News Desk: A US federal judge has directed the Trump administration to reopen registration for the 2027 Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery, offering fresh hope to eligible applicants seeking permanent residency in the United States. The court has ordered the State Department to announce the registration dates and provide a 30-day online application window. The department must also notify selected applicants and process their cases according to the programme’s rules.
US District Judge Jinsook Ohta of the Southern District of California issued the preliminary injunction on October 14. The order follows a lawsuit filed by California-based immigration law firm Red Eagle Law, which challenged the government’s failure to open registration for the fiscal year 2027 programme.
The government had argued that it was too late to conduct the lottery within the statutory timeline.
Why Was DV-2027 Registration Delayed?
In November 2025, the State Department announced changes to the DV-2027 entry process and said registration dates would be announced later. However, registration did not subsequently open, leaving prospective applicants unable to participate.
The delay prompted legal action seeking to compel the government to resume the process. Under the court’s order, the department must provide details including the registration dates, official entry website and participation requirements.
Established under the Immigration Act of 1990, the Diversity Visa programme makes up to 55,000 immigrant visas available annually to eligible applicants from countries with historically low levels of immigration to the US.
Will Selected Applicants Receive Green Cards?
Selection in the lottery does not guarantee a Green Card. Applicants must meet the programme’s education or work-experience requirements, complete the immigrant visa application process and satisfy all eligibility and screening conditions.
The DV-2027 visa year runs from October 1, 2026, to September 30, 2027. The delayed registration could leave applicants with less time to complete the selection, documentation, interview and visa-processing stages.
There is also a separate obstacle. According to State Department guidance updated on August 31, 2026, the issuance of Diversity Visas has been paused while screening and vetting procedures are reviewed. Applicants may submit applications and attend interviews, but visas will not be issued under that guidance.
Therefore, the court’s decision to reopen registration does not necessarily mean that visa issuance has resumed.
What Should Applicants Do Next?
Prospective applicants should monitor the official US State Department website for announcements about the registration schedule and application requirements. They should also be cautious of unofficial websites or agents promising guaranteed selection or unauthorised application services.
The court’s ruling could restore an important immigration opportunity for eligible applicants worldwide. However, the delayed registration and separate pause on visa issuance leave uncertainty over how many selected applicants will ultimately secure permanent residency before the programme’s deadline.
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