A federal judge has ordered the US State Department to open registration for the delayed DV-2027 green card lottery by November 1, 2026. The ruling gives prospective applicants a new timetable for entering the Diversity Visa Program, with a 30-day registration window and a December 3 deadline for notifying those selected.
US District Judge Jinsook Ohta issued the preliminary injunction on October 14 in Red Eagle Law, L.C. v. Rubio. A subsequent amended order, signed the same day, moved three deadlines after both parties requested a modification. Those revised dates are the ones applicants should watch.
The New Registration and Selection Deadlines
The amended timetable requires the State Department to announce the registration arrangements by October 29. That announcement must identify the opening and closing dates, the website for electronic entries and the participation requirements.
- October 29, 2026: deadline to publish the registration announcement.
- November 1, 2026: deadline to open registration, which must remain available for 30 days.
- December 3, 2026: deadline to notify selectees eligible to apply for a diversity visa.
The original injunction also directs the department to process applications under its usual procedures and applicable law until the fiscal-year allocation is exhausted or September 30, 2027, whichever comes first. The court retains authority to enforce or modify the injunction.
These are court-imposed deadlines, not confirmation that applications are already being accepted. When checked on October 15, the official entry website still displayed its closed-registration notice. Applicants should wait for the DV-2027 announcement and use the opening and closing times it specifies.
The $1 Entry Fee Is Confirmed
The State Department’s current fee schedule lists a $1 Diversity Visa registration charge, paid by the principal applicant at registration. This is separate from the $330 visa application fee charged per person applying as a selected DV applicant.
The $1 payment therefore covers entering the lottery, rather than the full immigration process. Applicants who are selected and continue will face the applicable visa-processing costs, while medical examinations and other required steps may involve additional expenses.
The official fee schedule does not establish a universal requirement to use a foreign-issued bank card. Accepted payment methods and any country-specific limitations need to be checked against the State Department’s actual DV-2027 registration instructions. The confirmed fee alone is not enough to determine whether a particular card will work.
Passport Rules Also Matter
There is another preparation step beyond watching the calendar. A State Department final rule, effective April 10, 2026, requires valid, unexpired passport information and a scan of the passport’s biographic and signature page, subject to limited exemptions.
We previously explained the passport requirement and the changes to the entry process. Prospective entrants should review the forthcoming instructions carefully, including eligibility, documentation and photograph requirements, instead of relying on an older lottery guide.
Selection Is a Chance to Apply
The Diversity Visa Program provides an immigration pathway for eligible people from countries with historically low immigration to the United States. Its annual statutory ceiling is up to 55,000 visas, subject to applicable adjustments; it does not offer a guaranteed green card to everyone whose entry is selected.
As the State Department’s selection guidance explains, being selected is a further stage in the process. Applicants must still meet the requirements for a visa. For now, the practical milestone is the official registration announcement due by October 29, followed by the 30-day entry period required under the court’s order.
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