Green Card Lottery Suspended: What Happened
The green card lottery has been indefinitely suspended by the Trump administration as of December 18, 2025. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the pause of all diversity visa issuances, affecting thousands of applicants worldwide.
This unprecedented action follows the identification of the Brown University and MIT shooting suspect as a diversity visa recipient. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem stated the pause will continue "until we can be sure we know exactly who we are letting into our country."
Key Green Card Lottery Updates for December 2025
Here are the most critical developments affecting DV-2026 selectees and future applicants:
- Program Pause: All new diversity visa issuances halted indefinitely starting December 18, 2025
- USCIS Hold: Pending DV adjustment applications frozen while security reviews are conducted
- January 2026 Cutoffs: Africa at 45,000 (Egypt: 21,000, Algeria: 37,000) despite pause
- DV-2027 Registration: Delayed until late December 2025 or January 2026 with new $1 fee
- Visa Limit Reduced: DV-2026 annual limit cut to approximately 52,000 from original 55,000
The suspension affects both overseas applicants awaiting consular interviews and those already in the U.S. seeking adjustment of status. Immigration attorneys report thousands of applicants are now in limbo.
Who Is Affected by the Green Card Lottery Pause
The diversity visa program suspension impacts multiple groups of immigrants at different stages of the application process.
For DV-2026 Selectees Already in Process
If you were among the 129,516 selectees notified in May 2025, your case is now on hold. USCIS has instructed adjudicators to pause all pending DV adjustment applications. You may be required to appear for an in-person interview or re-interview as part of enhanced security vetting.
For Those Awaiting Consular Interviews
All overseas diversity visa interviews at U.S. embassies and consulates have been suspended. The State Department has not provided a timeline for resumption. Keep your documents current and monitor travel.state.gov for updates.
For UK/Great Britain Entrants
The State Department discovered that selection status results may have been incorrectly reported for some entrants from Great Britain and dependent areas. If you're from the UK, check the Entrant Status Check immediately to confirm your actual selection status.
How to Check Your Green Card Lottery Status
Despite the program pause, you can still verify your DV-2026 selection status online.
- Visit the Official Portal: Go to dvprogram.state.gov—this is the ONLY legitimate source
- Enter Your Confirmation Number: Use the 16-character code from your original 2024 registration
- Review Your Status: The system will show if you were selected and your case number
- Save All Documents: Screenshot or print your status page and confirmation for records
- Beware of Scams: The State Department never sends emails or letters about lottery results
Important Dates and Timeline for Green Card Lottery
Despite the program suspension, these critical deadlines remain in effect:
- Now - September 30, 2026: DV-2026 results remain viewable at dvprogram.state.gov
- September 30, 2026: Absolute deadline—DV-2026 visas cannot be issued after this date
- Late December 2025 - January 2026: Expected DV-2027 registration opening (delayed from October)
- DV-2027 Registration Period: Likely reduced to 2-3 weeks instead of traditional 30+ days
DV-2027 Registration: New $1 Fee and Delays
The upcoming DV-2027 lottery introduces significant changes for future applicants.
For the first time in the program's 30-year history, applicants must pay a $1 non-refundable registration fee. This fee is separate from the existing $330 visa application fee for winners. The State Department expects approximately 25 million registrations, generating $25 million in annual revenue for program operations.
Registration has been delayed from the traditional early October window. Immigration experts anticipate the portal opening between late December 2025 and January 2026. When preparing your application, ensure your passport photo meets all requirements—incorrect photos are a leading cause of disqualification.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Still Apply for the Green Card Lottery?
DV-2026 registration closed in November 2024. DV-2027 registration has not yet opened and is expected in late December 2025 or January 2026. The current pause only affects visa issuance, not the ability to register when the new cycle opens.
Will My DV-2026 Selection Be Canceled?
Your selection status remains valid. However, visa processing is paused indefinitely. You must still complete all requirements before the September 30, 2026 deadline. If the pause continues too long, you may miss your window entirely.
Is the Green Card Lottery Being Eliminated?
The current action is a pause, not permanent elimination. Eliminating the program entirely would require Congressional action. However, the administration has not provided a timeline for lifting the suspension, creating significant uncertainty for applicants.
What Documents Should I Prepare During the Pause?
Use this time to gather all required documents: valid passport, birth certificates, police certificates, medical exam results, financial evidence, and visa-compliant photos. Having complete documentation ready will help you move quickly if processing resumes.
What You Need to Know Now
The green card lottery suspension represents the most significant disruption to the diversity visa program in decades. Over 129,000 DV-2026 selectees from more than 20 million applicants now face an uncertain future. The September 30, 2026 deadline remains in effect, creating pressure for resolution.
If you're affected by this pause, consult with a qualified immigration attorney about your options. Continue monitoring official sources—only trust announcements from travel.state.gov and uscis.gov. Most importantly, keep all your documentation current and ensure your visa photos meet official specifications so you're ready to proceed immediately when processing resumes.
Sources: - [CNN Politics - Why the US is targeting the diversity visa lottery](https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/19/politics/diversity-visa-lottery-green-card-trump-brown-suspect) - [NPR - Trump suspends US green card lottery](https://www.npr.org/2025/12/19/nx-s1-5649339/trump-suspends-u-s-green-card-lottery-after-brown-university-and-mit-shootings) - [U.S. Department of State - Diversity Visa Issuance Updated Guidance](https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/diversity-visa-issuance-updated-guidance.html) - [U.S. Department of State - January 2026 Visa Bulletin](https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin/2026/visa-bulletin-for-january-2026.html) - [Fragomen - USCIS Suspends Approvals of Pending Diversity Visa Applications](https://www.fragomen.com/insights/united-states-uscis-suspends-approvals-of-pending-diversity-visa-adjustment-applications-while-security-reviews-are-conducted.html)