US Court Orders Start of 2027 Diversity Visa Lottery Registration; Bangladeshis Face Uncertainty

A US federal court has ordered the registration process for the 2027 Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery to begin, but uncertainty remains over whether Bangladeshi citizens will be eligible to apply.

Bangladesh has been ineligible for the programme since 2012 because of its high level of immigration to the United States in previous years. Whether Bangladeshi applicants will be allowed to participate in the upcoming lottery will depend on the US Department of State's official announcement.

Under the court's order, the department must announce the registration schedule by October 29 and begin accepting applications for the 2027 programme by November 1.

The development has generated interest in Bangladesh, with prospective applicants seeking information about registration procedures and eligibility requirements. However, the key question for Bangladeshi citizens remains whether the country will be included in the list of eligible countries for the upcoming lottery.

Until the US Department of State issues an official announcement, eligibility for Bangladeshi applicants cannot be confirmed.

Why Bangladesh Is Ineligible
According to information published by the US Embassy in Dhaka, Bangladesh lost its eligibility for the Diversity Visa programme in 2012.

More than 50,000 Bangladeshis immigrated to the United States through the programme between 2007 and 2012, resulting in the country being excluded from the list of eligible nations.

The Diversity Visa programme is designed to provide immigration opportunities to people from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States.

The programme generally makes up to 55,000 immigrant visas available annually and is widely known as the Green Card Lottery.

Who Can Apply for the DV Lottery?
Unlike many employment-based immigration programmes, the Diversity Visa Lottery generally does not require applicants to have a job offer from a US employer or employer sponsorship.

However, being selected in the lottery does not guarantee a Green Card. Successful applicants must meet all eligibility requirements, submit the necessary documentation and complete the required immigration and security checks.

Applicants generally need to have completed a high school education or its equivalent. Alternatively, qualifying work experience in an occupation that meets the programme's requirements may satisfy the eligibility criteria.

Applicants must also meet other applicable requirements established by the US authorities.

Registration Schedule and Eligibility Details Awaited
According to a report by Forbes, the registration period could remain open for 30 days. However, the final schedule, list of eligible countries, application requirements and registration procedures for the 2027 Diversity Visa Lottery will need to be confirmed through official announcements from the US Department of State.

For Bangladeshi citizens, the most important outstanding issue is whether Bangladesh will regain eligibility for the programme.

Until the US authorities clarify the country's status, prospective applicants should avoid assuming that they can submit an eligible application and should rely on official government announcements for updates.