Step by guide on how to check your US Visa Lottery results

The United States Department of State has released US Visa Lottery results, the DV-2026 Diversity Visa Lottery, allowing applicants who submitted entries between October 2 and November 7, 2024, to check their status online via the official Entrant Status Check portal: https://dvprogram.state.gov/ESC/.

The announcement

The announcement offers a fresh chance for hopeful immigrants from eligible countries, including Ghana, to pursue legal permanent residency in the United States.

To verify selection, applicants must visit the Diversity Visa Lottery website and input their confirmation number, last name, and birth year. The results will remain accessible until 30 September 2026 of the US Visa Lottery results

The Diversity Visa Program, commonly known as the Green Card Lottery, offers up to 55,000 immigrant visas annually to individuals from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States. While the program is open to many African nations, including Ghana, some countries have been excluded from the DV-2026 cycle due to high recent migration numbers to the U.S.

Not eligible countries

Nationals of Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (including Hong Kong SAR), Colombia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Korea, Venezuela, and Vietnam are not eligible to participate in the DV-2026 programme.

The U.S. State Department has emphasized that it does not notify selected applicants by email or letter. “For those checking their status, remember we do not send selection notifications by email or post,” the department stated. “Entrants must check their status themselves using the online portal.” Officials have warned the public to be cautious of fraudulent messages requesting money or personal information under the pretext of DV Lottery selection.

Being selected in the lottery does not automatically guarantee a visa. It merely qualifies the individual to apply for one. Since the number of visas is limited and applications are processed in the order received, selected entrants are advised to act quickly and carefully.

After selection

After selection, applicants are expected to complete Form DS-260, the immigrant visa application, through the U.S. State Department’s Immigrant/Diversity Visa portal. They must then wait for an interview appointment to be scheduled at a U.S. embassy or consulate. During this interview, consular officers will assess the applicant’s eligibility for the visa. If approved, the individual will be granted permanent resident status and receive a Green Card, permitting lawful residence and employment in the United States.

Applicants who have misplaced their confirmation numbers can retrieve them using the “Forgot Confirmation Number” tool available on the DV Lottery website.

The visa issuance period runs from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026. Those who do not complete the process within this window will lose their eligibility for the DV-2026 programme. The U.S. Embassy urges all participants to rely on official sources and avoid intermediaries or unofficial agents.

How to Use the DV Lottery Entrant Status Check

Hold onto the confirmation number that you were given when you submitted your lottery entry because you will need it to use the Entrant Status Check. If you lost it, you can retrieve it on the Entrant Status Check website if you know the email address you used to register for the lottery and certain personal information that will confirm your identity. Don’t ask the State Department to give you your confirmation number any other way—they won’t be able to.

Enter your confirmation number (a 16-digit number beginning with the year of the DV Lottery that you applied for, such as 2023 or 2024), your last name, and your year of birth. Authenticate by typing the characters shown in the box.

People who are selected in the lottery will receive good news and information on how to apply for an immigrant visa (if living abroad) or how to adjust your status (if currently in the U.S. and eligible to adjust).

Don’t Fall Prey to Visa Lottery Scams

Again, Entrant Status Check is the only way to find out whether you are selected for the DV Lottery. The U.S. government does not send you any notifications.

Many unscrupulous individuals have promised DV applicants that they can get moved to the front of the line, get more entries, or obtain similar preferential treatment if they pay a fee. Other fraudsters have sent emails posing as the U.S. government, supposedly notifying recipients that they have won the DV lottery and advising them how to pay a fee for an immigrant visa.

These are all scams used to get your personal information and profit off your hopes for a chance to live and work in the United States.

What’s Next If You ‘Win’ the Visa Lottery?

Winners have had luck on their side so far but will need more luck in order to actually obtain a green card. Unfortunately, that isn’t guaranteed.

The U.S. government always declares more winners than there are green cards available. That means if you don’t follow up quickly or receive your interview on time, the supply could run out. And most of the hard work lies ahead, in terms of filling out application forms, gathering documents, and scheduling an interview. You will need to prove that you meet the work or educational requirements and are otherwise admissible to the United States.

The procedures

Exactly what procedures you’ll need to follow after winning depends on where you live:

If you’re outside the United States, the nearest U.S. consulate will advise you when it’s time to take the next steps in submitting your application.
If you’re living in the United States, see Won the Diversity Visa Lottery and Living in the U.S.? Where to Process Your Green Card for information on the process known as “adjustment of status,” which involves applying to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
The potential for delay in either of these processes is serious. Both the State Department and USCIS are often so backed up that months go by with no action, causing you to miss your opportunity altogether.

Another issue is that you will need to show that you are not “inadmissible” to the United States. For example, if you have been arrested for committing certain crimes, are considered a security risk, or are afflicted with certain physical or mental illnesses, you may be prevented from receiving a green card. Also, you must prove that you’ll be able to support yourself financially in the United States (will not likely become a “public charge,” reliant on government assistance). This can be a huge challenge for lottery winners. (For more, see Inadmissibility: When the U.S. Can Keep You Out.)

Getting Legal Help

For all of the reasons described above, it is a good idea to seek the assistance of an experienced attorney. with applying for your immigrant visa or green card. The attorney can analyze whether you have any issues with inadmissibility, prepare the forms help you gather the other needed paperwork, and monitor your progress toward timely approval of lawful permanent residence.