Visas: Enhancing Vetting and Combatting Fraud in the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program
This is a proposal open for comment, not a rule in force. It may never be finalised, and it creates no obligation today.
The Department of State ("Department") proposes to amend regulations governing the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program ("DV Program") to improve the integrity and combat fraud in the program. The Department proposes to require petitioners to the DV Program to provide valid, unexpired passport information and a scan of the biographic and signature page uploaded to their electronic entry form, or otherwise indicate that they are exempt from this requirement. Additionally, the Department also proposes to standardize and amend language in 22 CFR part 42, including by adding the word "shall" to simplify guidance for consular officers; ensuring the use of the term "sex" in lieu of "gender" as mandated by Executive Order 14168; and replacing the term "age" in 22 CFR 42.33(h)(1)(i) with the phrase "date of birth" to accurately reflect the information collected and maintained by the Department during the immigrant visa process.
What this means
- This is a proposal open for comment, not a rule. It changes nothing today, and it may be altered or never finalised. (classification: proposed_rule)
- This document sets a rule but leaves the list of who it covers to a separate government determination, so who is affected cannot be read from this document alone. (impact.scopeDefinedElsewhere)
- The document states a requirement for the people it covers. The exact wording is quoted above — whether it applies to any particular person depends on facts this platform does not have. (impact.actionRequired)
Derived from this event’s own recorded fields — not written by a model, and not an interpretation of anyone’s case.
Who is affected
This document sets the rule but leaves the specific list of who it covers to a separate government determination. The list is not in this document, so we do not show one here — check the issuing agency's own published list. “An alien will be eligible to compete for consideration for visa issuance under INA 203(c) during a fiscal year only if he or she is a native of a low-admission foreign state, as determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security pursuant to INA 203(c)(1)(E), with respect to the fiscal year in question; and if he or she has at least a high school education or its equivalent or, within…”
What the document says may be required
The document states a requirement for those it covers. The exact obligation, and whether it applies to a particular person, depends on the document's own terms — the relevant passage is quoted below.
“Written comments and related materials must be received on or before midnight Eastern Daylight Time on September 19, 2025.”
Assembled from the source document, not from anyone's individual circumstances. Whether a change applies to a specific person depends on facts this platform does not have. This is data context, not legal advice.
- This is a PROPOSED rule. It is not in force, may change before finalisation, and may never be finalised.