US authorities have once again postponed the launch of the DV-2027 green card lottery. The State Department obtained a stay of a court order requiring it to open registration by November 1, 2026. No new date has been announced.

DV-2027 Green Card Lottery: Rules and Timeline

The US Diversity Visa lottery allows citizens of countries with relatively low levels of immigration to the United States to apply for a green card. The program makes up to 55,000 immigrant visas available each year, although more candidates are selected than the annual quota allows. Those selected must demonstrate that they meet the eligibility criteria, submit an application, undergo screening and attend a consular interview. Being selected does not guarantee US permanent residence.

Registration for the lottery usually takes place in October and November, with results announced the following spring. However, DV-2027 registration did not open in fall 2025. On November 5, 2025, the US State Department announced changes to the registration schedule for the green card lottery, attributing the delay to adjustments to the application process. It did not give a new date, and nearly a year later registration still had not opened.

The delay creates an additional problem because visas can only be issued during a limited period. The program covers a fiscal year that began on October 1, 2026, and ends on September 30, 2027. The State Department confirmed that postponing registration would not change the visa issuance period. That period has already begun, although the selection process has yet to take place. The later the winners are announced, the less time they will have to complete the required procedures.

Legal Dispute Over DV-2027

Delays in launching the green card lottery prompted legal action. In August 2026, US immigration law firm Red Eagle Law filed a lawsuit against Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The firm accused the State Department of unlawfully failing to act and said the delay was costing it potential clients. The firm was the sole plaintiff; no foreign nationals hoping to enter the lottery joined the case.

On October 14, the US District Court for the Southern District of California ruled in favor of Red Eagle Law and set a timetable for launching the program. The State Department was ordered to publish registration instructions by October 29 and open applications by November 1, 2026. Applicants were to have 30 days to enter, with selection results announced by December 3. The initial ruling would therefore have allowed the drawing to take place in 2026 and visa processing to begin for those selected.

However, the US government appealed and sought a stay of the order. On October 29, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals granted the government's request, suspending the deadlines while the appeal proceeds. The decision to pause DV-2027 registration does not amount to the program's permanent cancellation.

Why the Appeal Changed the Situation

The judges focused primarily on whether Red Eagle Law had standing to demand enforcement of the law in its own name. They noted that the Diversity Visa program was designed to support immigration, not to generate revenue for law firms. The firm's interest in attracting potential clients was not deemed sufficiently connected to the purpose of the statute. This reasoning is set out in the October 29 ruling concerning the DV-2027 lottery.

Judge Randy Smith added in a separate opinion that the firm had not shown a direct, concrete injury. Its potential future earnings depended on a series of events: foreigners entering the lottery, winning selection, obtaining visas and deciding to hire that particular firm. The case did not include a specific applicant whose rights had been directly affected by the registration delay. In Smith's view, the prospect of losing potential clients did not establish sufficient grounds for the lawsuit.

At the same time, the appellate panel emphasized that it did not endorse the State Department's refusal to open registration. The judges considered the procedural basis of the law firm's claim, rather than the legality of the delay itself. The ruling did not reach a final legal determination on the department's conduct.

Consequences for DV-2027 Applicants

Those seeking to enter DV-2027 must wait for the State Department's official announcement of the opening of registration. Electronic entry forms will be available only through the program's official government portal, so intermediaries cannot register applicants before the entry period begins. Nor can they guarantee a win. Prospective applicants should check the announced dates and rules on the department's official website.

An additional restriction affects applicants who have already been selected. On August 31, 2026, the State Department published guidance on the suspension of Diversity Visa issuance, linking the measure to a review of security screening procedures. Applicants may continue to submit documents and attend interviews, but visas themselves are not being issued. The published guidance provides no exceptions.

Reopening registration would not resolve the restrictions on issuing visas. For selected applicants to receive their documents, the State Department would have to lift the separate suspension. The appellate court's October 29 order concerned DV-2027 registration and did not change the rules governing immigrant visa issuance.

FAQ: Questions and Answers

When will DV-2027 registration open?

As of November 2, 2026, the US State Department has not announced a new registration date. The appeals court stayed the requirement to open registration by November 1. Updates on the application period should be checked on the program's official website.

Has the US green card lottery been canceled?

No. The appeals court's decision does not cancel the Diversity Visa program. It temporarily suspends the State Department's obligation to comply with the deadlines set by the lower court. The legal proceedings are ongoing.

Where can I submit an entry?

Registration takes place at the official website, dvprogram.state.gov, only during the dates announced by the State Department. The DV-2027 online entry form is not available before registration opens. Intermediaries cannot register applicants early or guarantee selection.

What is the deadline for DV-2027 winners to receive visas?

The DV-2027 visa issuance period ends on September 30, 2027. The postponement of registration has not changed this date. Even selected applicants must complete all mandatory procedures within the designated fiscal year.

Are Diversity Visas currently being issued?

The State Department has separately suspended the issuance of immigrant visas under the program. Applicants may continue submitting documents and attending consular interviews, but visas themselves are not currently being issued. Reopening DV-2027 registration would not automatically lift this restriction.