The D.C. Circuit Court is being urged to complete the review of a stayed order that requires the issuance of the diversity visa for lottery winners. The orders to immediately process diversity visa were issued by the circuit court and stayed over two years ago. To date, none of the 9,000 visas have been issued.

Originally, the D.C. Circuit Court ordered the diversity visas to be released in October 2021, a month after the September 2021 expiration date. The visas were not processed on a timely basis due to a Trump pandemic-era policy misinterpretation, per the lower court. However, the Biden administration appealed the ruling, asking for a stay while a review of the order was completed. The circuit court sided with the Biden administration request.

The lottery winners suggest the stay was accepted on the basis that the appeal would quickly be completed. Many are in countries that have destabilized, including Ukraine, Gaza, Afghanistan, and others. This group of individuals were selected in the fiscal years 2020 and 2021 and now consider this visa as their way out of their current troubled homelands.

As always, ILBSG actively monitors ongoing updates to U.S. immigration. If you have questions about any employment-based or family-based issue, contact us. Our team of experienced attorneys work directly with our clients to ensure they get the right advice.

Diversity Visa