The future of the DV-2027 Green Card Lottery is uncertain once again after the Trump administration challenged a federal court order requiring the U.S. State Department to reopen registration by 1 November 2026. The government has also requested a temporary suspension of the ruling, raising the possibility of further delays for millions of prospective applicants worldwide.
The latest legal development comes just days after a federal judge ordered the U.S. government to restore the Diversity Visa Program, which provides up to 55,000 immigrant visas annually to eligible nationals of countries with historically low immigration rates to the United States.
According to a Newsweek report published on 21 October 2026, the administration filed an appeal on 19 October and separately asked the court to suspend the earlier injunction while the appeal is considered.
However, the Green Card Lottery has not been permanently cancelled by a new court decision. Filing an appeal does not automatically cancel or suspend the existing injunction. Unless a court grants the government’s stay request or otherwise changes the ruling, the previously ordered registration deadlines remain in effect.
The dispute centres on a court ruling issued by U.S. District Judge Jinsook Ohta in the Southern District of California.
On 14 October 2026, Judge Ohta granted a preliminary injunction in the case Red Eagle Law, L.C. v. Rubio, ordering the State Department to resume the delayed DV-2027 program.
The lawsuit was filed by California-based immigration law firm Red Eagle Law, which argued that the government’s failure to open registration effectively prevented the operation of a congressionally authorised immigration program.
The judge concluded that the government’s handling of the program was likely unlawful under the Administrative Procedure Act. The court found that the State Department had failed to adequately explain why the postponement had become an indefinite suspension.
The Trump administration disagrees with the ruling and is seeking appellate review.
On 19 October 2026, government lawyers filed a notice of appeal and requested that the district court temporarily suspend enforcement of the injunction.
The legal challenge raises two separate questions: whether the original injunction should remain in force and whether the State Department must comply with the registration timetable while the appeal continues.
Green Card Lottery 2027: Latest Registration Dates
The court initially established an earlier registration schedule. However, following a joint request from the parties, the deadlines were extended.
The revised timetable is as follows:
| Requirement | Court-ordered deadline |
| Official registration announcement | 29 October 2026 |
| DV-2027 registration opening | 1 November 2026 |
| Registration duration | 30 days |
| Notification of selected entrants | 3 December 2026 |
| Final DV-2027 visa issuance deadline | 30 September 2027 |
The November 1 date is a court-imposed deadline, not confirmation that the online registration system is already operational.
The government has requested a stay, which means the schedule could change if the court grants that request.
As of 22 October 2026, the sources reviewed for this article do not establish that a court has granted the requested stay.
Applicants should therefore treat these dates as legally significant but subject to further judicial developments.
Could the 2027 Green Card Lottery Be Cancelled?
The possibility of further disruption remains, but the filing of an appeal does not itself cancel the lottery. Three scenarios are possible.
1. The court rejects the stay request.
The government would remain subject to the injunction unless a higher court intervenes. The current registration deadlines would continue to apply.
2. The court grants a stay.
The State Department could be temporarily relieved of some or all of its obligations under the injunction while the appeal proceeds. This could delay the November 1 registration opening.
3. The appeals court modifies or overturns the decision.
The registration timetable, and possibly the requirement to conduct the delayed DV-2027 lottery, could change substantially depending on the court’s ruling.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit is the relevant appellate court. Importantly, there has been no verified final appellate judgment permanently abolishing the Diversity Visa Program in this case.
Why Was the DV-2027 Lottery Delayed?
The DV-2027 registration period would ordinarily have taken place during the previous fiscal year, typically in autumn 2025.
However, the State Department did not open registration as expected.
On 5 November 2025, the department announced changes to the Diversity Visa entry process and stated that the registration opening date would be announced later.
The registration period remained unopened as fiscal year 2027 began on 1 October 2026. The State Department has also implemented additional screening and fraud-prevention requirements, including new passport documentation rules.
The administration has cited national security and public safety concerns in connection with wider restrictions on the Diversity Visa Program.
The prolonged suspension ultimately resulted in litigation, with the district court ordering the government to administer the program rather than allowing the registration period to remain indefinitely closed.
New Requirements for Green Card Lottery 2027 Applicants
Despite the ongoing legal dispute, several regulatory changes affecting the Diversity Visa Program have already been adopted.
1. New $1 Registration Fee
The State Department introduced a registration fee of $1 per entry through a final rule published on 16 September 2025.
Previously, submitting an electronic Diversity Visa lottery entry was free. The new fee is intended to help cover the administration of the lottery and discourage fraudulent or speculative registrations.
Applicants who are selected and subsequently apply for a Diversity Visa are also generally required to pay a separate $330 visa application fee per person, in addition to other applicable expenses.
Payment procedures for DV-2027 should be verified against the new official registration instructions before submitting an entry.
2. Valid Passport Requirement
A final rule effective from 10 April 2026 introduces additional passport documentation requirements for DV-2027 entrants.
Most applicants must provide information from a valid, unexpired passport and upload a scan of the passport’s biographical and signature page, subject to limited exemptions.
The State Department introduced these requirements to strengthen identity verification and reduce duplicate or fraudulent registrations.
Applicants who do not currently possess a valid passport should consider obtaining one before the registration period begins.
3. Existing Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must also satisfy the normal Diversity Visa eligibility criteria, including qualifying through a country with historically low immigration rates to the United States and meeting the applicable education or work-experience requirements.
Eligibility is generally determined by country of birth rather than citizenship, although specific exceptions exist.
The official DV-2027 instructions and eligible-country list should be consulted once published. Applicants should not assume that eligibility remains identical to previous lottery years.
Does the Court Order Mean Diversity Visas Are Being Issued Again?
Not necessarily. A significant distinction exists between lottery registration, selection and actual visa issuance.
The October 2026 lawsuit primarily concerns the government’s obligation to open and administer DV-2027.
Separately, the State Department’s published guidance dated 31 August 2026 states that Diversity Visa issuance was paused under an updated policy, even after an earlier December 2025 pause ceased to apply following another court ruling.
That guidance allowed applicants to continue submitting applications and attending scheduled interviews but stated that Diversity Visas would not be issued during the pause.
Therefore, reopening registration would not, by itself, prove that every restriction affecting the later visa-issuance process has been removed.
Prospective applicants must distinguish the right to participate in a lottery from eligibility to receive an immigrant visa.
What Happens to the 55,000 Green Cards?
The Diversity Visa Program is established under U.S. immigration law and provides for up to 55,000 immigrant visas annually, subject to statutory adjustments that can reduce the number actually available.
Its purpose is to provide immigration opportunities to people from countries with historically low levels of immigration to the United States.
Selection through the computerised lottery does not automatically grant permanent residence.
Selected entrants must still complete the immigrant visa application process, establish eligibility, pass the required checks and obtain a visa before the applicable deadline.
For DV-2027, the statutory fiscal-year deadline remains 30 September 2027. This date is particularly important because the prolonged delay has reduced the time available for registration, selection and subsequent visa processing.
Even if the lottery opens in November 2026, selected applicants could face a compressed processing timetable.
The current litigation also creates uncertainty about how the government will administer the program if additional court orders are issued.
What Should DV-2027 Applicants Do Now?
Prospective participants should prepare for a possible registration opening without assuming that the legal dispute has been resolved.
Applicants are advised to:
- Check the official U.S. State Department website regularly for the DV-2027 announcement.
- Prepare a valid passport and the information required for the electronic registration form.
- Review the official country eligibility list and education or work-experience requirements once released.
- Be prepared for the new $1 registration fee through an authorised government payment system.
- Avoid websites or agents claiming that they can guarantee selection or accept official entries before the government portal opens.
- Retain their confirmation number after submitting a valid entry.
Official registration and selection-status checks are conducted through https://dvprogram.state.gov/.
Applicants should not rely exclusively on social media claims about registration dates, lottery cancellation or guaranteed green cards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the DV-2027 Green Card Lottery cancelled?
There is no confirmed final court decision permanently cancelling DV-2027. A federal judge ordered the State Department to reopen registration, but the Trump administration has appealed that order and requested a stay.
Will DV-2027 registration open on November 1, 2026?
November 1 is the deadline established under the modified court injunction. However, registration could be delayed if the court grants the government’s stay request or changes the order.
Has the Trump administration appealed the Green Card Lottery ruling?
Yes. According to reporting published on 21 October 2026, the administration filed an appeal and a separate stay request on 19 October 2026.
Is there a new fee for the DV-2027 lottery?
Yes. A $1 registration fee has been established under federal regulations. Applicants selected for further processing are also generally subject to a separate $330 Diversity Visa application fee.
Is a passport required for DV-2027?
Under the new regulations, most entrants must provide valid passport information and upload the required passport scan, subject to limited exemptions.
Can DV-2027 winners receive green cards after September 2027?
Under the normal statutory framework, DV-2027 eligibility expires at the end of the fiscal year on 30 September 2027. Selection does not guarantee visa issuance, and applicants should not assume that pending litigation will extend that deadline.