Green card lottery applicants are still waiting for the U.S. State Department to announce the registration dates for the DV-2027 Diversity Visa program, after the agency delayed the normal entry schedule and introduced new requirements for participants.
The department said on November 5, 2025, that it was changing the entry process and would announce the opening date “as soon as practicable.”
As of October 15, 2026, the official Diversity Visa instructions page still lists only the prior DV-2026 registration period.
The delay does not currently change the visa application period for people selected in DV-2027.
The State Department says that period will run from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027.
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Why the green card lottery registration date has been delayed
The State Department has not provided a specific explanation for the length of the delay beyond referring to changes in the DV entry process.
The agency has separately adopted rules requiring more information from people entering the green card lottery, including valid, unexpired passport information and a scan of the passport biographic and signature page unless an authorized exemption applies.
That rule took effect on April 10, 2026, according to the Federal Register notice issued by the Department of State.
The department said the passport requirement is intended to strengthen program integrity and combat fraudulent or unauthorized entries before applicants reach the visa stage.
The new process may require applicants to have a qualifying passport ready before submitting a DV-2027 entry.
The exact technical instructions, including how passport exemptions will be handled in the online form, must be confirmed in the official DV-2027 instructions when they are published.
New $1 fee applies to DV-2027 registration
The initial registration is no longer entirely free.
The State Department established a $1 Diversity Visa registration fee effective September 16, 2025.
The fee is paid when the principal applicant submits an entry and is separate from later visa or adjustment-of-status costs.
The department’s current fee schedule lists the DV registration fee as $1 and the Diversity Visa application fee for selected applicants as $330 per person.
The $1 registration charge is nonrefundable and does not increase an applicant’s chance of selection.
Applicants should be cautious of websites or individuals demanding larger payments to submit a green card lottery entry.
The official entry system is operated by the U.S. government, and the State Department warns applicants about fraudulent websites and emails that imitate government sources.
What applicants should prepare before DV-2027 opens
People planning to enter the green card lottery should wait for the official DV-2027 instructions before submitting any information or payment.
Applicants can prepare by checking that their passport is valid and unexpired, confirming their eligibility under the education or work-experience rules, and collecting accurate information about their spouse and children.
The principal applicant generally must have either a high school education or its equivalent, or two years of qualifying work experience within the previous five years in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience.
Applicants should also obtain a compliant digital photograph and review the official photo requirements before registration begins.
Family information is especially important because failing to list an eligible spouse or child can create serious problems later in the immigration process.
The State Department normally allows only one entry per person during a registration period.
Submitting more than one entry for the same person can result in disqualification.
Where the official DV-2027 entry will be submitted
The green card lottery entry must be submitted electronically through the State Department’s Electronic Diversity Visa website during the official registration period.
The entry website is not active for submissions before the department announces the opening date and time.
No late entries or paper applications are accepted under the regular Diversity Visa process.
After a successful submission, applicants receive a confirmation screen and a unique confirmation number.
Applicants should save and print the confirmation information because it is needed to check selection results and access further instructions if selected.
The State Department does not notify selected applicants by regular mail or email.
Selection notices are made through the official Entrant Status Check system.
Selection does not guarantee a green card
Being selected in the green card lottery does not guarantee an immigrant visa or lawful permanent residence.
Selected applicants must still complete the required forms, submit supporting documents, pass the required medical examination, attend an interview when scheduled, and establish that they meet all legal requirements.
Applicants already in the United States may, in some circumstances, be eligible to apply for adjustment of status through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Applicants outside the United States generally complete consular processing through a U.S. embassy or consulate.
All DV-2027 cases must be completed by September 30, 2027.
Under the statutory deadline, applicants who do not obtain a visa or adjust status by the end of the relevant fiscal year generally cannot receive a DV-2027 benefit afterward.
What is known about the DV-2027 timeline
The most important confirmed fact is that the State Department has not yet published the DV-2027 registration opening and closing dates.
The agency has also not announced when DV-2027 selection results will become available through Entrant Status Check.
Applicants should not assume that the traditional October or November schedule will apply because the department has expressly said that the entry period is changing.
The registration delay is separate from the visa validity period for people who will eventually be selected.
That period remains scheduled for October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027, although selection itself must occur before applicants can begin the later processing steps.
The State Department’s Diversity Visa instructions and visa news pages are the authoritative places to check for the announcement.
How to avoid green card lottery scams
Applicants should not pay anyone who claims to have early access to the DV-2027 registration system.
Applicants should also avoid submitting personal information through websites that are not official U.S. government domains.
The government does not select winners based on payments made to agents, and paying a consultant cannot improve the odds of selection.
If an applicant receives help completing the form, the applicant should be present during the process and should retain the confirmation number personally.
Until the State Department publishes the DV-2027 instructions, claims about a specific opening date, a guaranteed selection, or a special registration link should be treated as unverified.
What happens next
The next official step is publication of the DV-2027 registration instructions and the dates for the online entry period.
Those instructions should explain how the new passport documentation requirement and $1 fee will be applied during registration.
Until then, the green card lottery remains a genuine immigration pathway, but DV-2027 registration is not open according to the latest State Department information.
Applicants should monitor official State Department updates rather than rely on social media posts, private email notices, or commercial websites claiming that the lottery has already opened.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has the DV-2027 green card lottery registration opened?
No. The State Department has not announced the DV-2027 registration opening or closing dates in its current official instructions.
When will DV-2027 visa processing take place?
The State Department says the DV-2027 visa application period will remain October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027.
How much does it cost to enter the DV-2027 lottery?
The State Department’s current fee schedule lists a $1 registration fee paid when the principal applicant submits an entry.
Is a passport required for DV-2027 registration?
A 2026 State Department rule requires valid, unexpired passport information and a scan of the passport biographic and signature page unless an authorized exemption applies.
Does selection guarantee a green card?
No. Selected applicants must still meet eligibility requirements, complete the required forms, provide documents, undergo screening and receive a visa or adjustment of status before the program deadline.
Fact-Checked: Facts were checked against current U.S. Department of State Diversity Visa notices, instructions, fee information and Federal Register rules on October 15, 2026.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information and is not legal advice. Applicants should rely on the latest official State Department and USCIS instructions for their circumstances.
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