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UACourt Orders DV-2027 to Open by Nov. 1
The Green Card Lottery 2027 has been saved – for now. On October 14, 2026, federal judge Jinsook Ohta (U.S. District Court, Southern District of California) issued a preliminary injunction ordering the U.S. Department of State to open registration for the DV-2027 program. Online registration must open no later than November 1, 2026, and remain open for 30 days.
For months, it was unclear whether DV-2027 would happen at all. The Trump administration never opened registration and recently argued that it was now too late to do so. The court disagreed.
The bottom line: DV-2027 has not been cancelled. It now has to be held more than a year late – on a much tighter schedule than usual.
Key Facts at a Glance
- What: A court orders the opening of the DV-2027 Green Card Lottery.
- When: Announcement by October 29, 2026, registration opens by November 1, 2026, winners notified by December 3, 2026.
- How many visas: up to 55,000 Green Cards worldwide.
- New: mandatory upload of a valid passport and a USD 1 fee.
- Deadline for winners: visas must be issued by September 30, 2027.
- Still open: the exact registration dates and whether the government will appeal.
Table of Contents
What happened? The ruling at a glance
DV-2027: The new deadlines at a glance
Why did a court have to step in?
What does this mean for DV-2027 Green Card Lottery applicants?
What about DV-2026 and DV-2028?
Conclusion: Good news for everyone dreaming of life in the USA
What happened? The ruling at a glance
The lawsuit was brought by the California law firm Red Eagle Law and its attorney Curtis Morrison – the same lawyer who is already leading the lawsuits on behalf of DV-2026 winners. The complaint against Secretary of State Marco Rubio was filed on August 19, 2026.
Judge Ohta found that the State Department's inaction was likely unlawful. Without a registration period, no one could be selected – effectively suspending a program enacted by Congress. She described such a suspension as arbitrary government action.
Under the injunction, the State Department must:
- publicly announce the registration period, including the opening and closing dates, as well as the eligibility requirements
- publish the announcement through its usual channels, including the Federal Register
- keep registration open for 30 days
- accept all valid electronic entries
- notify the winners and process their cases as usual until all visas are issued or the fiscal year ends on September 30, 2027
Update October 16, 2026: The new deadlines are now officially confirmed. The first order of October 14, 2026 (Case No. 3:26-cv-04738-JO-VET, Dkt. 21) set even shorter deadlines: announcement by October 15, registration opening by October 18 and winner notification by November 19, 2026. At the joint request of the plaintiff and the government, Judge Ohta issued a second order the same day (Dkt. 23). It moves all three deadlines back by exactly two weeks: to October 29, November 1 and December 3, 2026, each at midnight Eastern Time.
DV-2027: The new deadlines at a glance
The schedule is extremely tight: only about five weeks separate the opening of registration from the notification of the winners.
| Step | New deadline | Old deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Official announcement on travel.state.gov and in the Federal Register | October 29, 2026 | October 15, 2026 |
| Online registration opens | November 1, 2026 | October 18, 2026 |
| Registration period | 30 days | 30 days |
| Winners notified | December 3, 2026 | November 19, 2026 |
| Last day for visa issuance | September 30, 2027 | September 30, 2027 |
All deadlines apply until midnight Eastern Time. If registration opens on November 1, it will close 30 days later in early December – the exact dates will only be confirmed in the official announcement. Normally, about six months pass between the close of registration and the results.
Why did a court have to step in?
Because the State Department failed to launch DV-2027 for more than eleven months. Registration normally runs in October and November – for DV-2027, that would have been in fall 2025. Instead, on November 5, 2025, the department only announced "changes to the entry process" and promised new dates as soon as practicable. Those dates never came.
In court, the government argued that the statutory deadlines had passed: a registration period ending in fiscal year 2027 would legally belong to DV-2028. The plaintiff countered that the department had deliberately stalled in order to make exactly that argument.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 10/14/2026 | Judge Ohta issues the preliminary injunction; deadlines are adjusted at the parties' joint request |
| 10/01/2026 | The DV-2027 visa year begins – for the first time without a single winner |
| 09/30/2026 | Fiscal year 2026 ends without DV-2027 registration having opened |
| 09/03/2026 | The court denies an emergency motion (TRO) due to timing but allows the lawsuit to proceed |
| 08/19/2026 | Red Eagle Law sues Secretary of State Rubio over the missing DV-2027 |
| December 2025 | The DV program is paused after the attack at Brown University |
| 11/05/2025 | The State Department postpones DV-2027 registration indefinitely |
This is not the first time a court has rescued the lottery: back in 2020, a federal judge ordered the first Trump administration to resume DV processing that had been frozen during the pandemic.
What does this mean for DV-2027 Green Card Lottery applicants?
Anyone planning to apply for DV-2027 should get their documents ready now. The registration window will be short, and winners will then have less than a year to obtain their visas.
Here is what you need to know now:
- New requirement: Entrants must upload a scan of their valid, unexpired passport. Check now whether your passport is still valid.
- New fee: An official registration fee applies. The American Dream will cover the cost.
- Basic eligibility unchanged: a level of education equivalent to a U.S. high school diploma, or two years of work experience in an occupation that requires at least two years of training.
- Official window only: It has not yet been possible to register for DV-2027 with the State Department. What counts is submitting your entry during the new registration period.
Submit with us now: You don't have to wait for the official launch. With The American Dream, you can submit your application for the 2027 Green Card Lottery right now. We keep track of all news and deadlines for you, review your application and submit it as soon as the registration portal opens. We also cover the new official fee, and will pay for your flight to the US and other expenses, depending on the tariff chosen.
What about DV-2026 and DV-2028?
DV-2026: The ruling only covers DV-2027. For certain DV-2026 cases processed through U.S. embassies and consulates, a federal court has extended processing until October 23, 2026. This is not a guarantee of a visa. According to attorney Morrison, 10,974 DV-2026 visas had been issued by early October.
DV-2028: No dates have been announced yet. Under the normal schedule, registration would have started now, in October 2026. During the proceedings, it was even discussed whether the government might skip DV-2027 and move straight on to DV-2028. The ruling has taken that option off the table for now.
Still open: It is not known whether the Department of Justice will appeal. It did not respond to a request for comment from Courthouse News. The court retains jurisdiction over the case.
Conclusion: Good news for everyone dreaming of life in the USA
The DV-2027 Green Card Lottery is going ahead – a year late and by court order. In summary:
- DV-2027 has not been cancelled, and must open by November 1, 2026.
- Registration will run for 30 days.
- Winners will be notified by December 3, 2026.
- New: passport upload and an official fee.
- Winners must receive their visas by September 30, 2027 – speed will be crucial.
- The government may still appeal.
For everyone dreaming of moving to the USA, now is the time to have your passport ready and submit your application, so it can be filed as soon as registration opens. We will update this article as soon as the State Department publishes the official dates.
FAQ: DV-2027 Green Card Lottery
Will the 2027 Green Card Lottery take place?
Yes. On October 14, 2026, a U.S. federal court ordered the State Department to open DV-2027 registration no later than November 1, 2026.
When does DV-2027 registration open?
The exact date has not yet been set. The State Department must announce it by October 29, 2026, and registration must open by November 1, 2026.
How long can you register for DV-2027?
30 days from the official start – as set out in the court order.
When will DV-2027 winners find out their results?
Under the court order, winners must be notified by December 3, 2026.
What's new for DV-2027?
Most entrants must upload a scan of their valid passport. In addition, registration costs USD 1.
By when must DV-2027 winners receive their visas?
By September 30, 2027. After that, the selection expires.
How many Green Cards will be issued under DV-2027?
Up to 55,000 diversity visas worldwide, distributed across six regions.
Has the Green Card Lottery been abolished?
No. The program is established in the Immigration and Nationality Act and can only be abolished by the U.S. Congress.
Can I already register for DV-2027?
With the State Department, only once registration officially opens. With The American Dream, you can submit your application now. We review it and submit it as soon as registration opens. You will need a passport scan and your passport details.