53,000 Africans Selected for US Green Cards Face Deadline

The US Diversity Visa programme for 2026 has selected 53,939 prospective applicants from 49 African countries, including their spouses and children. Egypt leads with 5,527 applicants, followed by Algeria (5,457) and Sudan (5,226).

The programme offers 55,000 immigrant visas annually to eligible applicants from countries with historically low immigration to the US. However, selected applicants face a critical September 30, 2026 deadline to obtain their visas or adjust their status, as failure to do so means they cannot carry their selection into the next fiscal year.

Compounding the issue is a recent suspension of Diversity Visa issuance by the US State Department, linked to a review of security screening procedures. Although applicants can submit documents and attend interviews, visa issuance is on hold.

A temporary federal court ruling on August 28 allowed some processing to continue, but a new suspension was announced on August 31, creating uncertainty for applicants.