Green Card Winners Face Long Delays as USCIS Processing Times Surge

Thousands of Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery winners are facing uncertainty as U.S. immigration processing times continue to rise, putting many at risk of losing their once-in-a-lifetime chance to obtain permanent residency.

The Diversity Visa program allocates 55,000 green cards annually to applicants from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States. But in recent months, attorneys and immigration advocates have sounded the alarm: USCIS and the State Department are struggling to process cases fast enough, especially for selectees who must receive their visas before the end of the fiscal year.

A growing number of DV winners report delayed interviews, slowed background checks, and difficulty securing embassy appointments. Some have waited months beyond normal timelines — delays that could cause otherwise qualified applicants to lose their slots entirely.

Immigration analysts say the delays stem from a combination of factors, including staffing shortages, an increase in overall immigration applications, and shifting federal priorities.

While the delays affect applicants worldwide, African selectees — including many from Kenya, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Nigeria — make up some of the largest groups of DV winners and are disproportionately affected.

In Kenya, immigration forums and social media groups have filled with anxious posts from selectees worried they will not be scheduled for interviews in time. Some report that medical exams are expiring before their interviews are set, forcing them to repeat costly tests.

Many applicants say the uncertainty is taking an emotional toll.

“You win the lottery, but then you realize it’s a race against bureaucracy,” said one DV-2025 selectee in Nairobi. “If the embassy can’t process you in time, that dream just disappears.”

Attorneys emphasize that unlike other visa categories, Diversity Visa numbers do not roll over. If the fiscal year ends before a case is approved, the applicant loses eligibility permanently.

Immigration experts recommend that DV winners:

• Complete DS-260 forms as early as possible
• Monitor their case number in the Visa Bulletin
• Respond immediately to any embassy or USCIS requests
• Consider legal support if delays jeopardize their eligibility

Some advocates are calling for Congress or the State Department to authorize emergency extensions — similar to what was done during the COVID-19 pandemic — but no action has been announced.

For now, DV selectees across the globe — including hundreds of Kenyans — are anxiously watching the calendar. With processing times continuing to surge, many fear that a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity may slip away through no fault of their own.