DV Lottery 2028 registration date October 2026 expected – Official update October 8 2026 – BREAKING: DV-2027 never opened – No winners for visa year starting October 1 2026 – State Department says announcement “as soon as practicable” since November 5 2025.
Status Today October 8 2026 – Official:
DV-2026: Entry period October 2 2024 to November 7 2024 – Selectees had until September 30 2026 to get visa or green card – Holds placed December 2025 were temporarily set aside by court order August 28 2026 – Deadline did NOT move – September 30 2026 absolute end – No extensions
DV-2027: NEVER OPENED – Registration did not open fall 2025 – No winners drawn May 2026 – Visa year October 1 2026 to September 30 2027 begins with NOBODY selected – State Department official site dvprogram.state.gov says “Entries are not being accepted at this time” as of September 29 2026
DV-2028: NOT ANNOUNCED – No entry period posted – Only official place to enter dvprogram.state.gov – Entering is free – Anyone charging you to register or guarantee win is not US government
Law still sets 55,000 diversity visas each fiscal year – Congress has NOT repealed program – Established under Section 203(c) Immigration and Nationality Act allocates up to 55,000 immigrant visas each year to nationals low immigration countries 803d
Why DV-2027 never opened?
State Department final rule effective April 10 2026 added new requirements: Valid passport information + upload scans biographic and signature pages with entry form + $1 registration fee no waivers – Aim to combat fraud improve integrity – Rule replaces gender with sex per Executive Order 14168 and age with date of birth – To accommodate new requirements State Department deferred opening DV-2027 entry period to give prospective entrants additional time to obtain passports 09f2
Suspension December 18 2025 – Green Card Lottery suspended leaving approximately 130,000 DV-2026 selectees uncertain – Follows Brown University shooting suspect identified as DV program recipient 2017 – Second time Trump administration halted diversity visa program – First suspension 2020 pandemic – Stakes higher statutory deadline September 30 2026 cannot be extended – USCIS placed hold pending adjustment status – State Department indefinitely stopped issuing diversity visas worldwide – Enhanced vetting may require in-person interviews re-interviews – As of Sept 20 2026 official says visa issuances paused applicants can still submit applications attend interviews but no diversity visas issued during pause b907
Expected DV-2028 Dates – Pattern:
Annual registration period typically runs early October to early November – When eligible submit online – For DV-2028 expected October 2026 to November 2026 – Specifically expected open early October 2026 likely October 7 close early November 2026 likely November 10 pattern previous years – Results for DV-2028 typically made public May year following application period means May 2027 – Exact dates officially announced US Department State official DV Program website dvprogram.state.gov crucial check site precise opening closing times. 6b12fea6
New Rules for DV-2027 / DV-2028 When Registration Opens – Must Prepare Now:
Passport Required – Under final rule taking effect April 10 2026 DV-2027 entrants required submit scan biographic and signature page valid passport as part electronic entry requirement earlier DV programs did not have – Limited exemptions stateless individuals nationals Communist-controlled countries unable obtain passport government beneficiaries approved waiver – Earlier Trump-era passport rule overturned – But new rule reinstates passport – Make sure passport valid well before date
$1 Registration Fee – First time 30 years – All entrants must pay $1 registration fee time submitting entry online – No waivers – New step requiring global payment processing fraud prevention – Budget ninety minutes registration – Prepare payment method $1 fee – Method credit debit card likely
Photo Strict – Recent digital photographs taken within last six months yourself spouse all eligible children – Strict specifications size background no glasses etc – Single most common rejection – AI detection now used – Don’t fix photos get them right start – Neutral expression clean white background
One Entry Only – Only one entry per person allowed – Submitting more than one entry will lead all entries disqualified – Must include all eligible family members spouse unmarried children under 21 even if don’t plan immigrate immediately – Failure list all children who eligible result disqualification principal applicant refusal all visa applications time interview
Education/Work – Must meet two main requirements – Country nativity must be native eligible country low immigration US – List eligible countries changes annually – Plus either high school education equivalent OR two years work experience within past five years occupation requires at least two years training experience 167909f2320b
Eligibility Family:
If you qualify immediate family may immigrate with you: Spouse, Unmarried children under 21 – They do NOT need separate lottery entries if listed correctly.
Common Mistakes Avoid:
Entering incorrect birth country must be country birth not citizenship
Using low-quality incorrect photo – Old or edited photos – Submitting duplicate entries – Assuming education almost completed counts – Listing incorrect marital status
What Happens After Applying?
Check Your Status Yourself – Using confirmation number visit official DV Lottery website – US government NEVER emails calls applicants results – Must check yourself – Entrant Status Check ESC only official notification method
Results Timeline – Usually results available early May following year – DV-2026 results released starting May 2025 – DV-2028 results available starting May 2027
If Selected – Does NOT guarantee visa – Must complete more steps – Submit immigration application DS-260 – Provide clear copies required documents birth certificates police reports passport copies – Schedule attend visa interview local US embassy consulate verify documents ask background intentions – Medical exam government-approved doctor – Pay visa fees directly embassy time interview
Important Deadline – If you win must get visa issued before September 30 – For DV-2027 that means everything submitting DS-260 to passing interview receiving visa must happen between October 1 2026 and September 30 2027 – Absolute no extensions no carryovers no exceptions – If visa not issued consular processing or adjustment status not approved by that date selection expires permanently 6b124083
What To Do NOW Oct 8 2026 – Prepare Before Registration Opens:
Obtain passport valid – Scan biographic signature pages ready – Valid well before date
Take compliant photo – 600×600 pixels white background – No glasses – Neutral – Less than 6 months – Don’t edit – Use professional photographer who knows US visa photo
Gather documents – Birth certificate – High school diploma equivalent – Work experience proof if no diploma – Marriage certificate if married – Children birth certificates
Check eligibility – Is your country eligible? List changes annually – Check official instructions when released October 2026 – If birth country ineligible limited exceptions through spouse country birth or parents country birth – See official instructions chargeability rules
Save money – Budget $1 entry fee + later if selected DS-260 $330 visa fee + medical $200 + affidavit support – Total if selected ∼$1000-1500
DO NOT PAY AGENT – Only official entry site dvprogram.state.gov – Entry free except new $1 fee – Anyone charging you to register or guarantee win is scam – Government does not send selection emails texts – If receive one scam
Monitor official – dvprogram.state.gov and travel.state.gov – Not Facebook rumors – Any website message giving exact DV-2028 opening date not coming from official announcement as of September 29 2026 – We update same page 320b803d
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