Will they require English in the Visa Lottery? What you need to know about the 2026 process - Univision
Key Takeaways
- There is no English-language requirement to enter or win the 2026 Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery, according to Univision’s report.
- DV eligibility hinges on country of chargeability and either education (high school or equivalent) or qualifying work experience.
- There is no fee to submit a DV entry and, since a 2022 court ruling, a passport is not required to enter; fees apply only if selected.
- Results are checked only at the State Department’s Entrant Status Check website; beware of scams and paid “guarantees.”
- Selected applicants must file the DS-260, complete consular processing (or adjust status in the U.S.) and receive a visa or green card number by September 30 of the program year.
Rumor vs. Reality: No English Test for DV-2026
It has been reported that social media posts sparked confusion about a new English requirement for the Diversity Visa Lottery. Univision’s piece makes clear that no such rule applies to the DV-2026 program. The State Department, which runs the lottery, has not added an English proficiency test to enter or be selected. While English can help new arrivals integrate and, later, naturalize (most applicants for U.S. citizenship must pass English and civics tests), it is not a condition for DV entry or selection.
What the Diversity Visa Really Requires
The DV program — often called the “visa lottery” — allocates up to 55,000 immigrant visas annually to nationals of countries with historically low levels of immigration to the United States. Eligibility has two pillars: (1) you must be chargeable to an eligible country (the list is updated each year in the official instructions), and (2) you must have either a high school education or its equivalent (generally completion of a 12-year course of formal education) or two years of qualifying work experience within the past five years in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience, as defined by the U.S. Department of Labor’s O*NET.
There is no fee to submit an online entry, and — after a 2022 federal court decision vacated a prior rule — you do not need a passport just to enter. If selected, you’ll pay government fees later in the process: for consular processing, the State Department’s diversity visa fee is due at the interview; applicants in the United States who choose adjustment of status instead file with USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) and pay the relevant USCIS form fees. Only one entry per person is allowed each year, but spouses may each submit an entry if both are otherwise eligible, listing the other spouse and all unmarried children under 21 as derivatives.
If You’re Selected: Deadlines, Documents, and Next Steps
Selections are checked only via the Entrant Status Check portal at dvprogram.state.gov; the U.S. government does not email winners and does not ask for payment to check results. If selected, you must promptly submit the DS-260 immigrant visa application online. Your case is then processed by the Kentucky Consular Center (KCC) and scheduled by case number priority; availability follows the monthly Visa Bulletin. Consular applicants complete a medical exam and bring civil documents to the interview. Those lawfully in the United States may, if eligible, choose to adjust status with USCIS instead of interviewing abroad.
Timing is critical: all DV-2026 visas or green card numbers must be issued by September 30, 2026. Selection does not guarantee a visa because more entries are selected than there are numbers available. Common pitfalls that can trigger denial include duplicate entries, incorrect marital status at the time of entry, failing to list all qualifying children, or photos that don’t meet specifications. Keep your confirmation number, rely only on official State Department guidance, and be wary of anyone offering to “secure” a diversity visa for a fee.
Source: Original Article