Those who have been waiting for registration to begin for the U.S. DV-2027 Green Card Lottery find themselves once again in a state of uncertainty. Back in mid-October, it seemed that things were finally moving forward: a federal court ordered the U.S. Department of State to begin accepting applications by November 1, 2026.
However, on October 29, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit granted the U.S. government’s emergency motion and stayed the implementation of that ruling.
As a result, the registration that potential participants had been counting on did not begin according to the schedule previously set by the court. There is no new official date yet.
Let’s take a closer look at what happened, why the court changed the situation, and whether this means the Green Card lottery has been canceled.
What Happened to the DV-2027 Lottery?
The Diversity Visa Program, better known as the Green Card lottery, gives people from countries with relatively low levels of immigration to the U.S. the opportunity to apply for an immigrant visa each year.
Registration typically takes place in the fall, and participants submit online applications on the U.S. Department of State’s official website.
However, with the DV-2027, things did not go according to the usual plan.
In November 2025, the State Department announced changes to the registration process and promised to announce new dates later. Subsequently, the program remained without a specified application period.
Months passed, and registration still had not opened.
In August 2026, the U.S. law firm Red Eagle Law, L.C., which specializes in immigration cases, filed a lawsuit. It challenged the State Department’s inaction, arguing that the delay was unlawful.
The Court Initially Ordered Registration to Open
On October 14, 2026, a federal district court in California issued a preliminary ruling in favor of the plaintiff.
According to the ruling, the U.S. Department of State was required to:
- By October 29, 2026 — officially announce the dates and conditions for the DV-2027 registration.
- By November 1, 2026 — open the application period for 30 days.
- By December 3, 2026 — notify selected participants of the results.
For people who had been waiting for the lottery, this seemed like a long-awaited opportunity to finally submit an application.
But the U.S. government appealed the ruling.
What did the Court of Appeals decide on October 29?
On October 29, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit considered the government’s emergency motion in the case of Red Eagle Law, L.C. v. Rubio, No. 26-6943.
The judges agreed to temporarily stay the lower court’s ruling pending the appeal.
This means that the State Department is no longer required to adhere to the previously established deadlines for opening registration.
At the same time, it is important to understand that the appellate court did not rule that the DV-2027 program must be permanently canceled.
The court primarily considered the legal grounds on which the plaintiff sought to reinstate the program.
Why Did the Court Rule in Favor of the Government?
This is perhaps the most interesting part of the case.
The appellate court did not state that the delay in registration was correct or lawful. On the contrary, the judges specifically noted that they did not approve of the State Department’s decision not to open registration.
The issue lay elsewhere.
The plaintiff was the law firm Red Eagle Law, which represents clients in immigration matters.
The court reached a preliminary conclusion that the law firm’s economic interests do not fall within the scope of interests that the Diversity Visa program is designed to protect.
Simply put, the law was created to provide immigration opportunities to eligible foreign nationals, not to guarantee revenue for law firms that help them file their applications.
That is why the court believes the government has a strong chance of success on appeal.
However, the question of the legality of the registration delay itself has not been definitively resolved.
Has the DV-2027 Green Card Lottery been canceled?
No, there is no final court ruling canceling the DV-2027.
As of November 3, 2026, the situation is as follows:
- Registration for the DV-2027 has not opened.
- The ruling that required the State Department to begin accepting applications by November 1 has been suspended.
- A new registration start date has not been officially announced.
- The court proceedings are ongoing.
- Further court rulings or actions by the State Department could change the situation.
In other words, it is too early to say that the program has been permanently closed. However, there is currently no basis for expecting a specific date for the opening of registration.
What does this mean for Ukrainians?
For Ukrainians who were planning to participate in the DV-2027, the main news is that they will have to wait for now.
If you were planning to submit an application in the fall of 2026, it’s important not to rely on older publications that list November 1 as the registration opening date.
That deadline was set by a lower court, but its enforcement has been suspended.
It’s also worth remembering that winning the lottery does not in itself guarantee a Green Card. Selected participants must go through a separate process to obtain an immigrant visa and meet all program requirements.
It’s also important to note that the U.S. Department of State has imposed restrictions on the issuance of Diversity Visas, which are separate from the issue of when DV-2027 registration will open.
Therefore, even if the acceptance of applications resumes, the issue of subsequent visa processing will remain important.
Where can you find official information?
Amid this uncertainty, reports may surface about supposedly open registration, new dates, or paid services offering guaranteed participation.
We recommend relying solely on official U.S. sources.
Remember that registration for the Diversity Visa Lottery is free, and applications can only be submitted during the officially announced registration period.
What’s Next?
The matter remains open at this time. The Court of Appeals is expected to continue its review, and the plaintiff may use available procedural mechanisms to challenge the suspension.
The U.S. Department of State may also release new information about the program’s future.
However, none of these options currently provides a basis for specifying a specific date for the resumption of registration.
Key takeaway: The October 29 ruling does not mean the definitive cancellation of the DV-2027 Green Card Lottery. It means that the previous court order to reopen registration is currently not in effect, and the program’s future remains uncertain.
Stay tuned for official announcements from the U.S. Department of State, and do not rush to submit your personal information to third-party websites that promise to register you right now.