DV 2026: November Cut Offs Published!
. . . the November cut-off numbers are not new. They are the same as those that were published in August – for October.
News, but not new!
The Visa Bulletin for October 2025 has been published, and as usual, it shows the Diversity Visa cut-off numbers that will apply in November 2025. As was the case at this time last year, the November cut-off numbers are a repeat of October’s. They are the same as those published in August.
This is not the first or second time that ALL the Diversity Visa cut-off numbers for October have been maintained for November. The first instance was three years ago; the second was last year. The issue has also occurred a few times in other months of the fiscal year.
Why it happened
When this first occurred in 2022, some thought that the repeat may have been an error on the part of the Visa Office. But it wasn’t! As that fiscal year progressed. it became clear why the October cut-off numbers had been maintained.
In effect, the repeat was intended to prevent new case numbers from becoming current for November, seeing that those made current for October would not be interviewed (in October) for the most part. The repeat would therefore allow such cases to be considered for November interview. The same situation re-occurred a year ago, and with the third time, this is gradually becoming a norm just before the start of the Diversity Visa year.
October/November Cut-Offs
Below are the cut-off numbers in question: those that will apply during both the months of October and November 2025 in the DV 2026 Program :
What it means
Maintaining the October cut-off numbers for November means that case numbers that are eligible for October interviews are the same that are eligible for November interview. And they are as follows:
AFRICA: Case Numbers up to and including 17,499;
However, for the Africa region’s exception countries, the situation is as follows: ALGERIA: Case Numbers up to 14,499; and EGYPT: Case Numbers up to 15,999.
ASIA: Case Numbers up to 9,999;
For the Asia region’s only exception country (NEPAL): case numbers up to 5,999;
EUROPE: Case Numbers up to 7,749;
NORTH AMERICA: Case Numbers up to 19;
OCEANIA: Case Numbers up to 1,099;
SOUTH AMERICA: Case Numbers up to 1,849.
Important: A case number being eligible for interview for a given month does not mean that the case concerned will be interviewed during the month in question at all cost. It may well be; it may also not be. In addition to the case number being eligible for interview, other factors contribute to determining when the case concerned will actually be interviewed.
Cases Not Yet Eligible
Cases whose case numbers are the same or higher than their region or country cut-off shown above are neither eligible for October interviews, nor are they for November’s. Applicants concerned should consider their cut-off number when the next visa Bulletin is published (anytime from October 7th to 15th) to ascertain their status. The cut-offs to be revealed in that Visa Bulletin will concern DECEMBER 2025, the third month of interview in the DV 2026 Program.
Conclusion
With the repeat of the October cut-offs for November due to so many case numbers previously becoming current (for October 2025), we now look forward to a normalization in the DV 2026 cut-off numbers’ movements in the coming months.
Note: The Visa Bulletin is published every month. It is by means of this tool that Diversity Visa applicants get to know the month when their case will be eligible for interview. For a better understanding of what the Visa Bulletin is and how it works, kindly refer to this article.
