The Diversity Visa lottery program, which offers up to 55,000 immigrant visas annually through a random selection process, remains blocked from accepting registrations for 2027 as a federal lawsuit challenges the State Department's suspension. The State Department announced on November 5, 2025, that it would set a registration date "as soon as practicable," but no date has been announced as of September 29, 2026.
The program pause, which began in December 2025, is now the subject of active litigation. A California law firm has asked a federal judge to restart the lottery, alleging the State Department is unlawfully blocking a congressionally mandated program. The case remains unsettled, and the uncertain legal status means potential applicants face compressed deadlines should registration eventually open.
Official resources:
- Read the official notice from Legal500 — Use this primary source to verify the official announcement.
- Read the official notice from Courthousenews — Use this primary source to verify the official announcement.
Table of Contents
- What triggered the pause?
- The lawsuit and where it stands
- What happens if registration finally opens?
- What you can do now
- Frequently Asked Questions
What triggered the pause?
The diversity Visa program suspension began in December 2025, though the specific reason was not publicly detailed in the verified documents. A California law firm, Red Eagle Law, filed suit on August 19, 2026, alleging the State Department unlawfully suspended the congressionally mandated program offering up to 55,000 immigrant visas annually.
The suspension appears to have been tied to executive or policy actions by the Trump administration, based on the case caption referencing Trump. Unlike the previous diversity visa lottery for DV-2026, which was paused and then resumed following a separate court order, DV-2027 has not progressed to even the registration stage. This means no applicants have been selected yet, and the timeline for selection and visa interviews is now severely compressed if registration opens late in the fiscal year.
The lawsuit and where it stands
Red Eagle Law filed suit in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, alleging the State Department unlawfully suspended the program. The firm initially requested an emergency temporary restraining order to force the State Department to open registration immediately. U.S.
District Judge Jinsook Ohta denied that emergency request on September 3, 2026, but allowed the case to proceed on an expedited schedule and permitted the firm to seek a preliminary injunction. A preliminary injunction hearing was scheduled for September 24, 2026; the outcome had not been publicly reported as of late September.
The judge's September 3 decision emphasized the time constraint, noting "much of the ship has sailed already" given that the fiscal year and registration window begin October 1. A preliminary injunction, if granted, would require the State Department to resume registration immediately while the lawsuit continues.
What happens if registration finally opens?
The visa application period for DV-2027 selectees (should any be selected) remains scheduled for October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027, unchanged by the registration delay. This creates a bottleneck: applicants would have one full year to interview and receive their visas, but the registration process itself would be severely compressed into whatever time remains after registration begins.
Federal law requires a minimum 30-day registration window during each fiscal year. If registration opens on October 1, applicants would have through October 31 to enter. If registration opens weeks or months later, the calendar pressure increases significantly. Applicants selected late in the fiscal year would have only a few months to obtain police certificates, medical exams, and interview appointments before the window closes.
What you can do now
If you are considering applying for the diversity visa lottery, monitor the State Department's official DV visa website and the Red Eagle Law lawsuit outcome for any announcement of a registration date. Because the court case remains unsettled, no registration date can be confirmed. If registration does open and you are selected, begin gathering required documents immediately: a police certificate from every country where you have lived, a medical exam from a USCIS-approved panel physician, and proof of a high school education or two years of work experience in a skilled occupation. The compressed timeline means delays in obtaining these documents could cause you to miss the September 30, 2027 application deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is DV-2027 definitely cancelled?
No. The lawsuit is ongoing, and a court could order registration to resume. The State Department has not formally cancelled the program, only suspended it indefinitely.
What if I was selected for DV-2026 but didn't receive my visa yet?
A separate federal court order in August 2026 ended the DV-2026 pause; State Department compliance was announced on August 31, 2026. If you were among the 664 families selected for DV-2026, that pause no longer applies to you.
Can I apply for DV-2028 instead?
DV-2028 registration has not been announced and would not open until October 2027 at the earliest, if the program resumes. Plan on DV-2027 for now.