A federal judge in California has ordered the U.S. State Department to reopen registration for the Diversity Visa Program for fiscal year 2027. Judge Jinsook Ohta of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California issued the mandate on October 14, 2026, following a lawsuit filed by Red Eagle Law, L.C. against Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The injunction requires the department to announce registration dates, provide access to the official electronic registration portal, and publicize participation requirements through its usual channels including the Federal Register.
In compliance with the court order, the State Department must accept and
process electronic Diversity Visa applications that fulfill legal and documentary standards. The department is tasked with adhering to established procedures for evaluating applications and visa issuance. The ruling further compels the department to disseminate registration information transparently via official avenues to ensure public awareness and proper access.
The court initially set specific timeframes for the registration announcement, opening, and notification of selected entrants. Those deadlines were modified at the joint request of the parties, with the updated schedule requiring the State Department to announce registration details by no later than October 29, 2026, and open registrations by November 1, 2026.
The Diversity Visa issuance period will continue through September 30, 2027, or until the allotted 55,000 immigrant visas are fully distributed, whichever occurs first.
Diversity Visa Program Details
The Diversity Visa Program issues up to 55,000 immigrant visas each year to individuals from countries with historically low U.S. immigration levels. Applicants must submit their entries exclusively via the official electronic registration system during the designated period. Paper applications and late submissions are rejected. Furthermore, submitting multiple entries by the same person results in disqualification from the lottery. Being selected in the lottery does not guarantee visa issuance; applicants must fulfill all legal eligibility criteria
and undergo a full consular screening process before a visa is granted.
Visa Issuance Pause and Ongoing Application Acceptance
In August 2026, the State Department suspended the issuance of diversity visas despite allowing continued application submissions and consular interviews. This pause remains in effect as the registration reopens under the court’s directive. Applicants who register during this reopened window will have their cases processed, but visas will only be issued once the pause is lifted, up to the existing cutoff date of September 30, 2027.
