Judge Orders State Dept. to Reopen 2027 Green Card Lottery Registration
A federal judge ruled the State Department must restart 2027 Green Card Lottery registration.
Why it matters: This decision reinstates access to 55,000 Diversity Visa Lottery immigrant visas, critical for legal advisors and applicants. It ensures compliance with immigration law that had been delayed by agency inaction.
- U.S. District Judge Jinsook Ohta ordered reopening of 2027 Diversity Visa Lottery registration by October 18, 2026.
- The program awards 55,000 visas annually to applicants from countries with historically low U.S. immigration rates.
- Red Eagle Law filed suit after the State Department missed the original registration deadline, triggering legal intervention.
- Applicants must be notified by November 19, 2026, with visas issued by September 30, 2027, per court order.
On October 14, 2026, U.S. District Judge Jinsook Ohta issued a ruling requiring the U.S. Department of State to reopen the registration period for the 2027 Diversity Visa Lottery, commonly known as the Green Card Lottery. This follows the State Department's failure to launch the registration as scheduled, prompting legal action.
The Diversity Visa program allocates 55,000 immigrant visas annually to individuals from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States, as mandated by Congress through the Immigration Act of 1990. It aims to diversify the U.S. immigrant population.
The delay in the registration start date led Red Eagle Law, an immigration law firm, to sue the State Department. Curtis Morrison, founder of Red Eagle Law, stated in a press release, "This ruling affirms that statutory immigration programs must be administered as enacted by Congress, and administrative delays cannot override the law."
Notably, the program faced opposition from the Trump administration in prior years, which sought to terminate it, but Congress maintained the program's legal standing.
Judge Ohta's order specifies that the State Department must announce the registration period no later than midnight October 15, 2026, and open registration by October 18, 2026. The registration window must remain open for 30 days. Results notification to selected applicants must occur by November 19, 2026.
The Department is further required to process applications and issue visas by the fiscal year deadline of September 30, 2027. This compressed timeline compresses the usual processing period.
This ruling restores a significant immigration channel, affecting corporate immigration planning, legal advice for applicants, and access to lawful permanent residence opportunities.
By the numbers:
- 55,000 — annual immigrant visas allocated via Diversity Visa Lottery
- October 18, 2026 — Court-mandated registration reopening date
- November 19, 2026 — Deadline to notify selected applicants
Yes, but: While the court order reinstates the program for FY 2027, the shortened registration and processing periods may create administrative challenges for applicants and the State Department.
What's next: The State Department must comply with the court deadlines and report back on registration progress; additional litigation could arise if compliance issues persist.