US immigrant hopefuls will need to hold a valid passport from their home country before entering the Diversity Visa lottery beginning next month.
A State Department final rule released Tuesday revives a measure introduced under the first Trump administration, adding another barrier to immigration from outside the US.
The diversity visa program makes up to 55,000 visas each year to applicants from underrepresented countries. It’s a key immigration pathway for people from African countries.
The State Department said the new requirement would help address fraud by lottery entrants. It said the average price of passports in countries eligible for the program is about $75.
A federal court in 2022 struck down the passport requirement after finding an interim final rule unlawfully circumvented notice and comment requirements.
The new rule will take effect 30 days after its publication in the Federal Register on Wednesday.
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