US Green Card Lottery: India Excluded

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Indian nationals have been completely barred from the US green card lottery until at least 2028.

Story Highlights

Indians excluded from green card lottery through 2028 due to exceeding immigration limits
Over one million Indians already waiting for permanent residency in backlogged system
Diversity visa program caps countries at 50,000 immigrants over five years to maintain balance
Indian immigration surged from 93,000 in 2021 to 127,000 in 2022, far exceeding program limits

Massive Immigration Volumes Trigger Exclusion

The United States announced on October 15th that Indian nationals cannot participate in the diversity visa lottery until at least 2028. This exclusion stems from India’s overwhelming immigration numbers that far exceed the program’s designed limits. The diversity visa program, commonly known as the green card lottery, restricts participation to countries that have sent fewer than 50,000 immigrants over a five-year period. India’s immigration figures have consistently shattered these thresholds, with 93,000 Indians immigrating in 2021, 127,000 in 2022, and 78,000 in 2023.

Watch: Indians Not Eligible For US Green Card Lottery Until At Least 2028 | Spotlight | N18G

Program Design Protects Immigration Balance

The diversity visa lottery serves a specific constitutional purpose: maintaining balanced immigration that prevents any single nation from dominating America’s immigrant population. This system ensures smaller countries have pathways to permanent residency while preventing large-scale demographic shifts that could overwhelm local communities and job markets. The 50,000 immigrant threshold over five years represents a thoughtful approach to managing immigration flows. India’s exclusion demonstrates the program is working as intended, protecting American workers and communities from uncontrolled mass immigration while preserving opportunities for genuine diversity.

Backlog Crisis Affects Over One Million Indians

More than one million Indians currently residing in the United States are trapped in permanent residency backlogs, many waiting several years for green card processing. This massive backlog illustrates how unchecked immigration from high-volume countries creates systemic problems that hurt both American citizens and legal immigrants seeking orderly pathways to residency. The current administration inherited this crisis from years of mismanaged immigration policies that prioritized volume over sustainable processing capacity. These backlogs strain government resources and create uncertainty for families following legal immigration procedures.