The US Department of State has announced a new $1 (about Sh130) registration fee for the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery, making it the first time in its history that entries will not be completely free for applicants. The $1 charge is in addition to the $330 (Sh43,000) DV Lottery fee paid by applicants who are selected. The new fee will take effect with the DV-2027 cycle, which begins in October 2025.
Paper cheques and money orders will not be accepted for DV registrations. However, major credit and debit cards approved by the US State Department can be used. According to State Department rules, payments must be made online at the time of registration through the official DV entry portal. The $1 registration fee is non-refundable, even if an applicant cancels, withdraws, or is not selected.
Most aspects of the DV-2027 programme remain unchanged. Approximately 55,000 green cards will be randomly awarded to winners from eligible countries, and Kenya continues to be one of them.
The US State Department explains that the new fee was introduced to ensure a fairer distribution of the costs associated with administering the DV Lottery. Previously, only lottery winners paid the $330 immigrant visa fee, while millions of unsuccessful applicants paid nothing. Under the new rules, each of the estimated 25 million annual registrants will contribute $1, helping to spread the cost more evenly rather than placing the burden solely on the 55,000 winners.
The department hopes to raise over $25 million annually from DV Lottery applicants to fund system upgrades, including enhanced fraud detection and cybersecurity measures.
Typically, the registration period opens in early October and runs through early November. The DV-2027 entry period is expected to follow this schedule, with the new fee rule in effect. The $1 fee must be paid at the time of entry through the government portal; no payments will be accepted after submission.
Kenyans should monitor the Department of State website at travel.state.gov for the official start and end dates of DV-2027. Once announced, State Department officials hope the nominal $1 electronic fee will help reduce fraudulent, fake, and computer-generated bulk entries. Kenyans should also be cautious of fake registration support sites operated by malicious actors seeking to exploit innocent DV Lottery applicants.
Improved cybersecurity is expected to deter unscrupulous dealers who previously automated millions of fake entries. The $1 fee is intended to curb these unethical practices.
Good luck to all DV-2027 applicants. If you win one of the 55,000 green cards on offer, be sure to schedule your visa appointment as soon as possible.
