Washington, October 30, 2026 — The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has temporarily halted an order requiring the U.S. Department of State to reopen registration for the DV-2027 Diversity Visa Program. As a result, registration will not open on November 1 as previously scheduled, and no new official opening date has been announced.
The ruling grants the federal government an emergency stay while its appeal proceeds. It pauses the lower court’s deadlines, which had required the State Department to announce the registration period and open it by November 1.
For background on the program and the registration process, see Voljob’s DV Lottery 2027 guide and its DV-2027 registration update.
Why did the appeals court halt the order?
The appeals court found that Red Eagle Law, the only plaintiff in the case, had not shown that its financial interests as a law firm fell within the interests protected by the law establishing the Diversity Visa Program. The program is intended to promote immigration from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States.
The court also clarified that its decision does not endorse the State Department’s failure to open the registration period.
Has the DV-2027 lottery been canceled?
No final ruling has canceled the program. The appeals court’s decision temporarily pauses the lower court order while the appeal continues. The legality of keeping DV-2027 registration closed has not been finally resolved.
What does this mean for prospective applicants?
Registration for the DV-2027 U.S. immigration lottery will not begin on November 1, 2026, and there is currently no official replacement date. The program’s status remains uncertain while the appeal is pending.
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