Cuba has once again emerged as the country with the highest number of winners in the DV-2025 Green Card Lottery for the United States, recording a total of 2,348 beneficiaries, according to figures released by the Bureau of Consular Affairs of the U.S. Department of State.
This result places the island nation at the forefront of the 22 Latin American and Caribbean countries participating in the lottery, significantly surpassing Ecuador (795 winners) and Peru (657 winners), which ranked second and third, respectively. These three countries maintained their positions from the previous draw, DV-2024, where they also stood out as the most favored in the region.
During the DV-2024 draw, Cuba set a record with 3,081 winners, the highest number of Cuban selections in two decades, a figure higher than the current year's tally. The DV-2025 lottery attracted 19.9 million applicants worldwide, a decrease of over two million compared to the previous year but still below pre-pandemic levels, like the DV-2020 draw, which had 23.1 million hopefuls.
On a global scale, Uzbekistan was the country with the most winners for the second consecutive year, with 5,564 selected, followed by Algeria, Russia, Egypt, Sudan, and Iran, all with over 5,000 winners. The lottery winners must promptly begin the visa application process to enter the U.S. starting October 1, 2024, marking the beginning of fiscal year FY2025. This process includes confirming their selection and submitting the immigrant visa application before September 2025.
Cuban winners can complete their procedures at the U.S. Embassy in Havana. During the visa interview, principal applicants must present proof of secondary education or its equivalent, or demonstrate two years of work experience in an occupation requiring at least two years of training or experience within the past five years.
This program is eagerly awaited each year by thousands of Cubans aspiring to escape the ongoing crisis in Cuba. On May 4 of this year, the U.S. announced the results of the Diversity Visa Program (DV-2025) for the fiscal year (DV-2024), confirming that 55,000 slots for permanent residency would be available to applicants from eligible countries, including Cuba. This lottery is a fast track to legal permanent residency in the U.S. and facilitates obtaining citizenship. Over 14,000 Cubans have benefited from the Green Card Lottery in the past decade.
Recently, it was announced that the registration link for the Diversity Visa Program for 2026 (DV-2026) will be available from October 5 to November 9, 2024.
DV-2025 Green Card Lottery: Key Details and Frequently Asked Questions
As the DV-2025 Green Card Lottery results have been released, many winners and applicants have questions about the next steps. Here, we address some frequently asked questions to provide clarity on the process.
What should DV-2025 winners do next?
Winners should promptly begin the visa application process, which includes confirming their selection and submitting the immigrant visa application before September 2025.
Where can Cuban winners complete their visa procedures?
Cuban winners can complete their procedures at the U.S. Embassy in Havana.
What documentation is required for the visa interview?
Principal applicants must present proof of secondary education or its equivalent, or demonstrate two years of work experience in an occupation requiring at least two years of training or experience within the past five years.
When will the registration for DV-2026 open?
The registration link for the Diversity Visa Program for 2026 (DV-2026) will be available from October 5 to November 9, 2024.