DV-2026 Green Card Lottery Results Are Out — Here’s What You Need to Know
So, it’s official — the results for the DV-2026 Diversity Visa Lottery (a.k.a. the Green Card Lottery) are finally out. If you applied anytime between October 2 and November 7, 2024, you can now check to see if you got selected. This came straight from the U.S. Department of State — they opened up the portal on May 3, 2025, at noon Eastern Time.
Honestly, it’s a huge moment for a lot of people hoping to start a new life in the U.S., so if you entered, now’s the time to take it seriously and check your status.
How You Can Check If You Got Selected
Alright, so if you want to know whether or not your name was picked, don’t expect an email or anything fancy in the mail. That’s just not how this works — the government doesn’t contact you directly. You’ve got to check it yourself through their official site.
Here’s how:
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You’ll need:
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The confirmation number you got when you applied
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Your last name
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Year of birth
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And that little code they show you on the screen for verification
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Make sure you’re using the real website. There are a lot of scams out there, and some people will try to trick you by saying you won and asking for money — just ignore all that. The only place you should trust is the official U.S. government page.
What If You’re Selected? Here’s What Happens Next
First off — congratulations. Seriously, getting selected is a big deal. But it’s just the beginning. You haven’t “won” a green card yet. There are still a few things you’ve got to do, and it’s important to move fast because there’s a limit on how many visas they hand out.
Here’s what’s next:
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Fill out the DS-260 form (that’s your visa application)
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Get all your civil and financial documents together
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Wait for your visa interview (you’ll be told when and where)
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Get a medical exam from a doctor approved by the U.S. embassy
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And yes, there are fees to pay as part of the process
Everything has to be done right and on time. Just because your name got picked doesn’t mean your visa is guaranteed. You still have to meet all the eligibility rules and finish everything before the deadline.
Important Deadlines You Shouldn’t Miss
A lot of people forget that there’s a time limit on all this. If you’re selected and you don’t act fast enough, you could miss your shot.
Here’s the basic timeline:
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You can check your result starting May 3, 2025
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All processing (interviews, paperwork, etc.) has to be done by September 30, 2026
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Visa interviews officially begin October 1, 2025
It’s first-come, first-served. So don’t wait too long or assume you’ve got forever. The earlier you get your stuff in, the better your chances.
Watch Out for Scams and Fake Info
This part is super important. No one can boost your chances of winning, and no one legit is going to ask you for money to help you “get picked.” The entry to the DV Lottery is completely free. If someone says otherwise, they’re scamming you.
The U.S. government doesn’t work with outside agencies or private “visa consultants” for this lottery. Always check updates directly from the official website and don’t fall for anything that feels off.
Quick Recap on Who Could Apply
The whole point of this program is to bring in people from countries that don’t usually send a lot of immigrants to the U.S. For DV-2026, most countries in Africa were eligible, except Nigeria — that’s just based on immigration numbers in past years.
If you were born in one of the qualifying countries and you applied during the entry period, then you had a fair shot.
