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DV Lottery · I-485 ·

Appeals court pauses order to open DV-2027 green card lottery; registration stays closed

On October 14, 2026, a federal court in Red Eagle Law v. Rubio (S.D. Cal.) ordered the State Department to announce DV-2027 entry dates by October 29 and open registration by November 1, 2026. DV-2027 registration never opened in October 2025 as in past years. On October 29, 2026, the Ninth Circuit granted the government's request to pause that order while the appeal continues, so registration did not open on November 1.

Confirmed

  • The order requires the State Department to announce DV-2027 entry dates by October 29, 2026, open registration by November 1 for 30 days, and notify selectees by December 3, 2026.
  • The government filed a notice of appeal on October 19, 2026 (Ninth Circuit No. 26-6943) and asked for a stay of the order.
  • On October 29, 2026, the Ninth Circuit granted the stay in a published order. It found the government had made a strong showing that the law firm that sued is outside the interests the diversity visa statute protects. The court said it does not endorse the State Department's failure to open registration.
  • Because of the stay, the October 29 and November 1 deadlines no longer apply, and the State Department does not have to open DV-2027 registration while the appeal continues.
  • No DV-2028 registration dates have been announced.
  • DV-2026 ended on September 30, 2026. DV-2026 selections can no longer be used.
  • Separately, on August 28, 2026, a court order in Medani v. Trump (N.D. Cal.) ended the State Department's December 2025 pause on diversity visa issuance.

Still unclear

  • Whether DV-2027 registration will open at all. The State Department had not announced DV-2027 dates or instructions as of November 3, 2026.
  • How the appeal will end, and whether the law firm will ask for further review of the stay.
  • If registration does open, whether the rules and the eligible-country list will match past years.
  • When, or whether, DV-2028 registration will take place.

Key dates

  1. State Department pauses diversity visa issuance
  2. Medani v. Trump order ends the issuance pause
  3. DV-2026 fiscal year ends
  4. Court orders DV-2027 registration to open
  5. Government files notice of appeal
  6. Ninth Circuit pauses the order; registration deadlines lifted

Sources