The government have released the annual visa issuances for DV lottery cases along with some other categories. You can see the per country, regional and global totals at this link. The global number of visas issued were 49067. Remember this does not include DV cases processed in the USA by adjustment of status which is probably 1000 to 1500 more. So – the 50,000 limit was exceeded – and this explains why they put the brakes on at the end of the year.
Since they treated the 50,000 as a panic stop, I suspect they have always wanted to enforce 50,000, but have exceeded it in some years either as a deliberate decision (to use some NACARA visas) or simply through a lack of good controls/timely data. Going forward, I expect we will see 50,000 as the limit.
Egypt exceeded the 7% limit by a few cases. This is essentially a mistake. Nepal also was very close to the limit.
December 18, 2017 at 07:49
Thank you Brit Simon!!!
This website has become a critical resource as we navigate the Diversity Lottery process
My husband was selected for the OC region in DV2018 (around case number 18xx).
In DV2017 all OC cases became current, but in DV2018 the number of selectees for OC increased.
What do you think our chances are of getting an interview and our case number going current?
If we have a high case number but have submitted all the paperwork, and cases below our number have either:
(a) not submitted the ds260 or
(b) have not passed the ds260 review
does that improve our position?
I’ve read some posts about interviews being scheduled above the current published case number for a region.
I was also wondering whether having kids may reduce our chances of being processed and interviewed if we are close to the final cut off number for OC?
Cheers
December 18, 2017 at 16:49
I think your chances are very, very low. Because every case includes derivatives, there are around 2600 ahead of you – MANY of which won’t proceed, but even so, there are only about 800 visas for OC region.
Your DS260 date doesn’t matter, and having kids makes no difference. No case can be interviewed before being current, not for any reason.
December 14, 2017 at 19:43
Simon thank you very much for your help. After reading all the experiences here there is no reason for me to worry why I can’t track my case. I only understand that my visa will be ready next year 2018 . I have a very good case number and I am among the very first 2018 dv winners to go for an interview in November. Since it has been approved I can only patiently wait to receive my passport next January when they start issuing 2018 visas. Thanks so much Simon
December 7, 2017 at 02:38
LONG time listener, first time caller here!
I know you said the cut off for OC region the highest number is 3863, and there is no point in asking if your numbers are safe if you are below 13XX (My number is just over the half way mark between 13XX – 14XX)
But then when i see 2017 data issuance, OC highest number is 695 green cards.
I know there is a high drop out rate in OC area, but here is my dilemma- me and my partner have been together for 6 years, so we know that to both go we need to get married, and quickly. But i don’t want to have a quick wedding if it turns out that we could have taken our time. We are planning based on previous years interviewing times, to get married in May.
But now reading this i have become confused. What hope do i have with a number higher than 13XX and lower then 14XX if they only issue 695 GC to the OC region?
Simon- thanks for all the info you put here- I basically just read your website to get my info, its so much easier and clearer to understand than the gov. websites and when i move to the states i wish i could send you some beer. (or gin)
December 7, 2017 at 06:04
OK, you are a little confused between selectees and case numbers. If a married couple have 2 kids and they are winners, they share one case number but are 4 of the 3863. So in reality the highest case numbers assigned in OC are about 2600.
Then, you should understand that not all case numbers respond, and not all are approved. So – nearly 800 Ocers got GCs in 2017 (your number does not include AOS cases) BUT that doesn’t mean case numbers can’t go to the numbers I have mentioned.
Your number isn’t really very risky. It just isn’t.
December 6, 2017 at 14:53
Just for information only. One of selectee in DV2017 with case number EU30xxx had interview in May 5th,2017. For May, isn’t it a high case number? Because if it was 30xxx in May, thinking that 4 months more, could the max cut off number be bigger than 35000 or more?
December 6, 2017 at 17:48
DV2017 was unusual. Don’t try and compare DV2018 to DV2017.
December 6, 2017 at 11:01
Thanks mr Simon.
December 6, 2017 at 05:13
thanks
December 5, 2017 at 08:06
Hello Brit sir,
I heard that the case number of 2017 has been reopened is it true or not if it is true than my case number is 7501
Waiting for your possitive response
December 5, 2017 at 14:52
Not true.
December 5, 2017 at 02:00
Hello Brit sir,
I am winner from Nepal. I wanna ask you one thing. In this blog you wrote that ‘Nepal also was very close to the limit’ . What does this mean?
Will DV 2018 exist for Nepal?
December 5, 2017 at 03:40
It really is clear if you read the whole thing rather than picking the sentence that applied to Nepal. DV2018 is going on now, including Nepal.
December 3, 2017 at 22:57
This is for the winners of 2018 DV,right?
is it about the number of DV 2017 winners ?
I am confused. Thank you so much
December 4, 2017 at 04:42
It is about DV2017, NOT DV2018.
December 4, 2017 at 04:51
Did you even bother to read the title? It is about the winners that were issued a visa in DV 2017. There is nothing related to DV 2018. I don’t understand what is so confusing to you! Simon always explains everything so clearly and the title says “DV2017”, it’s the first word in the title. Please, everybody, stop wasting Simon’s time with stupid questions!
December 4, 2017 at 14:47
LOL
December 1, 2017 at 21:51
Hi Brits,
How do u see the case of Cameroon considering that just 1206 visas were issued in 2017 dv. Should we expect an increase this year since more applications have been selected this year? (3700 selected for dv 2018)
December 1, 2017 at 21:59
Probably.
December 1, 2017 at 18:56
The distribution in South America is completely unequal, we cannot be held to the same 7% standard as other regions as we are much smaller. Venezuela is taking everything.
December 1, 2017 at 19:05
First. The 7% limit played NO PART in the South America numbers. You misunderstand what the 7% rule is about.
Second. The number of selectees a country get (and of course therefore the number of visas issued in the end) is purely based on the distribution of entries into the lottery. There is NOTHING stopping people in other SA countries entering the lottery, and if more non Venezuelan people entered, there would be more visas for countries other than Venezuela. The chances of selection are IDENTICAL for each country in SA.
December 6, 2017 at 15:33
Hello, Walton, where are you from? I’m from Ecuador, my case is 7XX, and at this moment the number in SA is 500. I hope they call me for the interview in March; if the trend is maintained.
December 6, 2017 at 15:51
Hey! I’m from Ecuador too. Case 6XX. Guayaquil?
December 6, 2017 at 15:59
Me too I m from GYE. Congratulation, you have a very good number. Hopefully, the trend will continue. Can you give me an advise when you have the interview? My email [email protected]
December 1, 2017 at 14:59
Hi brit, i want to take this time to say thanks ever so much for your continue help,i am from Africa ,Liberia my visa was approved yerterday
i will give my interview experience later
December 1, 2017 at 15:16
Congratulations!
December 8, 2017 at 16:59
Hi Natt,I am Helena Mulbah from Liberia,please call or email me at [email protected] phone# 0775701418/0886701418. I’m also a winner from Liberia.we need to talk.
December 1, 2017 at 11:07
Dear Brit,
how this will affect the winners of the 2018?
December 1, 2017 at 15:15
It doesn’t affect DV2018.
December 1, 2017 at 07:37
A hard-working country that absorbs more than have a million people every year. Respect. Thank you for sharing this, Simon.
December 1, 2017 at 06:22
Hi Brit
Im trying tp see the exact figures for dv cases applied and dv visas issued,somehow I cant read.the chart is comfusing me,eg.for.South africa it says 209 for.diversity visa,can you explain please,how many people applied in Sputh.africa specifically
December 1, 2017 at 06:39
I don’t know.
December 1, 2017 at 07:48
The total number of people who applied for 2017 DV as South Africa as country of eligibility is NOT mentioned in the report. The report only tells that only 209 lucky people were selected in the program.
December 1, 2017 at 15:12
No – this is people APPROVED.
December 1, 2017 at 05:53
Hello sir,
Greeting from Nepal
It means 2018 dv winner of nepal have less chance for visa ??
December 1, 2017 at 05:56
It has nothing to do with DV2018.
December 1, 2017 at 00:40
Hi,
These visas used for 2017 or they may use 2017- 2018?
Regards
Abdul HADI
December 1, 2017 at 02:54
These are visas ISSUED in DV2017
December 1, 2017 at 05:29
Thank you very much.
Regards,
Abdul HADI
November 30, 2017 at 23:05
Yea Brits thats right. This agent issue in Ghana is really unbecoming.
I just thank God i have been in control of my case right from application till date.
Thanks very much Brits
November 30, 2017 at 22:07
Thanks for information. I look visa stats in travel state gov.I got a sum of DV visas that issued in October. With derivates appr. 2780 visa issued for the first month. Isn’t it a low partipation. Only EU first bulletin cut off number was 2200. AF was 8000. I think and I believe your estimations about final cut off will be accurate.
November 30, 2017 at 22:17
The first month’s are always slow (AP cases)
November 30, 2017 at 22:28
Thank for your reply. But anyway I am really relax after this data review. Perhaps the cut off number will increase more faster before April 2018. I hope and wish, everyone get visas. Stay tunned britsimonsays.com
November 30, 2017 at 21:53
Is the number for recipient and their derivatives or recipient only?
November 30, 2017 at 22:18
Derivatives too
November 30, 2017 at 21:17
Hey dear Brit,how do you see Ethiopian cases?is it beyond visa’s compared to previous year?
November 30, 2017 at 21:25
No surprise.
November 30, 2017 at 20:22
Hello Simon,
Hope you are doing well.
Also found this link – are those visas issued in october 2017 as stated (including DV )? Seems that EU region was issued c.a. 1384 visas (could make mistake – I was counting very fast) out of 2600 CN current in october. So seems that your explanations are very accurate. I have one question about limited countries – you said that some countries are limited during draw and there are no selectees from those countries in higher CN. But on the same site i can see that in june, july, august and even september there were still visas issued for countries (Russia, U2, that should be theoretically limited (at least there was big drop in CN density). Is this because of late DS-260 processing and low CN were called late? Or any other reason?
https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Statistics/Immigrant-Statistics/MonthlyIVIssuances/OCTOBER%202017%20-%20IV%20Issuances%20by%20FSC%20and%20Visa%20Class.pdf
Best Regards
Karol
November 30, 2017 at 18:40
Thank you,simon iam on the terrior because i am dv 2018 sellected from ethiopia
November 30, 2017 at 17:07
So about the countries on travel who wins. Dv2017 do they will get a visa or not
November 30, 2017 at 20:20
DV2017 is over.
November 30, 2017 at 16:54
Wow, thanks for the update Simon, we hope to also go tru come May Next year. My prayer is for this opportunity to remain and not cancelled like Trump is pushing.
November 30, 2017 at 16:53
what ??!!!! is that how low dv visas were approved in Ghana ?
am really shocked
Brits you always talk about Accra embassy and how problematic they can be
am really scared and very surprised.
God be Ghanaian’s helper
November 30, 2017 at 19:33
You also noticed right!!. I am not surprised though. It’s largely due to the influence of those unscrupulous agents who convince selectees to submit fake documents and engage in sham marriages. This situation is seriously affecting unsuspecting innocent cases.
And the annoying thing is that these agents make it seem that the problem lies with the COs. It’s high time Ghanaians do away with these agents and spent some time to go through the process themselves. This will definitely improve our lot in the dv lottery
November 30, 2017 at 20:23
@Akoto and @Fasham Yes it is extremely sad that so few cases get approved in Ghana, but I agree with Fasham, this is because of agents BUT ALSO because Ghanaians go along with these ideas to lie and use fake documents. Ghanaians need to reject agents, and use nothing but truthful statements and documents. That is up to Ghanaians. It is not the “fault” of the embassy.
November 30, 2017 at 21:01
Hi Brit, so sad and such a shame that 3,170 applicants were selected for Ghana yet only 796 (25%) were approved – such a shame. I hope DV2018 selectees who are currently preparing for their interviews will learn lessons from this and do the right thing.
December 1, 2017 at 06:13
That is right
November 30, 2017 at 16:48
Hi Simon, seeing this visa number make me bit sad, some question:
1. Do you think the odd of getting GC is getting much tougher? Because from previous year, it was over 100k with derrivative
2. Or simply because those got interviewed has no problem, and immediately get their gc?
3. Or the hole in GC process significantly reduce?
Thanks
November 30, 2017 at 20:51
No, you misunderstand. This is the NORMAL number of ISSUED visas. It has never been 100k.
November 30, 2017 at 16:43
Thank you Simon.
Can You share with us the previous year report to compare?
thank u
November 30, 2017 at 21:21
Lots of data here: https://www.dhs.gov/immigration-statistics
November 30, 2017 at 16:42
Wow I can see how Venezuela got mayor case number Diversity Immigrants, this stadist could give us an idea about of development