“Pause” for the Green Card Lottery? What Applicants Need to Know Now

The U.S. government under President Donald Trump has unexpectedly temporarily paused the Diversity Visa Program (DV Lottery). The directive was issued on December 19, 2025, by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under ex Secretary Kristi Noem and was publicly announced via X (formerly Twitter).

Soon after, headlines began circulating suggesting that the Green Card Lottery had been abolished. However, this interpretation is misleading — and incorrect.

Fact: The DV Lottery has not been terminated. Instead, it has been temporarily suspended in order to review internal procedures. The program itself remains anchored in U.S. law and cannot simply be eliminated.

Read about the future of the lottery below. DV-2027 may actually start soon!

What Happened? An Overview of the Official Announcement

Kristi Noem, then Secretary of Homeland Security, announced that the processing of applications under the Diversity Visa Program has been temporarily suspended. The stated reason involves security concerns following several high-profile violent crimes discussed in U.S. media.

In one particularly prominent case, a suspect was reportedly linked to a Green Card obtained through the DV Lottery in 2017 — notably during an earlier Trump administration.

These incidents have led to a political reassessment of the program, at least on an administrative level.

Why Was the DV Lottery Paused?

According to official statements, the suspension is a precautionary measure intended to:

• review existing security screening procedures
• evaluate selection and vetting processes
• strengthen public confidence in the U.S. immigration system

Multiple government agencies emphasized on X that the goal is not abolition, but rather improving and refining existing procedures.

Many U.S. media outlets and commentators also point out that while the DV Lottery has long been politically controversial, it remains a firmly established component of U.S. immigration policy.

Pause or Abolition? The Key Difference

This is the most important point for applicants:

❌ No abolition

✅ Temporary pause only

The current directive affects the processing of ongoing cases, not the existence of the program itself. Eliminating the DV Lottery would require:

• a formal legislative amendment
• approval by a majority in the U.S. Congress
• a law that has not been passed

At present, no such step is underway.

What Does the Pause Mean for DV-2026 Winners?

Those most likely affected are already selected winners of the DV-2026 Lottery.

In practical terms, this may mean:

• delays in case processing
• later scheduling of consular interviews
• expanded or more rigorous security checks

Important: Winning the lottery does not automatically expire, at least not until the end of the fiscal year. All selected applicants remain eligible in principle once processing resumes. However, consular interviews must take place by September 30, 2026, which is the legally mandated end of the DV-2026 processing period.

Will the Next Green Card Lottery (DV-2027) Take Place?

Based on current information: Yes, and probably soon!

Although the exact timeline has not yet been announced, several factors strongly indicate that:

• DV-2027 will proceed as scheduled
• the program cannot be suspended indefinitely without legal grounds
• in over 30 years of existence, the DV Lottery has never been skipped or canceled entirely

U.S. immigration attorneys emphasize that canceling an entire lottery year would be legally highly problematic — if not impossible.

Green Card Lottery DV-2027: Why there is new reason for optimism

The registration period for the DV-2027 Green Card Lottery has been delayed for an unusually long time. However, a series of developments in recent months indicates that preparations for the next lottery are continuing – and recent court decisions have provided the strongest positive signals yet.

On March 11, 2026, the U.S. Department of State published its Final Rule introducing new requirements for DV-2027, including a passport scan and a new government registration fee. The rule became effective on April 10.

Just days later, on April 15, the revised official DV entry form incorporating these changes was approved by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget. Further minor changes were approved in June, suggesting that technical preparations for the new system were continuing.

Political and legal pressure has also increased:
On June 29, 2026 Congresswoman Yvette Clarke introduced legislation designed to protect the Diversity Visa Program against prolonged executive suspensions.

In August, immigration attorney Curtis Morrison filed another lawsuit seeking to force the government to announce the DV-2027 registration period.

Then came two particularly important court decisions:
On August 25, a federal court ruled largely in favor of DV-2026 selectees in Ivanov v. Trump and found that the blanket suspension of Diversity Visa processing was unlawful.

Only days later, the decision in Medani v. Trump went even further. The court temporarily set aside the major DV-related restrictions, including the USCIS hold on DV adjustment-of-status cases, the State Department's general pause on Diversity Visa issuance, and the additional visa pause affecting nationals of 75 countries.

On August 31, 2026 the State Department officially confirmed that the DV-specific visa issuance pause had no longer been in effect since August 28. This means that DV-2026 cases can once again be processed under the regular rules. It does not guarantee a visa to every selectee, but it restores the opportunity for normal adjudication before the DV-2026 deadline of September 30.

What does this mean for DV-2027?

The Medani decision does not automatically open DV-2027 registration, and the Department of State has still not announced an official entry period. Nevertheless, the overall situation has improved considerably.

The rules and application form for DV-2027 have already been approved, the Diversity Visa Program has not been abolished, and federal courts have now pushed back against blanket administrative suspensions of the program. Another pending lawsuit specifically seeks the opening of the DV-2027 registration period.

There is therefore still no guarantee when registration will begin. However, there are now stronger reasons than ever to expect the DV-2027 entry period to open soon. Legally, DV-2027 runs through September 30, 2027, so there is still sufficient time for the program to proceed despite the unprecedented delay.

Our conclusion: The Green Card Lottery is still alive, preparations for DV-2027 are in place, and the latest legal developments are clearly moving in the right direction. The official start date remains open – but applicants should be prepared for registration to begin at relatively short notice.

Why a Complete Termination Is Legally Unlikely

The Green Card Lottery is codified in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). This means:

• the program is required by law
• it cannot be ended by presidential directive alone
• only the U.S. Congress has the authority to abolish it permanently

Since there is currently no draft legislation and no political majority for such a move, a complete termination remains very unlikely.

In fact, upcoming measures — such as a new application fee and a possible mandatory passport scan upload starting with DV-2027 — suggest that lawmakers are seeking to strengthen security while preserving the program, not eliminate it.

Conclusion: Patience for Winners — but No Reason to Panic

Despite dramatic headlines, one thing is clear:

The Green Card Lottery is here to stay.

In summary:

• the DV Lottery has not been abolished
• DV-2026 winners will likely need patience
• security screening may become more stringent
• DV-2027 is expected to take place, although the start date is still pending

How long the Trump administration will maintain this pause remains uncertain. What is certain, however, is that ending the Green Card Lottery outright is not legally feasible.

For anyone dreaming of emigrating to the United States, the key message is simple: stay calm — and stay prepared.