Diversity visa applicants must now provide passport scans to prove they exist

The US State Department is tightening rules for its Diversity Immigrant Visa Program. Applicants will now need to upload a scan of a valid, unexpired passport's biographic page with their electronic entry form. This change aims to reduce fraud by making it harder for fake applications to enter the lottery.

The Diversity Visa lottery is a major pathway for immigration to the US, but it has been a target for fraud. For years, applicants could enter with minimal identity verification, leading to many fake entries. This change means that only people with a real, current passport can apply, which makes the pool of applicants more legitimate. It also means that people in countries where obtaining a passport is difficult or expensive will find it harder to apply, even if they are legitimate candidates.