Effective August 28, 2026, diversity visas (DV) will be reinstated and once again be issued by the government. The U.S. Department of State (DOS) confirmed the update on their website. The move is in accordance with a recent court order issued in the ongoing litigation Medani et al. v. Trump et al.
Background
In December 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) froze DV program processing shortly after the mass shooting at Brown University. The suspect in the case was a green card holder that immigrated to the U.S. in 2017 through the diversity visa program.
As stated on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website, the diversity visa lottery issues up to fifty thousand visas each year to individuals from countries that have low rates of immigration to the U.S. Each year the program has been threatened. Most notably in 2017 the government attempted to terminate DV-1 following a truck massacre that killed eight people in New York City. The attacker in that case was able to acquire a green card through the lottery. DV is only one method of obtaining a green card but remains one of the larger avenues for applicants from underrepresented countries to obtain one.
What’s Next for DV Applicants?
Now that the government will be processing DV applications once more, it’s critical for DV-20 26 applicants to take action. Unless a visa is issued by September 30 of that given fiscal year, the visa number is permanently lost. That means we have until September 30, 20 26 to get this year’s visas processed. With the length of this suspension, we’re cutting it pretty close. There’s still no confirmation that the government will provide any leeway for applicants affected by the suspension.
For now, proceed as normal and don’t miss any deadlines. If you’re called in for an interview, be sure to attend. If they need additional information, give it as soon as possible.
As always, ILBSG actively monitors ongoing U.S. immigration news. If you have questions about any U.S. immigration related issue, contact us. Working with an experienced attorney ensures you get the right advice based on the most recent laws. In an ever-evolving immigration policy landscape, it’s particularly critical.