October 16, 2026

A U.S. federal court has ordered the State Department to open registration for the fiscal year 2027 Diversity Visa programme, widely known as the Green Card lottery, by November 1, according to a report by The Times of India.

U.S. District Judge Jinsook Ohta of the Southern District of California issued the preliminary injunction on October 14. The report says the ruling came in a case brought by immigration law firm Red Eagle Law challenging the delay in opening registration for DV-2027.

Under the revised timetable reported as having been approved by the court, the department must announce the registration period by October 29 and begin accepting entries by November 1. Registration is to remain open for 30 days, and selected applicants are to be notified by December 3, according to the report.

The Diversity Visa programme provides eligible people from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States with an opportunity to apply for an immigrant visa leading to permanent residence. The programme, commonly called the Green Card lottery, provides for up to 55,000 immigrant visas annually.

In November 2025, the State Department announced that it was making changes to the entry process. It said the registration start date and the date when selection results would become available would be announced later. The prolonged delay left prospective applicants uncertain about whether they would be able to participate.

Applicants must meet the country-eligibility rules and the applicable education or qualifying work-experience requirements for DV-2027. Selection in the lottery does not, by itself, guarantee a visa or a Green Card. Those selected must complete the remaining immigration procedures, including document checks and an interview, and demonstrate that they qualify for a visa.

The visa-issuance period for DV-2027 ends on September 30, 2027. Available visas may be exhausted before that date, making it important for selected applicants to complete the next steps promptly.

November 1 is the reported court-imposed deadline for registration to begin. Applicants should follow the State Department’s official announcement for the exact opening date, time and full participation requirements.

Official application website for the U.S. Green Card lottery: https://dvprogram.state.gov/

You can submit an entry through this website once the registration period opens. The entry form will become available only on the officially announced date and time.