Diversity Visa (Green Card Lottery): Program Suspended in 2026

The Diversity Visa Program, popularly known as the Green Card lottery, was one of the most democratic programs in the American immigration system: annually, 55,000 immigrant visas were raffled among candidates from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States. In December 2025, the program was suspended indefinitely by the Trump administration, leaving more than 129,000 DV-2026 selectees in legal uncertainty and eliminating, at least temporarily, this pathway to American permanent residency.

Created by the Immigration Act of 1990 and codified in Section 203(c) of the INA, the program distributed visas through a random lottery among qualified candidates from eligible countries. For millions of people around the world, it represented the only realistic chance to obtain a Green Card without a sponsoring employer, family ties in the US, or substantial investment capital.

Understanding what happened, what the suspension means, and what alternatives exist is essential for those following the global mobility landscape.

The December 2025 Suspension

On December 18, 2025, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced the immediate suspension of the Diversity Visa Program, by order of President Donald Trump. USCIS put all pending adjustment of status petitions (I-485) linked to the program on hold, and the Department of State paused the issuance of diversity visas at all US consulates and embassies worldwide.

The immediate trigger for the decision was the shooting at Brown University and MIT in December 2025, whose suspect was a Portuguese national who had entered the US in 2017 through the Diversity Visa Lottery and obtained permanent residency. The administration cited national security concerns as justification for the pause.

The registration period for DV-2027, which would normally have opened in October 2025, was never initiated. As of April 2026, no new opening date had been announced.

Legal Status of the Suspension

It is important to distinguish between suspension and cancellation. The Diversity Visa Program was created by federal law (Immigration Act of 1990) and its permanent elimination would require Congressional action. The current suspension is an executive action classified as an administrative pause pending a security review.

Groups of DV-2026 selectees have filed lawsuits against the administration, arguing that the indefinite suspension of petition processing effectively freezes an immigration pathway created by the legislature without Congressional authorization to do so. The lawsuits challenge both the legality of the suspension and the executive’s authority to halt a program established by law.

The outcome of these lawsuits will determine whether DV-2026 selectees will be able to complete their processes and whether future editions of the program will resume.

How the Program Worked

Before the suspension, the annual DV cycle followed a predictable calendar. Electronic registration typically opened in October, for a period of about 30 days, on the official Department of State portal. Participation was free and limited to one entry per person: duplicate submissions resulted in automatic disqualification.

To be eligible, the candidate had to meet two cumulative requirements:

• Nationality: be a native of an eligible country (countries with more than 50,000 immigrants in the last five years were excluded)
• Education or experience: have at least a high school diploma or two years of professional experience in a qualifying occupation in the last five years

The lottery was conducted by computer among all valid entries. For DV-2026, 20,822,624 qualified entries were received, of which 129,516 candidates were selected and notified. The probability of a qualified candidate receiving a visa was approximately 0.25%, or less than 1 in 400.

Selection in the lottery did not guarantee a Green Card. Selectees still had to undergo a consular interview or adjustment of status, demonstrate admissibility, and complete all documentation within the corresponding fiscal year.

Eligible and Excluded Countries

Eligibility was determined by country of birth, not citizenship or residence. Countries with high rates of immigration to the US were excluded. For DV-2026, ineligible countries included: Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (including Hong Kong SAR), Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Venezuela, and Vietnam.

An important exception allowed candidates born in ineligible countries to claim eligibility from the spouse’s country of birth, provided the spouse was from a qualifying country and accompanied the candidate to the US.

The regions with the highest number of visas historically issued were Africa and Europe, reflecting both the volume of candidates and the regional quotas that limited each region to a maximum of 7% of the total available visas.

Fraud Prevention

Even with the program suspended, scammers continue to send fake emails informing of lottery selection and requesting payments. The Department of State never sends notifications by email or mail. The only official means of verification is the Entrant Status Check on the dvprogram.state.gov portal. Any communication requesting money for participation or result verification is a scam.

Outlook and Alternatives

With the program suspended indefinitely and no forecast for resumption, candidates who depended on the DV Lottery as a pathway to the US need to consider alternatives. For qualified professionals, options include:

• H-1B: work visa with sponsorship from a US employer
• EB-2 NIW: Green Card based on national interest, with no job offer required
• EB-1A: for professionals with proven extraordinary ability
• F-1: student visa as an entry point, with the possibility of OPT and transition to H-1B
• O-1: for professionals with exceptional achievements in their fields

The suspension of the Diversity Visa represents a significant change in the American immigration landscape. For the global community following international mobility, monitoring the progress of lawsuits and possible legislative decisions is essential to understand if and when this immigration pathway may be reinstated.

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

Leading journalism and editorial content at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps make immigration topics clear, trustworthy, and easy to understand. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.