US Diversity Visa 2026 issuance has resumed after a months-long pause, giving selected applicants a limited window to complete their cases before the September 30, 2026 deadline.
The US State Department resumed Diversity Immigrant Visa issuance on August 28 following a federal court order.
The development is significant for people whose DV-2026 cases were pending during the suspension.
However, being selected in the Green Card Lottery does not by itself guarantee a visa, as applicants must still complete the required processing and meet all eligibility conditions.
US Diversity Visa 2026 Issuance Resumes
The Diversity Visa programme, commonly known as the Green Card Lottery, provides a route to permanent residence for eligible applicants from countries with historically low levels of immigration to the United States.
The State Department had paused Diversity Visa issuance in December 2025 while screening and vetting procedures were reviewed.
Following a federal court order in the case of Medani et al. v. Trump et al., the department resumed issuing DV visas on August 28, 2026.
The resumption has come shortly before the end of the US fiscal year, leaving selected applicants with limited time to finish their visa processing.
September 30 Is the Key Deadline
For DV-2026 selectees, September 30, 2026, is a crucial date.
The US fiscal year ends on that day, and Diversity Visas for the 2026 programme must be issued by the deadline.
Applicants who are selected but do not receive their visa or adjustment of status by September 30 will not be able to carry their DV-2026 benefit into the next fiscal year.
The same deadline applies to eligible spouses and children accompanying or following to join the principal applicant.
The State Department has also warned that visa numbers could become unavailable before September 30 if the authorised numbers are used up earlier.
Selection Does Not Guarantee a Green Card
Being selected in the Diversity Visa Lottery is only the beginning of the immigration process.
Selected applicants must complete the required application procedures, provide the necessary documents and satisfy the programme’s eligibility requirements.
The US government states that the DV programme makes up to 55,000 permanent resident visas available annually, although the effective DV-2026 limit is lower because of statutory reductions.
For DV-2026, about 129,516 prospective applicants, including selectees and their spouses and children, were registered.
The selection was made randomly from more than 20.8 million qualified entries.
Are Indians Eligible for the Green Card Lottery?
India is generally excluded from the Diversity Visa programme because of its relatively high level of immigration to the United States.
Eligibility is primarily determined by country of birth rather than simply a person’s nationality or Indian origin.
Therefore, being of Indian origin does not automatically make someone eligible for the programme.
Applicants who were born in an eligible country may qualify subject to the programme’s rules and limited exceptions.
For people who have already been selected for DV-2026 and remain eligible, the immediate priority is to complete their pending requirements as quickly as possible because the September 30 deadline cannot be extended into the next fiscal year.
