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In about two weeks, the US Diversity Visa Lottery 2027 will open its doors to hopeful immigrants worldwide. Based on historical patterns, registration is expected to begin on October 6 and continue through early November and there is good news for Kenyans. You can apply and if you’re lucky, you will be able to move to the US to start a new life in the land of vast opportunities..
This is the DV lottery program provides individuals from countries with relatively lower levels of recent immigration to the US an opportunity to apply for a visa and permanent residency, more commonly known as a green card. You’re not going to want to miss out on this one.
Recent changes: New $1 fee
This year, things are a little different. For the first time in the program’s history, entering the lottery is no longer free. On September 16, 2025, the US Department of State published a final rule adding a $1 (about Sh 130) registration fee to the DV Lottery Program.
This new fee takes effect 30 days after publication, landing squarely on October 16, 2025. The timing creates an interesting situation since registration typically runs from early October through early November.
The other change announced by the US State Department is a proposal that visa applicants must disclose all social media handles/usernames used in the past five years when filling out forms like the DS-160. Applicants are being asked to adjust their privacy settings to public to allow embassy officers to review their online content.
The officers will be looking for signs of hostility toward US citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles and things like “advocacy for, aid or support for foreign terrorist activity” or antisemitic content.
In case you refuse to make your accounts public or hide/omit social media history, your visa application risks being delayed, flagged, or denied. The visa categories affected first in the effect of this proposal are F, M, J.
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The government justifies this fee with two main arguments.
- First, it envisages that the fee would help cover the massive cost of processing millions of entries each year.
- Second, it’s designed to discourage fake or speculative registrations that clog up the system.
Officials estimate this small fee could generate around $25 million annually for the United States.
What hasn’t changed in the US DV lottery
But here’s what hasn’t changed: if you’re selected for the program, you still have to pay the existing $330 visa application fee. The $1 is just to enter the lottery.
What makes this implementation tricky is the timing. Since the fee becomes effective in the middle of the expected registration period, DV 2027 will be the first lottery affected. The State Department hasn’t clarified whether the registration period will be adjusted or whether the new fee applies only to those registering after October 16th.
Understanding the DV Lottery program
The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program isn’t new; it was established by the Immigration Act of 1990 with a clear mission, to make America’s population more diverse by encouraging immigration from countries that historically send fewer people to the US.
Each year, the program makes over 55,000 immigrant visas available. These aren’t temporary visas; they’re green cards that lead to permanent residency and eventually citizenship. The selection process is completely random, like a true lottery. A computer program is used to pick successful candidates randomly, and only after that, can the immigration office take over to conduct a second layer of scrutiny before awarding Visas to qualifying applicants.
What makes this program unique is that winners don’t need family members or employers to sponsor them. Most other immigration pathways require some kind of existing connection to America but the DV Lottery doesn’t.
Kenya’s eligibility status
Good news for Kenyans is that the country has historically qualified for the DV Lottery. The eligibility rule is straightforward: your country must have sent fewer than 50,000 immigrants to the US over the past five years.
Countries like Canada, China, India, Mexico, and the United Kingdom hardly make it into the eligible list because they consistently send large numbers of immigrants to America. But Kenya, along with most African countries, typically qualifies year after year.
Even if Kenya weren’t eligible in a given year, you might still have options:
- If your spouse was born in an eligible country, you can apply using their country of birth.
- Alternatively, if neither of your parents were legal residents of Kenya when you were born, you could use either parent’s country of birth instead.
What are the basic requirements for US DV lottery?
To enter the DV Lottery, you must satisfy two fundamental requirements beyond country eligibility. The education requirement offers two paths.
- You can qualify with a high school diploma (KCSE), meaning you completed a formal course of elementary and secondary education comparable to finishing 12 years of schooling in the US.
- Alternatively, you can qualify through work experience, at least two years of qualifying work experience within the past five years in a profession that requires at least two years of training, as determined by the US Department of Labor.
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These requirements exist for good reason. America wants immigrants who can contribute to the economy from day one, either through education or proven work skills.
The application process
Registration happens exclusively online through the official Electronic Diversity Visa website. The government stopped accepting paper forms years ago, so everything must be done electronically during the registration period.
Here’s a critical rule: You can only submit one entry. If you submit multiple entries hoping to increase the chances of winning the lottery, all of them will be disqualified. The US Department of State has sophisticated technology that detects duplicate submissions, so don’t try to game the system.
After submitting your entry, you’ll receive a confirmation number. This number is your lifeline; without it, you cannot check whether your submission was selected. Write it down, save it in multiple places, and don’t lose it.
The registration period typically lasts four to five weeks and missing the deadline means waiting until next year, there are no exceptions. So, if you are serious about immigrating to the US, no last minute rushes thinking the deadline will be extended.
What winning the US DV lottery means
If your entry is selected, celebrate, but understand what you’ve actually won. Selection, however, doesn’t guarantee a green card. It means you have the opportunity to apply for one.
The application process involves several steps. You’ll submit Form DS-260, gather extensive documentation, schedule and complete a medical examination with an authorized physician, and attend a visa interview at a US Embassy in Nairobi, located along UN Avenue in Gigiri.
This entire process can take several months to over a year. Here’s the crucial part, you must complete everything before September 30th of the fiscal year during which your lottery took place. If you miss that deadline, your opportunity risks expiring forever.
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Essential documents you’ll need to apply for green card
When applying for your immigrant visa, you’ll need substantial documentation. From Kenya, this includes a birth certificate issued by official Kenyan authorities and police certificates covering every place you’ve lived for six months or more since age 16.
If you’ve served in the military, you’ll need military records. Any criminal convictions require court records. You’ll need a valid passport with at least six months remaining before expiration, two identical passport-style photographs, and results from your medical examination.
All documents not in English must have certified translations. Missing or inadequate documentation can delay or derail your application, so attention to detail matters enormously.
Preparing for your US interview
The visa interview is make-or-break time. All family members immigrating with you must attend. The consular officer will ask questions to verify your eligibility and assess your intentions.
Common questions include why you want to immigrate to America, details about your education and work experience, whether you have relatives in the US, your plans upon arrival, and how you’ll support yourself initially.
Preparation is key. To increase your chances of success, you need to practice your answers, be honest, and bring all required documentation. The officer wants to see that you’re genuinely qualified and have realistic plans for life in America.
Including your family
Marriage and children complicate but don’t disqualify your application. If you’re married, your spouse and all unmarried children under 21 can immigrate with you. You must list them on your initial lottery entry, even if they don’t plan to immigrate.
If you get married or have children after entering the lottery but before submitting your immigrant visa application, they can be included at that stage. But failure to list eligible family members on your initial entry can lead to disqualification.
Understanding the costs of DV lottery and US visa
Beyond the new $1 registration fee, selected applicants face additional costs. The visa application fee is $330 per person, non-refundable even if your visa is denied. Medical examinations cost extra, as do document preparation fees like obtaining certified copies of birth certificates or police clearances.
Plan for several hundred dollars per family member in total costs, not counting travel expenses to reach your interview location.
Avoiding lottery scams
The DV Lottery attracts numerous scammers who prey on hopeful immigrants. Remember these key facts: legitimate entry costs only $1 starting this year. Anyone demanding higher fees is running a scam.
The US government only notifies winners through the official Electronic Diversity Visa website. They will never call or email you about winning. Beware of fake websites that look official but charge fees for services the government provides free.
Also, only use the official government website for your application. If you need immigration assistance, partnering with an immigration lawyer will be your best option. Third-party services that offer to submit applications for fees are unnecessary and potentially fraudulent.
How easy is it to win the US DV lottery
Let’s be real about the odds. Millions of people worldwide enter the DV Lottery each year competing for slightly above 55,000 spots. This means that your chances of winning are slim, typically less than 1% and that is why it called a lottery.
But for $1, it’s worth trying if you’re eligible. Many Kenyans have successfully immigrated to America through this program over the years; someone has to win, and that could be you.
Critical timeline
Mark these dates on your calendar. Registration likely opens in early October 2025, probably on October 6th, and then it will close in early November 2025. The $1 fee takes effect October 16, 2025. Results typically become available in May 2026.
If selected, you’ll have until September 30, 2026, to complete your immigrant visa process.
The DV Lottery represents one of the few paths to US permanent residency that doesn’t require family or employer sponsorship. For Kenyans dreaming of life in America, it’s an opportunity worth pursuing.
