October 20, 2026
In a major ruling for millions of prospective immigrants worldwide, a U.S. federal judge has ordered the Department of State to immediately resume the Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) program and open the official lottery on November 1, 2026.
The preliminary injunction, issued by U.S. District Judge Jinsook Ohta, resolves weeks of uncertainty following an administrative halt that left the popular program paused past its normal October launch date. Legal advocates filed suit against the government, arguing that federal agencies do not have the legal authority to shut down a permanent immigration program created by Congress.
In her ruling, the judge agreed, ordering government officials to announce final registration rules by October 29 and officially open the electronic registration system on November 1.
Unlike previous years where applicants had extended time to prepare, this court-ordered schedule will run on a tight timeline:
Registration Period: The online portal will be open for only 30 days starting November 1.
Selection Announcements: Selected applicants are expected to be notified rapidly in early December.
Tight Processing Deadlines: Winners must complete all consular steps before the fiscal year cutoff, leaving much less time than usual for paperwork.
Because the program was paused, immigration experts predict historic levels of online traffic once the government website opens, which frequently leads to technical errors, slow load times, and system crashes.
To prevent fraud and speed up processing, the court order confirms that strict standard entry rules remain in place:
Valid Passport: The primary applicant must hold an unexpired, valid international passport.
Compliant Digital Photos: Recent photos of the applicant, spouse, and all unmarried children under age 21 must meet exact U.S. government photo criteria. Minor formatting mistakes lead to automatic disqualification.
With millions rushing to enter during a compressed 30-day window, early preparation is critical. Prospective applicants seeking assistance with document review, photo verification, and guaranteed submission can complete their registration early through USA Green Card.
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