As of October 15, 2026, a federal court has ordered the U.S. Department of State to reinstate the fiscal year 2027 Diversity Visa Program, commonly called the green card lottery. The decision restores a process that had not opened on its usual schedule, but it does not mean DV-2027 registration is open today.
Applicants should prepare, follow official announcements, and avoid unofficial websites or payment links. The court order also does not grant a green card, guarantee selection, or extend the statutory end of the DV-2027 visa year.
What the court order actually does
On October 14, 2026, U.S. District Judge Jinsook Ohta of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California granted a preliminary injunction in Red Eagle Law, L.C. v. Rubio, No. 3:26-cv-04738-JO-VET. The order directs Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the State Department to proceed with the DV-2027 program.
The State Department had not opened registration on its usual fall 2025 schedule. On November 5, 2025, it announced “changes to the entry process” and said it would announce the registration dates as soon as practicable. The delay left the program in limbo for the fiscal year running from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027.
The original injunction required the State Department to:
- Publicly announce the registration period, including its opening and closing dates, entry website, and participation requirements.
- Distribute the announcement through customary channels, including the Federal Register.
- Keep registration open for 30 days and accept eligible electronic entries.
- Notify selectees and process their applications under normal procedures until the DV-2027 visa allocation is exhausted or September 30, 2027, whichever comes first.
The DV Program, established by 1990 legislation under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), makes up to 55,000 immigrant visas available each fiscal year.
The ruling is a preliminary injunction, not a final decision on the merits of the lawsuit. The government may seek further review or appeal. Applicants should therefore watch for official updates and understand that court action can change.
Read the court order and Courthouse News’ report.
DV lottery registration dates: confirmed facts and unverified reports
The original written order required an announcement by midnight Eastern Time on October 15, 2026. It also set an October 18 opening deadline and required the State Department to notify selectees by November 19.
Hours after the ruling, plaintiff’s counsel Curtis Morrison reported that both parties jointly asked the judge for a two-week extension of the deadlines to open registration and notify selectees, and that the judge granted the request. As of October 15, the amended written order and an official State Department announcement reflecting the extension had not been independently verified.
Accordingly, the original October 18 date should not be treated as a confirmed current registration date. A reported extension is not a substitute for an amended court order or official government instructions. Any reported notification timing, including a mid-to-late November estimate, remains subject to confirmation.
| Status | What applicants should know |
|---|---|
| Confirmed in the original order | Public announcement deadline of October 15, 30-day registration period, and processing through visa exhaustion or September 30, 2027 |
| Reported, not independently verified as of October 15 | Joint request for a two-week extension to the opening and selectee-notification deadlines |
| Not confirmed | A current registration opening date, including an October 18 start |
| Not open today | The State Department portal is not accepting DV-2027 entries |
Nobody can enter the DV-2027 lottery today. The official DV entry portal accepts entries only after the State Department opens registration. Monitor the State Department’s DV-2027 notice and the portal for confirmed dates and instructions.
How to prepare before registration opens
Use the time before registration to organize your information. Do not submit personal details or payments through unofficial websites.
- Check passport validity. Review the passport details for yourself and each family member who may be included. DV-2027 regulations require passport details and an uploaded image of the passport page, subject to limited regulatory exceptions. Follow the official instructions when published.
- Gather education or work-experience records. The principal entrant must meet the applicable education or work-experience requirement. Locate diplomas, transcripts, employment records, or other supporting documentation.
- Identify your country of chargeability. In general, DV eligibility is tied to the applicant’s country of birth, subject to limited rules that may allow chargeability through a spouse or a parent. Confirm the rule for your circumstances.
- Plan for the entry fee. DV-2027 introduces a $1 electronic registration fee. Pay only through the official process once registration opens. Do not follow third-party payment links.
- Monitor official channels only. Check travel.state.gov and dvprogram.state.gov. Do not rely on social media posts or commercial sites for final instructions.
The entry process will include requirements that differ from earlier DV lottery years. Use the official DV-2027 instructions rather than old forms, third-party “application” services, or payment links.
Eligibility basics: education, work experience, and country of chargeability
The Diversity Visa Program is not open to everyone. Applicants must satisfy the program’s requirements, and meeting the minimum criteria does not guarantee selection or visa issuance.
The principal entrant must generally have either:
- A high school education or its equivalent; or
- Two years of qualifying work experience within the past five years in an occupation that meets the program’s criteria.
Country eligibility is based on chargeability rules, which generally relate to the applicant’s country of birth rather than current residence or citizenship. The list of eligible countries and the applicable rules must be checked against the official DV-2027 instructions when released.
A person who is selected must still establish eligibility, complete the required immigration process, and receive a visa or adjustment-of-status approval while visa numbers remain available.
Scam-protection checklist
Registration delays and changing dates can create opportunities for fraud. Use these safeguards:
- Never pay a third party to “enter early” or reserve a place in the lottery.
- Treat any promise to guarantee selection as fraudulent. Selection is not for sale.
- Do not trust an email or link claiming to confirm selection. The State Department does not notify selectees by email.
- Check results only through the official Entrant Status Check when the results-check period opens.
- Once you enter, keep your confirmation number safe. You will need it to check your status.
- Use the official portal, dvprogram.state.gov, and rely on State Department instructions for fees and required documents.
What happens if you are selected
Selection means that you may proceed to the next stage. It is not a green card, a visa, or a guarantee that you will receive either. The number of selectees may exceed the number of visas available.
After the State Department makes results available, selectees generally must:
- Review the official instructions and confirm their status through Entrant Status Check.
- Complete the required immigrant visa process. Applicants outside the United States generally proceed through consular processing, including Form DS-260. Some applicants in the United States may be eligible to apply for adjustment of status through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
- Pay applicable government fees, submit required documents, and attend an interview when instructed.
- Complete the process while a visa number is available and before the fiscal-year deadline.
The court ordered processing through exhaustion of the DV-2027 allocation or September 30, 2027, whichever occurs first. The injunction does not extend that statutory deadline. Delays, incomplete applications, or unresolved eligibility issues can prevent an applicant from obtaining a visa before the program year ends.
Get guidance on your family’s immigration options
The DV-2027 lottery is one potential family and green-card pathway. Blasingame Law LLC assists individuals and families with eligibility review, correct entry preparation, and next steps after selection, including consular processing or adjustment of status. Learn more about our family immigration services.
For advice specific to your circumstances, contact Blasingame Law LLC to discuss your options with an immigration lawyer or diversity visa lawyer.
This article provides general legal information as of October 15, 2026. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Consult an immigration attorney about your individual circumstances.
Contact Blasingame Law LLC for personalized guidance on DV-2027 eligibility, entry preparation, and green card processing.
