The U.S. Department of State has announced that the opening registration period for the Green Card lottery for the fiscal year 2027 has been delayed. The reason for this delay could be due to modifications in the application process.
According to a notice released by the U.S. Department of State on November 5, the Diversity Visa Program for the fiscal year 2027 (usually from October 2026 to September 2027), commonly known as the DV lottery or Green Card Lottery, the registration opening date is yet to be determined and will be announced soon.
In a report by “Newsweek” on Friday, November 5, former senior official of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and partner at Mayer Brown law firm, Morgan Bailey, analyzed that the registration delay and regulatory updates indicate that the State Department is modifying the application process for the 2027 Green Card lottery.
Furthermore, the State Department issued a warning on social media stating that any claims of the registration being open for the 2027 Green Card lottery or offers to increase chances of selection are fraudulent. The visa application period for selected individuals remains unchanged from October 1, 2026, to September 30, 2027.
The Diversity Visa Program was established by the U.S. Congress in 1990 and signed into law by former President George H.W. Bush, with an annual quota of 55,000 visas targeting countries with lower rates of immigration to the United States. Applicants must meet statutory qualifications such as having a high school education or two years of qualifying work experience, subject to regional, country quotas, and overall limits.
Changes in the application process for the Green Card lottery for the fiscal year 2027 may impact the way applicants register and the timing, which could affect their eligibility or application channels. For potential applicants hoping to secure one of the limited Green Card slots through this competitive program, understanding the updated application rules is crucial.
Data indicate that applicants from countries such as China (Mainland and Hong Kong), Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Korea, Venezuela, Vietnam, among others, were excluded in the 2026 cycle.
On August 5, 2025, the State Department proposed new regulations to enhance vetting and prevent fraud: applicants are required to submit valid passport information and scanned data pages (unless exempt), introduce a $1 electronic registration fee, and update terminology such as changing “Gender” to “Sex” and “Age” to “Date of Birth.”
The State Department advises applicants to regularly check the official website for updates on the restart date of registration and related instructions.