The U.S. Department of State has unexpectedly delayed the opening of the Green Card lottery 2027 (DV-2027) registration period, citing “certain changes” to the entry process. The delay, which pushes the application window past its traditional early October start, has left millions of potential applicants worldwide in limbo and triggered a wave of fraudulent schemes claiming the lottery is open.
Key Facts: The DV-2027 Delay
- Program Delayed: The DV-2027 registration period, which typically runs from early October to early November, has been officially postponed. The State Department has not provided a new start date, stating it will be announced “as soon as practicable.”
- The “Changes”: The delay is linked to implementing a new $1 electronic registration fee, the first-ever charge for the initial DV lottery entry.
- Fraud Alert: The State Department issued a public warning on November 5, 2025, clarifying the DV-2027 program is not open and cautioning applicants about fraudulent websites and services.
- Winner Timeline Unchanged: Officials confirmed the delay will not affect the visa application period for those selected. Winners will still have the same window, from October 1, 2026, to September 30, 2027, to apply for their visas.
- External Factors: Immigration analysts speculate the delay is caused by the technical challenges of implementing a new global payment system, potentially compounded by the ongoing U.S. government shutdown, which entered its 41st day.
An Unprecedented Halt in the ‘American Dream’ Lottery
For millions globally, the annual U.S. Diversity Visa (DV) Program, or “Green Card lottery,” represents one of the few pathways to American permanent residency. The program is Congressionally mandated and makes available up to 55,000 immigrant visas annually to individuals from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States
However, as of November 12, 2025, the official application portal remains closed, well past its expected launch.
In a typical year, the application window would have just concluded. For comparison, the DV-2026 program accepted entries from October 2, 2024, to November 7, 2024
On November 5, 2025, the U.S. Department of State broke its silence, not with a start date, but with a formal notice of delay.
“The Department is implementing certain changes to the Diversity Visa (DV) entry process,” the official statement read. “We will announce the start date for the DV-2027 registration period as soon as practicable, as well as the date that DV-2027 selection results may be available through the Entry Status Check (ESC).
The announcement stressed that the core timeline for successful applicants remains intact. Those eventually selected for DV-2027 will still begin their visa processing on October 1, 2026. This suggests that while the entry period is compressed, the processing period for winners will be as well.
Analysis: The $1 Fee and the Government Shutdown
While the State Department’s official notice was vague about the “certain changes,” immigration experts and legal analysts have identified the primary cause: the rollout of a new $1 registration fee.
The End of the Free Entry Era
For the first time since its inception, applying for the DV lottery will no longer be free.
A final rule establishing the nominal $1 fee was published in the U.S. Federal Register on September 16, 2025, and took effect immediately
According to analysis from immigration law firms, the fee serves three main purposes
- Fraud Prevention: The primary driver. By requiring a traceable electronic payment (credit/debit card or digital wallet), the U.S. government aims to reduce the massive number of fraudulent, duplicate, and fake entries submitted by “visa agents,” who often file bulk applications without an individual’s knowledge.
- Modernization: It integrates the DV program with other U.S. federal platforms that use digital payment systems.
- Program Maintenance: The fee helps offset the administrative costs of running the lottery, which processes millions of entries annually.
Richard T. Herman, an immigration attorney, noted the fee’s strategic purpose. “The $1 fee isn’t meant to block applicants — it’s meant to strengthen the system and reduce fraud,” Herman stated
Compounding Complications: The Shutdown
The implementation of a brand-new, secure, global payment system across all U.S. embassies and consulates is a massive technical undertaking. This challenge is believed to be the source of the delay.
This technical hurdle is likely exacerbated by the ongoing U.S. government shutdown. As of November 11, 2025, the shutdown reached its 41st day, the longest in history
With many federal employees furloughed and non-essential operations halted, the capacity to test and securely launch a new financial system for a high-profile program like the DV lottery is severely compromised.
Impact on Applicants: Confusion and Scams
The information vacuum created by the delay has become a breeding ground for misinformation and financial fraud. The State Department’s November 5 notice was issued partly to combat these growing scams.
“The Diversity Visa (DV) 2027 entry registration period is not open at this time,” the department warned. “We are aware of reports of fraudulent claims that DV-2027 entry is open and of individuals and services falsely claiming they can increase your chances of selection.
Officials reiterated that dvprogram.state.gov is the only official website, entry is not yet open, and no third-party service can increase a person’s chances of being selected.
The delay also affects millions of legitimate applicants from eligible countries who meticulously prepare their applications (which require specific digital photo standards) for the October window.
Furthermore, the delay impacts nationals from countries that are perennially ineligible, who must check the new instructions annually to see if their country’s status has changed.
DV-2026 Ineligible Countries (for reference)
| Region | Ineligible Countries (DV-2026 Cycle) |
| Asia | Bangladesh, China (mainland and Hong Kong), India, Pakistan, South Korea, Philippines, Vietnam |
| Americas | Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Venezuela |
| Africa | Nigeria |
(Note: This list, based on the DV-2026 cycle, is subject to change for DV-2027. Countries are deemed ineligible if more than 50,000 of their nationals immigrated to the U.S. in the previous five years.)
What to Watch Next
All eyes are now on the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs website (travel.state.gov) for the official announcement of the DV-2027 opening date.
Because the visa issuance window (Oct 2026 – Sep 2027) is fixed by statute, this delay on the front end means a compressed timeline for the entire program. The date for checking results, normally in early May, is also now listed as “to be announced.”
Applicants are advised to exercise extreme caution and rely only on official U.S. government sources. Any website, email, or agent demanding a fee now to “pre-register” or “secure a spot” for the Green Card lottery 2027 is fraudulent.
