Green Card Lottery Suspended: December 2025 Update
The green card lottery program has been indefinitely suspended by the Trump administration as of December 18, 2025. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem ordered USCIS to halt all Diversity Visa (DV) processing immediately, affecting thousands of applicants worldwide.
This historic suspension follows the tragic Brown University and MIT shootings on December 13, 2025. The suspect, identified as Portuguese national Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, had entered the United States through the diversity visa lottery in 2017.
Key Green Card Lottery Updates for 2026
Here's what you need to know about the current status of the diversity visa program:
- Program Status: Indefinitely paused as of December 18, 2025, pending security review
- DV-2026 Selectees: Over 129,000 people selected from 20.8 million entries now face uncertainty
- Available Visas: Reduced to approximately 52,000 (from 55,000) due to NACARA provisions
- Deadline Unchanged: September 30, 2026 remains the final date for DV-2026 visa issuance
- DV-2027 Registration: Delayed indefinitely; originally expected late December 2025 or January 2026
- New $1 Fee: First-ever registration fee confirmed for DV-2027 when it opens
Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated the pause will continue "until we can be sure we know exactly who we are letting into our country." However, legal experts note that fully ending the program would require Congressional action.
Who Is Affected by the Green Card Lottery Suspension
The suspension impacts multiple groups of diversity visa applicants at different stages of their immigration journey.
For DV-2026 Selectees
If you were selected in the DV-2026 lottery (results announced May 3, 2025), your application is now on hold. USCIS has instructed adjudicators to pause all pending DV adjustment applications, including work and travel authorization requests tied to those applications.
For DV-2027 Hopeful Applicants
The DV-2027 registration period, already delayed from October 2025, faces further postponement. The new $1 registration fee system was being implemented when the suspension occurred. Monitor the official site at dvprogram.state.gov for updates.
For DV-2025 Remaining Cases
Applicants with pending DV-2025 cases face immediate impact. The fiscal year 2025 deadline of September 30, 2025 has already passed, but some cases may still be affected by the broader processing freeze.
How to Check Your Green Card Lottery Status
Despite the suspension, you can still verify your DV-2026 selection status online:
- Visit the Official Website: Go to dvprogram.state.gov - this is the ONLY legitimate site
- Enter Your Confirmation Number: Use the 16-character code from your original entry
- Provide Personal Details: Enter your last name, year of birth, and other required information
- Review Your Status: Check if you're selected and note your case number
- Save Your Documentation: Download and print your selection letter for your records
Important: The U.S. government NEVER contacts lottery winners by email, phone, or mail. Any such contact is a scam. Always use the official government website to check your status.
January 2026 DV-2026 Cutoff Numbers
Before the suspension, the State Department released January 2026 visa bulletin cutoff numbers:
- Africa: 35,000 (except Algeria 20,000; Egypt 16,000)
- February 2026 Africa: Expected 45,000 (Algeria 37,000; Egypt 21,000)
- Country Limit: No single country can receive more than 7% of available visas
- Case Number Threshold: Only applicants with numbers BELOW cutoffs may proceed
These cutoff numbers determined which selectees could schedule interviews. However, with the program suspended, even those below the cutoff face processing delays.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Green Card Lottery
Is the Green Card Lottery Permanently Cancelled?
No, the green card lottery is suspended, not cancelled. The Diversity Visa program was created by Congress in 1990 and would require Congressional action to permanently end. The current pause is an executive action pending security review.
Will DV-2026 Selectees Lose Their Chance?
This remains uncertain. All DV-2026 applicants must obtain their visa by September 30, 2026. If the suspension continues too long, some selectees may miss this deadline through no fault of their own. Immigration attorneys expect legal challenges.
When Will DV-2027 Registration Open?
The DV-2027 registration was originally scheduled for October 2025, then delayed to late December 2025 or January 2026. With the program suspension, no new registration date has been announced. The new $1 registration fee will apply when registration eventually opens.
What Should I Do If I'm a DV-2026 Selectee?
Keep your documentation current and monitor official sources. Do not pay for "expedited processing" or other services claiming to help during the suspension. Ensure your passport photo meets official requirements so you're ready when processing resumes.
What You Need to Know Right Now
The green card lottery suspension creates unprecedented uncertainty for the nearly 20 million people who apply to the diversity visa program annually. DV-2026 selectees should maintain their documentation, keep their passport photos current, and monitor official government sources for updates.
If you're preparing for any visa application, ensure your documents meet all requirements. Having compliant passport and visa photos ready can save valuable time when processing resumes. The situation is evolving rapidly, so check travel.state.gov regularly for official announcements about the diversity visa program's future.