The United States is tightening rules governing its long-running Green Card lottery program, introducing stricter identity verification requirements for applicants while keeping the core structure of the system largely intact. Legal experts say the changes are unlikely to lead to the exclusion of Russian citizens from participating in the lottery, despite broader shifts in US immigration policy and mounting geopolitical tensions.
The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, commonly known as the Green Card lottery, distributes tens of thousands of immigrant visas each year to individuals from countries with relatively low rates of immigration to the United States. Administered by the US State Department, the program has for decades served as one of the most accessible legal pathways to permanent residency for people around the world.
Under new regulations announced by the US government, applicants will soon be required to submit more detailed identity documentation at the initial stage of the lottery process. Beginning April 10, 2026, every applicant must provide valid, unexpired passport information and upload a digital scan of the passport’s biographic and signature pages when submitting an entry.
The rule is part of a broader effort by the State Department to strengthen vetting procedures and reduce fraud in the application process. Officials say the requirement will make it harder for individuals to submit multiple entries under false identities or fabricated personal information. The policy shift follows growing concern in Washington about fraud in the Green Card lottery program, which attracts millions of applicants worldwide each year.
According to regulatory documents published in the Federal Register, the updated system requires Diversity Visa applicants to include passport data directly in the electronic entry form, with entries lacking proper documentation subject to automatic disqualification. The changes are designed to enhance oversight and combat misuse of the Diversity Visa program, one of the most widely recognized immigration pathways in the United States.
Under US law, the lottery makes up to 50,000 immigrant visas available each year through a random selection process among eligible applicants from countries with historically low immigration levels.
The Diversity Visa program has long faced scrutiny from policymakers concerned about security screening and potential abuse of the lottery system. Over the years, US administrations from both major political parties have proposed reforms aimed at tightening verification procedures while preserving the program’s core objective of diversifying immigration to the country.
Immigration attorney Elizabeth Krukova told RIA Novosti that the introduction of stricter documentation requirements should not be interpreted as a signal that specific nationalities will be removed from the lottery. In her view, the new rules primarily reflect administrative adjustments designed to strengthen oversight of the application process.
“Historically, eligibility in the Diversity Visa program has depended largely on the number of immigrants coming from a particular country or region,” she said. “Unless immigration data show that an unusually high number of Russian nationals are immigrating through existing channels, there is no clear basis for excluding them from participation.”
The lawyer noted that participation in the lottery is determined primarily by statistical thresholds established under US immigration law. Countries that send large numbers of immigrants to the United States through family-based or employment-based channels may be excluded from the lottery if they exceed certain quotas over a five-year period.
That framework means eligibility decisions are typically based on long-term migration trends rather than short-term diplomatic tensions. As a result, analysts say Russian nationals remain likely to retain access to the lottery unless immigration levels from Russia rise significantly.
The Diversity Visa program was established by the US Congress in 1990 with the aim of expanding immigration opportunities for people from countries that historically sent relatively few migrants to the United States. Each year approximately 50,000 immigrant visas are issued through the program to selected applicants from around the world.
Officials say the updated regulations introduce stricter identity verification requirements intended to curb widespread fraud and duplicate entries that have plagued the lottery for years.
The changes will also require applicants to provide valid passport information and upload a scan of the passport during the entry process. The requirement is expected to significantly reduce fraudulent submissions filed by third-party agents using fabricated or stolen personal details.
The updated regulations also revise certain terminology used in the application process and clarify eligibility rules. These technical adjustments are designed to align the program’s administrative framework with modern data-collection standards and immigration regulations.
Previous attempts to impose similar documentation requirements faced legal challenges in US courts, but the latest rule was introduced through a formal regulatory process that included public consultation and federal review.
Supporters of the change argue that requiring passport documentation will significantly reduce fraudulent applications. Government officials have previously reported discovering millions of duplicate or manipulated entries in previous lottery cycles.
Critics, however, warn that stricter documentation requirements could create barriers for applicants in countries where obtaining passports is expensive or administratively difficult. In some regions, passport processing can take months and requires extensive documentation.
The debate reflects broader tensions within the United States over immigration policy and how the government should balance national security concerns with maintaining accessible legal migration pathways.
Despite these debates, the Diversity Visa program remains one of the few immigration pathways in the United States that relies primarily on random selection rather than family sponsorship or employment-based visas. The program also exists alongside other immigration routes such as the H-1B visa program, which targets skilled workers entering the US labor market.
For many applicants around the world, the lottery represents a rare chance to secure legal permanent residence without the lengthy waiting periods associated with other immigration categories.
Millions of people submit entries each year, often applying repeatedly over several years. The odds of selection vary widely depending on the number of applicants from each region and the allocation of visas determined by immigration authorities.
For Russian applicants, participation in the program has remained possible despite diplomatic tensions between Moscow and Washington. Immigration experts say many individuals continue to explore global immigration pathways as political and economic conditions shift across different regions.
Even when selected, applicants must still complete several additional steps before receiving a Green Card. These include security screenings, medical examinations and interviews conducted at US embassies or consulates.
For Russian nationals, those interviews are often conducted in third countries because visa services at the US Embassy in Moscow remain limited.
Despite logistical hurdles, immigration lawyers say interest in the lottery remains strong. Many prospective migrants see the program as a unique opportunity to build a new life in the United States.
For now, legal experts say the latest regulatory changes should be viewed primarily as administrative reforms rather than political decisions targeting specific nationalities.
“The government is essentially adjusting the mechanics of how the lottery operates,” Krukova said. “But the underlying obligation to run the program each year remains in place.”
As the April 2026 implementation date approaches, prospective applicants around the world are expected to adapt to the new documentation requirements. For millions hoping to immigrate legally, the lottery continues to represent a small but meaningful chance to obtain permanent residence in the United States.
