DR Congo at a glance
| Visit with an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) | No: a visitor visa is needed |
| E-1 treaty trader visa | Not available |
| E-2 treaty investor visa | Available |
| Own line in the Visa Bulletin | No: worldwide line |
| Green card lottery (last published list, DV-2026) | Eligible |
| Entry restrictions | No travel ban; affected by the 2026 immigrant visa pause (set aside by a court, under appeal) |
| Temporary Protected Status (TPS) | Not designated |
| Where visas are processed | The U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa is the designated post for nonimmigrant and immigrant visas, but it has paused all visa services since May 18, 2026 because of the Ebola outbreak. |
Green card lottery: registration for DV-2027 had not opened as of mid-October 2026. A federal court ordered the State Department to open it, and that order may be appealed.
What is specific to DR Congo right now
- All U.S. visa services in Kinshasa have been paused since May 18, 2026 due to Ebola, and a CDC order (extended through November 10, 2026) bars most non-U.S. citizens who were in the DRC in the previous 21 days from entering the United States.
- The DRC was on the State Department's January 2026 immigrant-visa pause for 75 countries, which a federal court set aside in August 2026 while the government's appeal is pending.
- The DRC is not on the travel-ban proclamation lists, and an E-2 treaty investor agreement is in force.
Common U.S. immigration paths for people from DR Congo
Marriage green cardGreen card through your U.S. citizen or resident spouseFamily petitionSponsor children, adult sons and daughters, or siblingsAsylumProtection for people who fear persecution in their home countryGreen card lottery (DV)Yearly random drawing for green cards from lower-immigration countriesF-1 student visaStudy at a U.S. college, university or language schoolE-2 investor visaTreaty investor visa to run a business you invest inRefugee/asylee familyBring your spouse and children to join you (Form I-730)
How MyUSVisa helps
- Answer a guided questionnaire in your language and upload your documents once — we read, sort and assemble them into a clear case file and timeline.
- Your organized case is offered to licensed U.S. immigration attorneys who handle this type of case. Interested attorneys send you offers, and you compare and choose — or don't.
- Once you choose, you and your attorney work in one place: messages, documents, deadlines and automatic USCIS status updates, on the web and in the mobile app.
Frequently asked questions
Can people from DR Congo visit the U.S. with an ESTA?
No. DR Congo is not in the Visa Waiver Program, so a visitor visa (B-1/B-2) from a U.S. embassy or consulate is usually needed.
Can people from DR Congo get an E-2 investor visa?
Yes. DR Congo has an E-2 treaty with the United States, so its nationals can qualify for the E-2 treaty investor visa by making a substantial investment in a U.S. business they will run.
Can people from DR Congo enter the green card lottery?
DR Congo was eligible in the last published program (DV-2026). Eligibility is set again every year, so check the official instructions when registration opens.
Where do people from DR Congo have their visa interview?
The U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa is the designated post for nonimmigrant and immigrant visas, but it has paused all visa services since May 18, 2026 because of the Ebola outbreak.
Can I work with a U.S. attorney while I am still in DR Congo?
Yes. MyUSVisa works online: you tell your story from anywhere, licensed U.S. immigration attorneys review it and send proposals, and you choose. This works before you travel or once you are already in the United States.
More countries in Africa
Last checked by the MyUSVisa team and counsel in October 2026. Country rules change often, especially entry restrictions, TPS and parole programs. Always verify on travel.state.gov and uscis.gov, or ask your attorney.
MyUSVisa is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Not affiliated with USCIS or any government agency.