DV-2027 Selectees and the Visa Pause

The State Department has paused the issuance of all diversity immigrant visas as of August 31, 2026, but selectees can still submit applications and attend interviews. The pause does not change the fiscal-year deadline for selectees, which is why it matters so much right now. Here is who it affects, what the deadline means, and what selectees should be doing while they wait.

Key Takeaways

• The State Department’s notice says DV applicants may still submit applications and attend interviews, but “no DVs will be issued,” and it lists no exceptions.
• Selection does not extend the deadline. Eligibility ends on September 30 of the fiscal year for which a person was selected, and numbers can run out before then.
• Keep your case ready (online DS-260, documents, medical exam) and do not pay anyone who promises a guaranteed result.

What did the State Department announce?

On its Diversity Visa Issuance Updated Guidance page (last updated August 31, 2026), the Department says that as of August 28, 2026, “in accordance with the Court’s order in Medani et al. v. Trump et al., the December 2025 pause of diversity visa issuance is no longer in effect.” The same notice then says, “Effective immediately, the Department of State has paused all visa issuances to diversity immigrant visa applicants.”

The Department gives its reason as a review of screening and vetting in the DV program, following concerns raised by a shooting at Brown University and the killing of an MIT professor that it says were suspected to have been committed by a person admitted through the program. On interviews, the notice says: “DV applicants may submit visa applications and attend interviews, and the Department will continue to schedule applicants for appointments, but no DVs will be issued. Existing diversity visa appointments generally will not be rescheduled or cancelled.” It says there are no exceptions, and that no diversity or other visas have been revoked.

This is a policy notice from the agency, and the situation has moved quickly in court. Because the earlier pause was tied to a court case, this new pause could be challenged or changed. Check the State Department page for the latest wording before you make any decision.

Who are DV selectees, and where does DV-2027 fit?

A selectee is someone whose entry was randomly chosen in the annual Diversity Visa lottery. Being selected only gives you the chance to apply for an immigrant visa; it is not a visa and it is not a guarantee. Our guide to the 2027 Diversity Visa lottery covers how entry and selection work.

DV-2027 has an unusual timeline. In a notice last updated November 5, 2025, the State Department said it would announce the start date for DV-2027 registration “as soon as practicable,” and that the changes “will not affect the visa application period for individuals selected for DV-2027, which will remain October 1, 2026, to September 30, 2027.” At the time of writing, we could not find a State Department announcement that DV-2027 registration has opened or that selection results are available. That means the people facing this pause right now are mostly DV-2026 selectees, and any DV-2027 selectee will meet the pause, or whatever replaces it, when their own application period begins on October 1, 2026.

If you get an email or a phone call saying you were selected for DV-2027, treat it with suspicion. The State Department says results come only through the official Entrant Status Check on dvprogram.state.gov.

Why does the September 30 deadline matter so much?

Diversity visa numbers are tied to a fiscal year, and the fiscal year ends on September 30. The State Department’s DV instructions page says that all DV-2026 applicants “must be found eligible for, and obtain, their visa or adjust status by the end of fiscal year 2026 (September 30, 2026).” The same rule applied to DV-2025 and will apply to DV-2027 with a September 30, 2027 date.

The Department has also reminded selectees, in its October 2025 DV-2026 update, that eligibility “extends through the end of the fiscal year (September 30), and that visas may become unavailable before that date if the Department issues all visa numbers authorized by Congress for that fiscal year.” In plain terms, a pause that lasts into the final weeks of a fiscal year can cost a selectee the chance to receive the visa at all. Our post on the visa number explains why availability is a separate question from having a scheduled interview.

We cannot tell you how a particular selectee’s case will be affected by this notice. The notice does not say what happens to a selectee who is interviewed and approved but cannot be issued a visa before the deadline. If you are a DV-2026 selectee, that question deserves individual attention right now, and it is one to raise with an attorney promptly.

What should selectees do while issuance is paused?

The pause stops issuance, not preparation. State’s notice says applications and interviews continue, so a case that is complete and ready is in the best position if the situation changes. Here is what we tell selectees to focus on:

• Keep your online application current. The State Department says selectees must first submit a complete DS-260 to be scheduled for an interview. If your address, email, marital status, or family details change, update the record. Our post on new DS-260 questions in 2026 covers what has changed on the form.
• Gather your documents early. State’s guidance is to be ready to provide all required documentation at the interview. Start with civil documents, passports, police certificates, and evidence of the education or work experience that supported your entry.
• Complete the medical exam on the schedule the consulate gives you. The Department lists a medical exam among the items selectees should be ready to bring. Medical results expire, so timing matters; follow the instructions for your consulate.
• Watch official channels only. Check your Entrant Status Check page and the State Department news page. Do not rely on social media posts or messages from strangers.
• Do not pay for “guaranteed” help. No one can guarantee a diversity visa, and no one can move you ahead of the pause. The State Department warns that some websites and emails “attempt to mislead customers, posing as providers of official U.S. government information,” and has a fraud warning page. Any government fee is paid to the government, not to a third party.

What about selectees who are already in the United States?

Some selectees live in the United States and may be able to apply for adjustment of status with USCIS instead of getting a visa abroad. Whether you can depends on your immigration history and current status; a selection notice does not by itself fix a status problem, an unauthorized entry, or a work violation. Adjustment also runs on the same fiscal-year clock, so it must be approved by September 30 of the selected year.

The State Department notice we describe above speaks only to State’s issuance of immigrant visas at consulates. Adjustment cases are decided by USCIS, and the State Department page does not say how USCIS will treat pending DV adjustment applications. USCIS has published its own alert on a court order on the diversity immigrant visa program hold policy. Read USCIS’s current guidance directly, because our review of these agencies’ pages shows they are changing quickly. If you plan to file, our post on the I-485 filing fee in 2026 lists the government costs, and our green card practice page outlines how we approach these cases.

What does this pause not change?

• It does not cancel selection. Your name is still in the program, and interviews are still being scheduled.
• It does not extend the September 30 deadline. Nothing in the State Department notice moves the fiscal-year cutoff.
• It does not revoke visas already issued. The Department says no diversity or other visas were revoked.
• It does not apply to other visa categories. The notice covers diversity immigrant visas. Family and employment cases follow their own rules; see our guide on how long a green card takes in 2026.
• It is not necessarily final. The earlier pause was lifted after a court order, and a policy like this can be challenged or revised.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still attend my diversity visa interview during the pause?

According to the State Department’s August 31, 2026 notice, yes. It says applicants may submit applications and attend interviews, and that existing appointments generally will not be rescheduled or cancelled. It also says no DVs will be issued.

Does the September 30 deadline move because of the pause?

The State Department notice does not say so. The Department’s DV instructions state that selectees must obtain the visa or adjust status by the end of the fiscal year. Talk to an attorney if your interview is close to that date.

Someone offered to guarantee my visa for a fee. Should I pay?

No. No lawyer, agent, or website can guarantee a diversity visa or bypass the pause. Verify your selection only through the official Entrant Status Check, and report suspicious messages using the State Department’s fraud page.

I was selected and live in the United States. Can I adjust status?

Possibly, but it depends on your status history and eligibility, and USCIS decides the case. The State Department pause covers visa issuance by consulates, not USCIS decisions. Have an attorney review your facts before you file.

How We Can Help

We help selectees sort out where they stand: whether to pursue consular processing or adjustment of status, whether their documents are ready, and what the fiscal-year deadline means for their timeline. If you are a selectee, call us at (407) 917-2087 or start with a free pre-evaluation. We review the facts to see whether we can help, and if it is a fit, we will invite you to a paid consultation with a written flat-fee quote.

Our founding attorney Denisse Ilabaca is Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law by The Florida Bar, a distinction held by fewer than two percent of Florida attorneys.

This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship with Ilabaca Law, PLLC. Immigration rules and visa dates change often, so talk with a licensed attorney about your situation before you act.