U.S. embassies and consulates closed diversity visa interviews in December 2025 and expanded the closure to all immigrant visas on August 25, 2026.
A federal court ordered the State Department to resume processing in early September, but the eight-month freeze meant approximately 40,000 available DV-2026 visas could not be issued before the September 30 fiscal year deadline, eliminating an entire year's allocation for thousands of otherwise-approved applicants. The State Department cited public charge policy changes as the reason for the pauses—a test evaluating whether visa applicants are likely to become dependent on government benefits. What began as a December 2025 freeze on diversity visas expanded to encompass all immigrant visa categories, including family-based and employment-based immigration, affecting every embassy and consulate worldwide.
Table of Contents
- The Pauses and Timeline
- The Court Order and the Compressed Resumption
- The Unmovable Fiscal Year Deadline
- Who Was Affected
- What Changes Going Forward
- Frequently Asked Questions
The Pauses and Timeline
diversity visa interviews halted on December 23, 2025, with no publicly stated resumption date. Eight months later, on August 25, 2026, the trump administration expanded the freeze to encompass all immigrant visa appointments at U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide.
According to a court filing, the State Department cited the need for consular staff training on expanded public charge screening requirements. The worldwide freeze affected not just diversity visas but also family-based immigration, employment-based immigration, and other visa categories processed through embassy interviews. No visa category had an exception; every embassy received direction to halt interviews and remain closed pending completion of staff training.
The Court Order and the Compressed Resumption
Federal Judge Edward Davila ordered the State Department to resume diversity visa processing on August 28, 2026, finding the pause likely arbitrary and capricious under federal administrative law. Two weeks later, the State Department issued an official cable directing all embassies and consulates to immediately resume immigrant visa and DV-2026 processing.
Embassies scheduled approximately 909 interviews in mid-September: about 45 first-time diversity visa applicants and approximately 864 reinterviews of applicants previously declined under the pauses. The accelerated schedule attempted to process as many cases as possible before the fiscal year ended, but the eight-month closure had created a backlog too large to clear in two weeks.
The Unmovable Fiscal Year Deadline
September 30 is the federal fiscal year end and a strict statutory deadline for issuing all FY 2026 diversity visas with no extensions permitted. Any DV-2026 visa not officially issued by midnight on September 30 is forfeited and cannot be reissued; applicants do not receive credit toward a future year and must reapply if they become eligible in another diversity visa lottery.
Approximately 40,000 unused DV-2026 visas expired without issuance by the September 30 deadline, despite the court-ordered resumption and the State Department's compliance efforts. Judge Davila extended DV-2026 visa processing by 10 days into October after finding the State Department's compliance "less than substantial," but rejected requests to reserve the expired visas for post-deadline issuance.
Who Was Affected
Applicants with approved forms or scheduled interview dates in late September faced cancellations as embassies ran out of available appointment slots despite resumed processing. Those with interviews scheduled for early to mid-September completed their cases; those scheduled for late September typically did not receive rescheduled appointments before the deadline. The 40,000 expired visas represent applicants at multiple stages: some with medical exams and background checks cleared but no interview appointment, others who interviewed and received a decision under the suspended pause rules, and still others whose cases were approved but never scheduled. All are permanently ineligible for DV-2026; their sole recourse is to apply for alternative visa categories or wait for future diversity visa lottery years.
What Changes Going Forward
The *Medani v. Trump* case established that administrative pauses on visa processing are subject to judicial review for arbitrariness, meaning future policy changes on visa availability may face legal challenge if implemented without sufficient notice or explanation. This precedent may constrain the State Department's ability to implement similar pauses without immediate judicial intervention. For applicants tracking the DV-2027 lottery (selections announced in May 2027), consulate capacity remains the critical question: whether staffing levels will return to pre-pause numbers, whether the public charge training requirement will create permanent processing delays, and whether the State Department will implement changes with greater notice to avoid another bottleneck.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I reapply for DV-2026 if my visa expired before issuance?
No. Diversity visas not issued by September 30 are forfeited and not carried over to future years. You would need to reapply if selected in a future DV lottery or pursue an alternative visa category.
Does the *Medani v. Trump* order mean diversity visas will always be available?
The court order addressed the specific 2026 pause. Future policy changes are subject to judicial review if challenged, but the State Department retains authority to adjust visa availability or requirements.
How many people were affected by the September 30 deadline?
Approximately 40,000 applicants with approved or partially-approved diversity visa cases lost eligibility when the deadline passed, though exact breakdowns by visa category and stage are not publicly available.