DV Lottery Case Number Calculator: when your case may move toward interview in 2026–2027
Use this tool to estimate where your case number sits in the queue and how vulnerable your timeline may be to delay.
Important for DV-2026: the Department of State says DV applicants may still submit applications, attend interviews, and continue to be scheduled, but no diversity visas are being issued at this time and there are no exceptions. Treat this result as a timing and risk guide, not as a prediction of outcome.
Estimate your DV case position
Enter your case details below. The estimate takes into account the program year, region, regional case number, DS-260 timing, processing path, and country-specific constraints where they may matter.
DV-2026
DV-2027
Europe (EU)
Africa (AF)
Asia (AS)
Oceania (OC)
South America / Caribbean (SA)
North America / Bahamas (NA)
Submitted early
Submitted on a normal timeline
Submitted with delay
Consular processing
Adjustment of status inside the United States (AOS)
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Egypt
Algeria
Nepal
How to enter your number: if your case looks like 2026EU00018500, enter only the regional numeric portion here — 18500. Select the region separately.
Your estimate:
Estimated window
Estimated interview window adjusted for delay sensitivity
—
This is an estimated range, not a fixed interview date.
Delay exposure
Exposure level:—
Exposure depends not only on the case number, but also on document quality, processing pace, case path, and current operating constraints.
Queue timeline
Timeline FY-2026(Europe):
OctoberDecemberFebruaryAprilJuneAugust
OctoberDecemberFebruaryAprilMayAugustSept
The scale shows how late in the DV fiscal year your number may become current under the selected inputs. A position farther to the right usually means less timing flexibility.
Updated: April 21, 2026
Diversity Visa pause: what is known, how the process works, and what applicants should do
Russian-language coverage often says that “the U.S. authorities have suspended the DV1 program.” It is important to understand that
DV (Diversity Visa) is a federal immigration program established by law, while DV-1 is the visa classification for the principal applicant, not a separate program.
For applicants, the real issue is not the label itself but what has actually been paused, which agency controls each stage, and how that affects consular cases, adjustment cases inside the United States, and the limited time available in the DV fiscal year.
Disclaimer: this material is educational and informational only and is not legal advice.
Immigration rules and case-processing practices can change, and your specific facts may require individual legal review.
Any decisions are made at your own risk, and no outcome can be guaranteed.
News context: U.S. media reported that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced an “immediate pause” on DV, using the DV1 phrasing, and linked it to a shooting case on December 13 in the Brown University area, where the suspect was reported to have received status through DV.
The goal here is to separate confirmed reporting from political framing and to show where real processing bottlenecks may emerge.
Why DV cutoffs differ by region and country
The Diversity Visa system does not use one worldwide queue. Congress structured the program around regional diversity, and the Department of State allocates visa numbers across the six statutory regions. Demand, selectee volume, response rates and available numbers differ by region, so a numerical rank that is low in one region may be high in another.
Country-specific cutoffs are another layer. When demand from a particular country would otherwise consume a disproportionate share of a region’s available numbers, the Department of State may list that country separately with a lower cutoff. That is why Algeria, Egypt and Nepal require special handling in September 2026.
This also explains why “my friend has a higher number and already interviewed” is not enough to diagnose a problem. If the two cases are in different regions, different countries of chargeability, different consular posts or different readiness states, their timelines are not directly comparable.
What this calculator cannot predict
The calculator answers one narrow question: is the rank below the cutoff you entered, and how far above or below that boundary is it? It cannot reliably predict an exact interview month.
future Visa Bulletin movement, including jumps, pauses or retrogression;
KCC processing speed for a particular DS-260;
interview capacity at a particular embassy or consulate;
administrative processing or additional security/document checks;
whether all education, work-experience, admissibility and documentary requirements are satisfied;
whether annual or regional numbers will be exhausted before the end of the fiscal year;
how long a separate government-wide issuance pause will remain in effect.
For that reason, a calculator that promises an exact interview date from case number alone would overstate what the public data can support. The Visa Bulletin is an allocation tool, not an appointment calendar.
DV case number FAQ
Does current mean my interview is scheduled?
No. Current means the rank is within the applicable Visa Bulletin range. DS-260/KCC readiness, embassy capacity and other case-specific requirements still affect scheduling.
What if my case number equals the cutoff?
The published rule is “below” the cutoff. Equality is not below, so the case is not current under that cutoff.
Can I use my confirmation number?
No. Use the selected DV case number or its numeric regional rank. The confirmation number is for Entrant Status Check.
Why is there a country selector?
Because Algeria, Egypt and Nepal have separate September 2026 cutoffs. Using only the regional number could incorrectly classify those cases.
What should I do after my case becomes current?
Shift attention from cutoff movement to case readiness: confirm DS-260 accuracy, follow the responsible post’s instructions, keep required documents current and monitor Entrant Status Check.
Need help reviewing a DV case?
If your case is current, close to the cutoff, affected by a country-specific limit or time-sensitive near the fiscal-year deadline, you can request an immigration consultation.
