The United States government has issued specific guidance regarding the fate of a Diversity Visa (DV) application if the lottery selectee passes away before either travelling to the US or completing the immigration process.
This clarification is detailed in the official DV-2026 Plain Language Instructions and Frequently Asked Questions document published by the US Department of State.
Automatic case closure on death of selectee
The guidance explains that if a selectee dies at any point before they have either set foot in the United States or adjusted their immigration status, the DV case is automatically closed.
This closure is effective regardless of where the application stood in the process at the time of death.
Impact on family members
The instructions specify that derivative beneficiaries—including the spouse and children of the deceased selectee—lose any rights to apply for a Diversity Visa once the primary applicant has died. Moreover, any previously issued visas to these family members will be cancelled.
This rule indicates that there are no exceptions, denying surviving family members any chance to independently continue the application or inherit the selection if the principal applicant has passed away.
Significance for Diversity Visa applicants
The Diversity Visa programme, popularly known as the Green Card Lottery, offers nationals from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the US the opportunity for permanent residency.
Each year, numerous individuals from various African nations pursue this route to achieve their dreams of relocating abroad.
Given that the application process can span many months or years, understanding what occurs in the event of a selectee’s death is vital for families who might have significant plans based on this outcome.
