The U.S. Government Just Released an Update on the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery Program for this Year, DV-2027.

On October 15, 2025, the U.S. Department of State confirmed that the official dates will be released in the coming months. The program is not canceled. It is only delayed.

What is the Diversity Visa Program?

The Diversity Visa program, also known as the DV Lottery, is a U.S. immigration initiative that provides a pathway to lawful permanent residence through a random selection. Each year, up to 55,000 immigrant visas are made available to individuals from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States. The program was designed to promote diversity in U.S. immigration by allowing people from underrepresented countries to apply for a green card. Those selected through the lottery may apply for immigrant visas and, if approved, become permanent residents of the United States.

The Law Behind the Program

The Diversity Visa category was established by the Immigration Act of 1990 and is outlined in Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), codified at 8 U.S.C. § 1153(c).Under this law:

1. No country may receive more than seven percent of the total visas available each year.
2. Applicants must have at least a high school education or two years of qualifying work experience in an occupation that requires a minimum of two years of training.
3. Eligibility is based on country of birth, not residence or citizenship.

Because the program is written into federal law, it cannot be canceled by a president or administration. Only Congress has the authority to repeal or amend the statute.

The Current Situation for DV-2027

On October 15, 2025, the U.S. Department of State confirmed that the registration period for the DV-2027 Lottery has not yet been announced.

The Department stated that the official entry dates will be released in the coming months. This means the 2027 lottery will open later than usual, but the program itself remains active under INA § 203(c). The delay is administrative, not legislative. It does not change the structure or legality of the Diversity Visa program.

When Registration Has Been Announced in the Past

Traditionally, the Diversity Visa registration period opens in early October and runs for about 30 to 35 days, closing in early November. In recent years:
• The DV-2026 registration ran from early October to early November 2024.
• The DV-2025 registration followed the same schedule in 2023.
• The same pattern held for DV-2024 and earlier lotteries.

Because the Department of State has now indicated that the new dates will be released “in the coming months,” this likely means the registration window will not open until late 2025 or possibly early 2026.

Even with a later start, entries will still be applied to the DV-2027 program year, and selected applicants will remain eligible for immigrant visa processing in Fiscal Year 2027, which runs from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027.

New Change for DV-2027: The $1 Registration Fee

A major policy change takes effect beginning with the DV-2027 program. On September 16, 2025, the U.S. Department of State published a final rule in the Federal Register (90 FR 44524) establishing a $1 registration fee for all Diversity Visa Lottery entries. The rule takes effect on October 16, 2025, and will apply to all entries submitted for DV-2027 and future lotteries.

The $1 fee must be paid electronically at the time of registration through the official dvprogram.state.gov website. According to the Department, the new fee aims to reduce fraudulent or duplicate entries and help maintain the integrity and security of the online system. This change does not affect eligibility requirements or the visa processing fees for those who are selected.

What the October 2025 Update Means

The Department of State’s October 15 statement confirms that:

The DV-2027 registration period has not yet opened.

The program remains fully active under federal law.

The official registration dates will be announced in the coming months, likely in late 2025 or early 2026. Prospective applicants should monitor Travel.State.Gov for the official announcement and prepare their documents in advance so they can apply promptly once the entry window opens.

Stay Alert for Updates

The Department will release the new registration dates for both on Travel.State.Gov and in the Federal Register. The Diversity Visa Lottery remains one of the few U.S. immigration programs created to promote diversity and equal opportunity under INA § 203(c).

Although the DV-2027 registration period has not yet been announced, the program is still active. The new $1 registration fee, published on September 16, 2025, and implemented on October 16, 2025, will apply once registration opens.

The delay means applicants may need to wait a few months for the entry window to begin. Once announced, the process will likely largely follow a similar structure to prior years.

Written by Attorney AK Poku (Akua O. Aboagye), of AK Poku Law

At AK Poku Law, we are closely monitoring these developments and will provide updates as soon as more details become available.

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