A US federal judge has ordered the administration to reopen registration for the 2027 Diversity Visa lottery, reinstating a pathway to permanent residency for eligible candidates after the State Department missed its scheduled launch date for the annual entry program.
US District Judge Jinsook Ohta of the Southern District of California issued a preliminary injunction directing the Secretary of State and the department to announce a registration period and launch a 30-day electronic entry window. The mandate also instructs the government to notify chosen applicants and handle their cases according to standard program guidelines.
The judicial decision stems from a legal challenge brought by California-based immigration law firm Red Eagle Law, which contested the department's failure to open registration for the fiscal year 2027 program. Government attorneys had previously contended that conducting the lottery within the statutory schedule was no longer feasible.
The State Department initially stated in November 2025 that modifications were being made to the DV-2027 entry process and that registration dates would be announced at a later time. However, the agency never subsequently opened the registration period, leaving prospective participants unable to apply.
The judge's directive mandates that the department publish specific registration details, including start and end dates, the official entry website, and participation criteria. Established under the Immigration Act of 1990, the Diversity Visa program provides up to 55,000 immigrant visas each year to individuals from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States.
Applicants chosen through the lottery must still fulfill the program's education or work experience qualifications, finish the immigrant visa application procedure, and pass all required screening checks. Being selected does not guarantee the issuance of a visa.
While the court ruling restores the registration phase, participants may encounter an accelerated schedule because the DV-2027 visa year spans from October 1, 2026, to September 30, 2027. This leaves a shortened timeframe for selection, documentation, interviews, and processing.
A separate complication involves the State Department's ongoing suspension of diversity visa issuances. Under guidance updated in August 2026, the department paused all diversity visa approvals while evaluating screening and vetting protocols. While candidates can still submit applications and attend interviews, visas are not currently being issued under that directive.
Consequently, the court-ordered registration does not automatically signal that visa issuance has restarted, as the ultimate outcome depends on how the department complies with the order and how the separate issuance freeze is resolved. Officials advise prospective participants to track official government channels for updates and to steer clear of unauthorized websites promising guaranteed selection.