The U.S. Department of State has announced significant changes to the Diversity Visa (DV) Program, also known as the green card lottery, in an effort to combat fraud and enhance national security. These proposed rule changes mandate that applicants submit a scanned copy of their passport’s biographic and signature pages during the application process. The goal of these changes is to ensure the system remains secure, transparent, and accessible to all eligible applicants. In this post, we will break down what these new requirements mean, why they are being implemented, and how they affect the applicants participating in the green card lottery.
Why the Green Card Lottery Is Getting Tighter
The Diversity Visa (DV) Program has been an essential avenue for individuals seeking U.S. permanent residency, especially for those coming from countries with historically low immigration rates. Each year, 55,000 immigrants are granted green cards through this program, fostering diversity in the U.S. However, this process has been prone to exploitation, with fraudulent schemes undermining the system.
Over the years, various criminal organizations have manipulated the green card lottery, leading to widespread abuse. These activities include submitting fake applications, hijacking legitimate submissions, and even using fraudulent marriages to gain U.S. immigration benefits. Countries such as Bangladesh, Ukraine, Cambodia, and Moldova have been hotbeds for such fraudulent practices. In one high-profile case, a travel agency in Kyiv was charging applicants thousands of dollars to access their own application information. Some victims were even blackmailed into fake marriages to facilitate fraudulent immigration.
These rampant abuses have made it clear that more stringent verification mechanisms are necessary to maintain the integrity of the lottery process. As a result, the U.S. government has introduced a new rule that mandates passport scans for all applicants in the Diversity Visa Program.
New Passport Requirement for Diversity Visa Applicants
The new rule introduced by the Department of State requires applicants to provide the following documents and information when submitting their entries for the green card lottery:
- Passport Number: Applicants must include their passport number on the entry form.
- Issuing Country: They will need to specify the country where their passport was issued.
- Expiration Date: Applicants must enter the expiration date of their passport.
- Scanned Copy: A clear scan of the passport’s biographic and signature pages must be uploaded during the application submission.
The only exceptions to this rule apply to individuals who are stateless, citizens of countries that cannot issue passports, or those who have been granted a special waiver. However, these exemptions will apply to a very small fraction of applicants.
This updated requirement is expected to significantly enhance the security of the green card lottery system. During a previous pilot phase (from 2021 to 2023), the inclusion of passport data led to a dramatic reduction in duplicate entries, from 2.5 million to only 760,079, which demonstrated its effectiveness in reducing fraud.
How the Passport Rule Improves the Green Card Lottery
By requiring applicants to upload scanned copies of their passports, the U.S. Department of State aims to improve the verification process in several key ways:
- Enhanced Identity Verification: Having access to the biographic page and signature page of passports enables consular officers to cross-check applicant names in native scripts, validate passport authenticity, and detect document forgery. This reduces the risk of identity theft and fraudulent applications.
- Reduced Fraudulent Entries: Criminal groups that manipulate the system by submitting fake or stolen identities will find it much harder to succeed with the new passport requirements. The scan of the passport’s biographic and signature pages makes it more difficult to create fraudulent applications.
- National Security: The enhanced vetting process also improves national security by verifying the identity of applicants before they enter the U.S. This aligns with the goals outlined in Executive Order 14161, which mandates more rigorous background checks for federal immigration programs.
Potential Challenges for Applicants
While the new passport requirement will undoubtedly improve the integrity of the green card lottery, it may also introduce challenges for some applicants:
- Financial Burden: In many countries eligible for the DV Program, obtaining a passport is not always easy or inexpensive. The average cost of obtaining a passport in many DV-eligible countries is approximately $74.43, which could be a significant financial burden for low-income applicants.
- Technical Challenges: While the Department of State has emphasized that applicants can use mobile phones to upload passport scans, the technology may still be inaccessible in some parts of the world. In regions with limited access to technology, the new requirements could pose a barrier to entry for certain applicants.
- Time Commitment: The time cost for each applicant to comply with the new rules is estimated at $1.52. When multiplied by the expected 25 million entries globally, this could lead to an estimated $38 million in compliance costs. While the per-person cost is low, this total is substantial when scaled across all applicants.
Why These Changes Are Essential for Future Green Card Lottery Applicants
The changes to the Diversity Visa Program, while challenging, are necessary for ensuring that the process remains fair, secure, and accessible to eligible individuals. Fraudulent entries have plagued the green card lottery for years, and these new measures are designed to ensure that only legitimate applicants are considered.
When similar passport requirements were temporarily in place in 2021-2023, the number of applications decreased, but the quality of applications significantly improved. The system was able to filter out fraud more effectively. Once the passport rule was removed in 2022, fraudulent entries surged again, reinforcing the need for stricter verification methods.
For future applicants, it’s important to understand that these changes will make the green card lottery process more secure and transparent. By complying with the new rules, applicants can ensure that they have the best chance of being considered for the program.
Steps for Staying Compliant with the New Green Card Lottery Process
If you’re planning to apply for the Diversity Visa lottery, follow these steps to ensure you comply with the new passport requirements:
- Get Your Passport Early: Ensure that you have a valid passport that is unexpired and issued by your country of nationality. If you don’t have one, apply for it as soon as possible.
- Upload a Clear Scan: Use a high-quality scanner or mobile phone camera to take a clear picture of your passport’s biographic and signature pages. Make sure the scan is legible and meets the requirements specified by the Department of State.
- Double-Check Your Information: Carefully review all your information, including the passport number, expiration date, and name spelling. Any errors could result in disqualification.
- Avoid Third-Party Agents: Be wary of third-party agents or consultants who claim to offer guaranteed results. Only use official government portals for application submission.
- Provide Proof of Exemptions: If you are claiming an exemption (e.g., statelessness or inability to obtain a passport), be prepared to provide verifiable documentation to back up your claim.
What’s Next for the Green Card Lottery Process?
The U.S. Department of State is currently seeking public feedback on the proposed passport requirements. This feedback period will remain open until September 19, 2025, allowing individuals and organizations to express their concerns or suggestions. Once the final rules are implemented, the passport requirement will become a permanent part of the green card lottery process, likely starting with the next DV Program cycle.
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