Court to Decide if 2027 Green Card Lottery Registration Must Open
A federal court will decide if the 2027 Green Card lottery registration must be reopened.
Why it matters: This decision affects the Diversity Visa program's administration and impacts applicants and immigration lawyers advising on green card strategies amid ongoing delays and legal challenges.
- Registration for the 2027 Diversity Visa lottery has been delayed since November 5, 2025.
- Red Eagle Law sued the Secretary of State on August 19, 2026, seeking to compel opening registration.
- A preliminary injunction hearing is scheduled for September 24, 2026, after a temporary restraining order was denied.
- The Diversity Visa program issues up to 55,000 visas yearly to diversify U.S. immigration.
The U.S. Department of State announced on November 5, 2025, a delay in the registration period for the Diversity Visa 2027 (DV-2027) lottery, stating that the start date would be announced "as soon as practicable." Since that announcement, no registration dates have been set as of late September 2026, creating uncertainty for prospective applicants.
This delay prompted California-based immigration firm Red Eagle Law to file a federal lawsuit on August 19, 2026, seeking a court order compelling Secretary of State Marco Rubio to open the registration period. The lawsuit argues that the government must adhere to the program's statutory requirements despite administrative delays.
On September 3, 2026, U.S. District Judge Jinsook Ohta denied Red Eagle Law's request for an immediate temporary restraining order to resume registration, but she scheduled a preliminary injunction hearing for September 24, 2026. This hearing will determine whether registration must be opened to preserve applicants' opportunities.
The Diversity Visa Lottery program, created under the 1990 Immigration Act, annually issues up to 55,000 visas to individuals from countries with low immigration rates to the United States. It aims to diversify the immigrant population and usually opens registration in early October each year with results announced the following May.
The ongoing legal battle reflects broader debates about the program's future and administration. As noted, the pending court ruling will have far-reaching consequences for immigration policy enforcement and the thousands of prospective immigrants relying on the Diversity Visa Lottery.
By the numbers:
- 55,000 visas — annually issued by the Diversity Visa Lottery program
- November 5, 2025 — date of initial DV-2027 registration delay announcement
- September 24, 2026 — scheduled date for preliminary injunction hearing
Yes, but: The court has not yet compelled reopening registration; a temporary restraining order was denied, so the situation remains unsettled.
What's next: The preliminary injunction hearing on September 24, 2026, is expected to clarify if the registration will proceed for DV-2027.