On October 14, 2026, U.S. federal judge Jinsook Ohta of the Southern District of California issued an injunction ordering the U.S. State Department to reopen the registration period for the Diversity Visa Program for fiscal year 2027. The ruling came in the case Red Eagle Law, L.C. v. Rubio against Secretary of State Marco Rubio, following a lawsuit challenging the initial failure to open the registration.
New Deadlines for Registration Announcement and Application
The court mandated the State Department to announce the call for registration and enable electronic submissions by maximum deadlines of October 29 and November 1, 2026, respectively. These dates represent the latest permissible deadlines;
the Department may open registration earlier. The court-approved schedule was updated on the order date after joint requests by both parties in the case.
Visa Issuance Period Extended Until Quota or Deadline
The ruling requires visa issuance to continue until either the allotted visa quota for fiscal year 2027 is exhausted or September 30, 2027, whichever occurs first. This follows an August 2026 State Department announcement pausing diversity visa issuance but allowing applicants to submit applications and complete interviews during the suspension.
Diversity Visa Program Structure and Requirements
The Diversity Visa Program grants up to 55,000 immigrant visas annually to nationals of countries with historically low immigration rates to the United States. Selection is
random; however, applicants must fulfill eligibility criteria and undergo screening processes to qualify for visa issuance. The court order specifies that all applications must be electronic and comply with legal documentation requirements. Paper applications and duplicate entries lead to disqualification.
Impact on Applicants and Official Communications
With the court-ordered reopening, applicants seeking entry in the 2027 lottery must submit electronic applications within the new announcement period and follow published participation rules. The State Department is required to disseminate precise instructions, registration dates, official website information, and program requirements through standard channels, including the Federal Register. The court maintains jurisdiction to enforce or amend the injunction if
needed.
