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Published: April 2026 | BRBF Immigration Solutions
The Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery — commonly known as the Green Card Lottery — was abruptly suspended by the Trump administration on December 19, 2025. Following shootings at Brown University and MIT, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem ordered USCIS to immediately halt all DV processing at President Trump's direction. When authorities revealed that the suspect had entered the United States through the DV program in 2017, the lottery became a direct political target.
Legal experts, however, pointed out that the problems had begun much earlier. The DV-2027 lottery, which normally opens in October, had already quietly failed to launch — with no official explanation from the State Department. By December, the shooting did not initiate a policy shift. It supplied a justification for one that was already underway.
The suspension created profound uncertainty for thousands of DV-2026 winners still in the process, and for millions who had been waiting to apply for DV-2027. However, the program was never cancelled outright. A full cancellation would have required an act of Congress. What existed was an administrative pause — and that pause has now ended with a new set of rules.
On March 11, 2026, the U.S. Department of State published a comprehensive final rule in the Federal Register. This rule takes effect on April 10, 2026, and DV program processing will resume as of that date.
The program has not been cancelled. It is being relaunched with new security and identity verification standards. Here is exactly what is changing.
The most significant change in the new rule is this: all applicants are now required to include valid, unexpired passport information on their electronic entry form. Scanned copies of both the biographical (identity) page and the signature page of the passport must be uploaded as part of the submission.
This change is being implemented to combat fraud and to verify applicant identity from the very first step of the process. In previous years, millions of fraudulent entries exploited the system precisely because no identity document was required at entry.
What if I don't have a passport?
Exemptions are extremely narrow. They apply only to stateless individuals, nationals of Communist-controlled countries who are unable to obtain a passport from their government, and individuals who are beneficiaries of an approved waiver. Everyone else must hold a valid passport to apply.
The bottom line: if you do not have a valid passport, your entry will be rejected. Before the DV-2027 registration window opens, make sure your passport is current and ready.
All applicants must now pay a $1 registration fee electronically when submitting their lottery entry. No exemptions or waivers are available for this fee.
While the amount is small, the purpose is meaningful: to ensure the system is taken seriously and to prevent mass fraudulent submissions that have historically inflated application numbers by millions.
The entry form has also been updated to reflect new administrative terminology. The term "gender" has been replaced with "sex," and "age" has been replaced with "date of birth" to more accurately reflect the information being collected. These changes align with executive orders issued by the Trump administration.
If you were selected in the DV-2026 lottery and have not yet completed your process, time is critical.
DV-2026 winners must obtain their visa or complete their adjustment of status by September 30, 2026. This is a statutory deadline and cannot be extended under any circumstances. Anyone whose application is not approved by that date permanently loses their DV-2026 eligibility.
Here is what you should do right now: gather all required documents — passport, diploma or work experience evidence, police certificates, civil documents — and have them ready. Actively monitor your consular interview scheduling. If you are already inside the United States, do not delay filing your adjustment of status with USCIS. Check the State Department and USCIS websites regularly for processing updates, as interview scheduling may still be slow as the program restarts.
The DV-2027 registration period has not yet been officially announced. Normally opening in October, the cycle has been delayed indefinitely. The State Department has confirmed that the new passport requirement and other rule changes will be implemented with the DV-2027 program, and that the registration window is being deliberately delayed to give prospective applicants additional time to prepare.
In practical terms: when DV-2027 opens, you will need a valid passport ready and a way to pay the $1 fee online. Start preparing now.
The Green Card Lottery is one of the most heavily exploited programs when it comes to immigration fraud. Here is what you must never do:
Check your results only through the official government website: dvprogram.state.gov — no other site has access to official results. Do not trust any email, phone call, or letter claiming you have been selected. The State Department will never contact you directly. Never pay large fees to anyone claiming they can submit your application or improve your chances. The official entry fee is only $1. Only work with accredited immigration representatives or licensed attorneys.
| Topic | Status |
|---|---|
| DV-2026 processing | Resuming as of April 10, 2026 |
| DV-2026 final deadline | September 30, 2026 — no extensions |
| DV-2027 registration | Not yet announced — delayed |
| Passport requirement | Yes, mandatory starting DV-2027 |
| Entry fee | $1 — no waivers available |
This process has become significantly more complex from both a legal and procedural standpoint. Whether you are a DV-2026 winner racing against the September deadline or someone planning to apply for DV-2027, taking the right steps at the right time is everything.
At BRBF Immigration Solutions, we guide you through every stage of the process. Reach out today for a free initial consultation:
💬 WhatsApp: +1 (518) 603-3299
Published: April 2026 | BRBF Immigration Solutions
The Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery — commonly known as the Green Card Lottery — was abruptly suspended by the Trump administration on December 19, 2025. Following shootings at Brown University and MIT, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem ordered USCIS to immediately halt all DV processing at President Trump's direction. When authorities revealed that the suspect had entered the United States through the DV program in 2017, the lottery became a direct political target.
Legal experts, however, pointed out that the problems had begun much earlier. The DV-2027 lottery, which normally opens in October, had already quietly failed to launch — with no official explanation from the State Department. By December, the shooting did not initiate a policy shift. It supplied a justification for one that was already underway.
The suspension created profound uncertainty for thousands of DV-2026 winners still in the process, and for millions who had been waiting to apply for DV-2027. However, the program was never cancelled outright. A full cancellation would have required an act of Congress. What existed was an administrative pause — and that pause has now ended with a new set of rules.
On March 11, 2026, the U.S. Department of State published a comprehensive final rule in the Federal Register. This rule takes effect on April 10, 2026, and DV program processing will resume as of that date.
The program has not been cancelled. It is being relaunched with new security and identity verification standards. Here is exactly what is changing.
The most significant change in the new rule is this: all applicants are now required to include valid, unexpired passport information on their electronic entry form. Scanned copies of both the biographical (identity) page and the signature page of the passport must be uploaded as part of the submission.
This change is being implemented to combat fraud and to verify applicant identity from the very first step of the process. In previous years, millions of fraudulent entries exploited the system precisely because no identity document was required at entry.
What if I don't have a passport?
Exemptions are extremely narrow. They apply only to stateless individuals, nationals of Communist-controlled countries who are unable to obtain a passport from their government, and individuals who are beneficiaries of an approved waiver. Everyone else must hold a valid passport to apply.
The bottom line: if you do not have a valid passport, your entry will be rejected. Before the DV-2027 registration window opens, make sure your passport is current and ready.
All applicants must now pay a $1 registration fee electronically when submitting their lottery entry. No exemptions or waivers are available for this fee.
While the amount is small, the purpose is meaningful: to ensure the system is taken seriously and to prevent mass fraudulent submissions that have historically inflated application numbers by millions.
The entry form has also been updated to reflect new administrative terminology. The term "gender" has been replaced with "sex," and "age" has been replaced with "date of birth" to more accurately reflect the information being collected. These changes align with executive orders issued by the Trump administration.
If you were selected in the DV-2026 lottery and have not yet completed your process, time is critical.
DV-2026 winners must obtain their visa or complete their adjustment of status by September 30, 2026. This is a statutory deadline and cannot be extended under any circumstances. Anyone whose application is not approved by that date permanently loses their DV-2026 eligibility.
Here is what you should do right now: gather all required documents — passport, diploma or work experience evidence, police certificates, civil documents — and have them ready. Actively monitor your consular interview scheduling. If you are already inside the United States, do not delay filing your adjustment of status with USCIS. Check the State Department and USCIS websites regularly for processing updates, as interview scheduling may still be slow as the program restarts.
The DV-2027 registration period has not yet been officially announced. Normally opening in October, the cycle has been delayed indefinitely. The State Department has confirmed that the new passport requirement and other rule changes will be implemented with the DV-2027 program, and that the registration window is being deliberately delayed to give prospective applicants additional time to prepare.
In practical terms: when DV-2027 opens, you will need a valid passport ready and a way to pay the $1 fee online. Start preparing now.
The Green Card Lottery is one of the most heavily exploited programs when it comes to immigration fraud. Here is what you must never do:
Check your results only through the official government website: dvprogram.state.gov — no other site has access to official results. Do not trust any email, phone call, or letter claiming you have been selected. The State Department will never contact you directly. Never pay large fees to anyone claiming they can submit your application or improve your chances. The official entry fee is only $1. Only work with accredited immigration representatives or licensed attorneys.
| Topic | Status |
|---|---|
| DV-2026 processing | Resuming as of April 10, 2026 |
| DV-2026 final deadline | September 30, 2026 — no extensions |
| DV-2027 registration | Not yet announced — delayed |
| Passport requirement | Yes, mandatory starting DV-2027 |
| Entry fee | $1 — no waivers available |
This process has become significantly more complex from both a legal and procedural standpoint. Whether you are a DV-2026 winner racing against the September deadline or someone planning to apply for DV-2027, taking the right steps at the right time is everything.
At BRBF Immigration Solutions, we guide you through every stage of the process. Reach out today for a free initial consultation:
💬 WhatsApp: +1 (518) 603-3299
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Sign up now to access our comprehensive guide on important topics such as visa processes, job finding strategies and living costs for those considering moving to America!
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BRBF Immigration Solutions LLC
104 Ten Eyck Pl #6 Guilderland NY
12084
+1 (518)
603-1682
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+1 518-603-3299
© 2024 BRBF Immigration Solutions LLC
© 2024 BRBF Immigration Solutions LLC
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