new DV interviews for selectees from the 19 affected countries and may withhold or delay visa stamps even where interviews already took place.

During the pandemic, President Trump issued Proclamation 10014 in April 2020, temporarily halting the processing of diversity visas for ten months before they were repealed by President Biden.

Future diversity visa applicants will need to provide valid, unexpired passport details and upload a digital scan of the passport’s biographic page at the time of entry, along with paying a $1 non-refundable registration fee.

The Diversity Visa Lottery was ended, allowing people from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States to no longer apply for permanent residency through this program.

Applicants must fill out an online form on the official U.S. Department of State website to apply.