DV Lottery Still Paused – DV-2027 Delayed (April 2026 Update)
If you follow the Diversity Visa program, there are three important facts you need to know today.
First, the U.S. government still says Diversity Visa issuance is paused. Second, DV-2027 has not been cancelled. Third, the government has already published a new final rule that will change how people enter the DV program.
This is where many people are confused. Some think the pause is over. Others think DV-2027 is dead. Neither of those statements is supported by the latest official sources. As of April 8, 2026, the most recent DV pause notice on the State Department website is still the December 23, 2025 guidance, and the State Department’s visa news page does not show a newer DV notice lifting that pause.
The most important update right now
The U.S. Department of State says it has paused all visa issuances to diversity immigrant visa applicants. The same notice also says applicants may still submit applications and attend interviews, and appointments may continue to be scheduled, but no DV visas will be issued while the pause remains in place. The guidance also says there are no exceptions.
That distinction matters. A person may still have movement in the case, but that does not mean a visa will actually be issued. For readers outside the United States, this is the biggest point to understand: an interview is not the same as approval, and right now the official notice still says no DV visas are being issued.
So, is DV-2027 cancelled?
No official government source says DV-2027 is cancelled. What the State Department says is different: it says the government will announce the start date for the DV-2027 registration period as soon as practicable, and it also says these timing changes do not affect the visa application period for people selected in DV-2027, which remains October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
That is an important difference. A delayed registration period is not the same thing as cancellation. Based on the official notice, the better way to explain the current situation is this:
DV-2027 appears delayed, not cancelled.
The new rule that could change everything
On March 11, 2026, the Federal Register published a final rule called “Visas: Enhancing Vetting and Combatting Fraud in the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program.” The rule becomes effective on April 10, 2026. It requires a DV entrant to provide valid, unexpired passport information and upload a scan of the passport biographic and signature page, unless the person qualifies for a limited exemption.
This is one of the biggest DV changes in years. It means the government is not simply talking about the DV program. It is actively rewriting how the entry system will work. The rule also says the Department expects the opening of the DV-2027 entry period to be deferred to reduce the impact on people who do not yet have passports.
This is one of the strongest signals available today. If DV-2027 were being quietly abandoned, there would be little reason to publish a new final rule for DV entry, make it effective in April 2026, and explain how the delayed opening should help future entrants prepare for the passport requirement. That is why the evidence points more toward “stricter and later” rather than “cancelled.” This is analysis, but it is grounded in the government’s own rule and notice.
A second major issue: the $1 registration fee
There is another important change that many websites still explain badly.
In September 2025, the Federal Register published a final rule adding a $1 fee to register for the DV lottery and stating that the electronic registration fee will be collected at the time of registration.
However, the current State Department “Submit an Entry” page still says, “There is no cost to register for the DV Program.”
This creates a real conflict between an older public-facing web page and a later fee rule. The safest explanation is this: the State Department page has not fully caught up with the newer regulatory changes yet, while the Federal Register rule is the formal legal source. That means applicants should prepare for the possibility that DV-2027 registration will require a $1 payment when the entry period finally opens.
What this means for DV-2026 selectees
For DV-2026 winners, time matters. The official instructions say all DV-2026 applicants must be found eligible for, and obtain, the visa or adjust status by September 30, 2026. The State Department’s DV-2026 update also reminds selectees that eligibility only runs through the end of the fiscal year, and that a complete DS-260 must be submitted before an interview can be scheduled.
This creates the biggest risk in the whole story. Even if the pause ends later, the calendar does not stop. DV is a deadline-driven program. When time is lost, opportunity is lost. That is why DV-2026 selectees should not wait for a perfect moment. They should keep their forms complete, keep their documents ready, and follow every official update closely.
What this means for future DV-2027 applicants
For people planning to apply to DV-2027, the message is also clear.
Do not rely on the old October pattern. The official notice says the registration period start date will be announced later. The final rule also shows why: the government is preparing to require passport information and a passport scan, and it expects the opening to be deferred.
This means future applicants should start preparing now, especially if they do not yet have a passport. Waiting for the official opening announcement may be too late in countries where passport processing is slow. That is not fear-based advice. It is the practical lesson from the government’s own rule.
The bigger picture most sites are missing
Many articles stop at “still paused.” That is not enough.
The real story is that the DV program is now sitting between two realities at the same time.
One reality is administrative: visa issuance is still paused, with no exception in the official guidance. The other reality is regulatory: the government is actively building a new DV-2027 entry system with passport requirements, delayed timing, and fee collection support.
That combination tells us something important. The program is not moving normally, but it also does not look abandoned. It looks like a program being tightened, reviewed, and redesigned. That is the best evidence-based reading of the official record today.
What applicants should do now
If you are a DV-2026 selectee, keep your case active. Submit a complete DS-260 if you have not done so. Keep civil documents ready. Watch the fiscal-year deadline carefully.
If you want to enter DV-2027, prepare for a later opening date, get a passport if possible, and expect stricter entry rules than before.
If you see websites or agents promising guaranteed results, be careful. The State Department’s current guidance says there are no exceptions to the pause. That alone should make readers very cautious about paid promises and fake insider offers.
Bottom line
As of April 8, 2026, the official picture is this:
DV visa issuance is still paused. DV-2027 has not been cancelled. A new passport rule takes effect on April 10, 2026. The DV-2027 entry period is delayed, and a $1 registration fee is already reflected in a Federal Register rule, even though part of the State Department website still shows older wording.
For applicants, the message is simple: do not assume the program is dead, but do not assume it is back to normal either.
Primary sources
[1] U.S. Department of State, “Diversity Visa Issuance Updated Guidance,” last updated December 23, 2025.
[2] U.S. Department of State, “U.S. Visas News,” showing DV-related postings and no newer DV restart notice as of April 8, 2026.
[3] U.S. Department of State, “Changes to Entry Period for 2027 Diversity Visa (DV) Program,” last updated November 5, 2025.
[4] Federal Register, “Visas: Enhancing Vetting and Combatting Fraud in the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program,” published March 11, 2026, effective April 10, 2026.
[5] Federal Register rule discussion stating the Department anticipates deferring the opening of the 2027 DV entry period to reduce the impact of the passport requirement.
[6] U.S. Department of State, “Diversity Visa Instructions,” including DV-2026 fiscal-year deadline notice.
[7] U.S. Department of State, “Update on Diversity Visa (DV) Program 2026,” including DS-260 and fiscal-year reminders.
[8] Federal Register fee rule establishing a $1 fee to register for the DV lottery and stating that the electronic registration fee will be collected at the time of registration.
[9] U.S. Department of State, current “Submit an Entry” page stating there is no cost to register for the DV Program.
