US suspends diversity visa lottery program

KATHMANDU: For thousands of hopeful applicants across Nepal and around the world, the American dream has once again been put on hold. The United States has suspended its Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery program, triggering widespread disappointment, confusion, and anxiety among those who had pinned their future plans on the annual immigration lottery.

The DV Lottery, officially known as the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, has long been one of the few accessible legal pathways for ordinary citizens from developing countries to seek permanent residency in the United States. Each year, millions apply with the hope that a randomly selected entry could change their lives. The suspension has therefore come as a major emotional setback, particularly for young people, skilled workers, and families who had invested years preparing documents, improving qualifications, and planning long-term futures around the program.

Applicants say the decision feels personal. “It wasn’t just a form we filled,” said one DV applicant from Kathmandu. “It was hope. We were planning our careers, our children’s education, and our future around it.” Many had already spent money on documentation, translations, medical planning, and English preparation, only to be left in limbo.

Migration experts note that the DV Lottery is unique because it does not prioritize wealth, political connections, or elite education. Instead, it offers a rare chance to people from countries with historically low immigration rates to the US. For Nepal, the program has been a quiet but consistent channel for legal migration, contributing to remittance flows, skills transfer, and diaspora connections.

The suspension has also raised concerns about transparency and predictability in US immigration policy. While American authorities have not permanently scrapped the program, the pause has reinforced fears that immigration pathways are becoming increasingly uncertain and subject to abrupt policy shifts. For applicants, the lack of a clear timeline or guarantee has been particularly distressing.

Recruitment agencies and migration consultants in Nepal report a surge in inquiries from confused applicants seeking clarification. “People are asking whether they should reapply, wait, or shift to other countries,” one consultant said. “The emotional toll is high, because this program represented fairness and equal opportunity.”

Beyond individual disappointment, the suspension highlights a broader global issue: shrinking legal migration routes at a time when demand for international mobility, skilled labor, and demographic balance is rising in developed economies. Analysts argue that programs like the DV Lottery not only benefit migrants but also support host countries by bringing in diverse, motivated, and economically active populations.

For now, applicants are left waiting—refreshing official websites, following rumors on social media, and hoping the suspension is temporary. Many say they will continue to apply if the program resumes, despite repeated setbacks.

“I know the odds were always low,” another applicant said, “but at least there was a chance. Now even that chance feels taken away.”

As uncertainty hangs over the DV Lottery, thousands remain suspended between hope and disappointment, watching closely to see whether the door to the US will reopen—or quietly close for good.