File:DV Eligible Countries.svg
Regions and countries shown on the map are as defined for the allocation of visas in the United States Diversity Visa lottery. The countries are all those recognized by the United States as sovereign (all United Nations member states, Vatican City and Kosovo), in addition to Northern Ireland and Taiwan (considered separately from the United Kingdom and China for the lottery).
Regions correspond to continents as they are generally understood, with some exceptions:
- North America includes only Canada and the Bahamas. The United States itself is not part of the lottery. Mexico is grouped with Central and South America and the Caribbean for the lottery.
- Cyprus, Turkey and all countries which used to be part of Soviet Union are allocated to Europe, even though geographically some of them are mostly or entirely in Asia.
Dependent territories are treated as part of their respective sovereign countries (under those countries' regions, even if the territories are located elsewhere), and disputed territories are allocated as recognized by the United States, with some exceptions:
- Macau is treated as part of Portugal (under Europe), even after its sovereignty returned to China.
- The Gaza Strip is treated as part of Egypt (under Africa), the West Bank as part of Jordan, and the Golan Heights as part of Syria (both under Asia).
- Each portion of Kashmir is treated as part of the respective country administering it (India, Pakistan or China, all under Asia).
- The southern Kuril Islands (Habomai, Iturup, Kunashir and Shikotan), administered by Russia and claimed by Japan, are treated as part of Japan (under Asia).
- Western Sahara is a former dependent territory of Spain, currently disputed between Morocco (which administers most of the territory) and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (which administers part of it). For the lottery, as of 2024 Western Sahara is treated as part of Morocco (under Africa), but in the past it has been treated sometimes as part of Spain (under Europe) or as a separate country (under Africa).
References
- ↑ Instructions for the 2026 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV-2026), U.S. Department of State.
- ↑ 8 USC 1153: Allocation of immigrant visas. U.S. House of Representatives.
- ↑ 9 FAM 503.2: Chargeability, U.S. Department of State.
- ↑ Immigrant number use for visa issuances and adjustments of status in the diversity immigrant category, fiscal years 2014–2023, U.S. Department of State.
- ↑ Visa Bulletin For September 2013, U.S. Department of State, 12 August 2013.
- ↑ Visa Bulletin For July 2010, U.S. Department of State, 9 June 2010.
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