Diversity Visa Lottery Status: DV-2027 Not Open (October 2026)
The Diversity Visa program remains disrupted. The State Department has not announced an opening date for DV-2027 registration. A court vacated the December 2025 DV issuance pause, but the Department immediately kept a separate pause under which no diversity visas are issued. The DV-2026 program year ended September 30, 2026.
DV-2027 registration has no announced opening date; the State Department continues a separate pause on DV visa issuance, with no exceptions, after the court vacated the earlier pause.
The November 2, 2026 review could not confirm this status from current authoritative sources. The previously verified status is shown above.
On this page
- DV-2027 registration
- Never opened; no dates announced as of Sept 22, 2026
- DV issuance paused
- Dec 23, 2025
- Court order
- Medani v. Trump vacated the earlier pause; State imposed a new issuance pause
- DV-2026 year
- Ended Sept 30, 2026
- DV interviews
- May proceed, but no DV visas are issued under current guidance
- Official entry site
- dvprogram.state.gov only, and entry is free
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Oct to Nov 2025 | The usual DV-2027 registration period passes without registration opening |
| Dec 23, 2025 | The State Department pauses issuance of all diversity visas |
| Mar 11, 2026 | The State Department publishes a rule on enhancing vetting and combating fraud in the Diversity Visa program |
| Aug 25, 2026 | Some immigrant visa appointments are disrupted during public charge training |
| Aug 28, 2026 | Court vacates the earlier DV issuance pause; the State Department immediately continues a separate DV issuance pause |
| Sept 30, 2026 | DV-2026 ends; unused DV-2026 visas cannot be issued after this date |
The State Department has said it will announce DV-2027 registration dates "as soon as practicable." No registration opening date appears in the current State Department guidance.
What is the Diversity Visa lottery?
The Diversity Visa program normally offers up to 55,000 green cards a year, by random selection, to people from countries with low rates of immigration to the US. Entrants need at least a high school education or 2 years of qualifying work experience. Entry is free, and each program year (such as DV-2027) runs from October 1 to September 30.
What it means
DV-2026: The program year ended September 30, 2026; unused visas cannot be issued for that year. The State Department says a court vacated its earlier issuance pause but it immediately maintained a separate DV issuance pause. Applicants may attend interviews, but no DV visas are issued under current guidance.
DV-2027: The State Department has not announced a registration opening date. Use only the official entry site when a period is announced.
Travel restrictions: Proclamation 10998 may separately restrict some applicants. See travel ban.
Beware of DV scams
DV scams increase when people are confused about the program:
- The only official entry website is dvprogram.state.gov, and only during an announced registration period.
- Entering is free. Anyone charging to "enter" or "guarantee" selection is a scam.
- The State Department does not email or text selectees. You check results yourself with your confirmation number.
See scam protection and notario fraud.
What to do instead
- Check official news on the State Department's DV page for any DV-2027 announcement.
- Consider other US routes that fit your profile: study on an F-1 visa, skilled work that could lead to EB-3 or EB-2, or family sponsorship.
- Look at Canada and Mexico. Canada's Express Entry selects skilled workers by points, and Mexico offers temporary residency to people who meet its financial tests.
- Keep your documents ready, such as passports, education records, and police certificates, so you can act quickly if registration reopens.
Frequently asked questions
Is the DV lottery open in 2026?
No. DV-2027 registration never opened, and no dates had been announced as of September 22, 2026.
Can DV-2026 selectees still get visas?
The DV-2026 program year ended September 30, 2026. The State Department says a court vacated the earlier issuance pause, but it maintained a separate pause under which no diversity visas are issued.
Will DV-2026 winners get extra time?
No. The law requires diversity visas to be issued by the end of the program year, September 30, 2026.
Is there a DV-2028 lottery?
Nothing has been announced. Follow the State Department's DV program page for official news.
Is it safe to pay an agent to enter me in the green card lottery?
No. Entry is free and only possible on dvprogram.state.gov during an official registration period.
Official sources
- State Department: Update on DV Program 2026travel.state.gov
- State Department: Diversity Visa Issuance Updated Guidancetravel.state.gov
- State Department: Diversity Visa Instructionstravel.state.gov
- Federal Register: Enhancing Vetting and Combatting Fraud in the Diversity Immigrant Visa Programfederalregister.gov
General information, not legal advice. NorthAmericans.com is independent and not affiliated with any government.