The Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery, a highly anticipated opportunity for people worldwide to pursue permanent residency in the United States, has sparked curiosity and speculation regarding its opening for the DV-2027 program. With recent changes in regulations and unexpected delays, many are seeking clarity on the process. This article addresses five key questions.
Has the DV lottery opening been delayed this year compared to previous years?
Yes, the registration period for DV-2027 has been delayed past its usual early October start date. Normally, the lottery opens in the first week of October, but this year, it has not yet begun.
The entry period for the DV-2026 Diversity Visa Program was between October 2, 2024, and November 7, 2024. The DV-2025 registration period was from October 4, 2023, until November 7, 2023. Likewise, the entry period for DV-2024 was between October 5, 2022, to Tuesday, November 8, 2022.
Delays in DV program openings are not without precedent. In 2017, a technical problem forced the Department to reset the DV-2019 registration period after entries submitted between October 3 and 10 were lost due to a system glitch. A new entry period began on October 18 that year.
Has the government stated anything about the reason for the delay?
No, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) has not specified an official reason. This publication reached out to the U.S. Department of State (DOS) twice seeking a reason for the delayed opening of the DV-2027 registration. However, the State Department declined to provide a direct answer and refused to disclose the reason for the delay.
When we asked, “Can the Department of State confirm or deny if the development and deployment of the system for collecting the new $1 electronic registration fee has influenced the official start date of the DV-2027 registration period?”
The Department of State did not confirm that this new fee is the cause of the delay, nor did they confirm or deny that a government shutdown influenced the start date.
A spokesperson told NepYork, “The Diversity Visa (DV) program is established by statute, and the Department of State will continue to implement the program as required by law.” They added, “This year, there will be changes to the DV entry process.”
Has the government stated anything about when the DV lottery will open?
The DOS has stated that registration dates for DV-2027 will be “widely publicized in the coming months” via their website. No exact date has been announced yet, but an update is expected soon.
We had asked the U.S. Department of State (DOS), “What are the exact or tentative start and end dates for the DV-2027 registration period?”
The Department of State has not yet released the official or tentative start and end dates for the DV-2027 registration period. “We will announce registration dates and other details when available,” the spokesperson said.
Last week, The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs stated that dates for the Diversity Visa (DV) 2027 program registration period will be “widely publicized in the coming months,” following the program’s failure to launch on its usual early-October schedule.
The department, which published the November Visa Bulletin last week, reiterated: “Dates for the DV-2027 program registration period will be widely publicized in the coming months. Those interested in entering the DV-2027 program should check the Department of State’s Diversity Visa webpage in the coming months.”
It remains unclear whether this language indicates an imminent announcement or merely reflects standard phrasing carried over from past bulletins.
Do you have to pay a fee for the DV lottery that will open this time?
Yes, a new $1 electronic registration fee will be required for DV-2027 entries, paid at the time of submission. This fee aims to cover operational costs and reduce fraudulent entries. One of the confirmed changes is the implementation of a new $1 electronic registration fee.
A final rule establishing the $1 registration fee for the DV Lottery was published in the Federal Register on September 16, 2025, and took effect the same day, with the public notified a day prior. This new fee must be collected electronically at the time of filing the DV application.
The Department explained the purpose of the fee: “The new fee for registration will more fairly allocate the costs of managing the random selection process to those who register. It will also help reduce speculative registrations by individuals seeking to exploit questionable potential entrants.”
Previously, the cost of operating the lottery was bundled into the $330 Diversity Visa application fee, which was only paid by those successfully selected for a visa. This new rule aims to “more fairly burden the individuals seeking access to the DV application process, instead of placing the costs of the lottery registration on all registrants.”
The Department estimates this fee will generate approximately $25 million in revenue. While the cost of the lottery operation has been removed from the DV application fee, the total $330 fee paid by successful applicants will not be immediately reduced. The government stated it plans to review and adjust the DV application fee in future model updates.
Immigration attorneys speculate the current delay may be linked to a major change in the program—the introduction of a new $1 electronic registration fee for all entrants, which takes effect with the DV-2027 cycle. “Implementing the new payment processing system across the globe could be the new ‘technical reason’ for the prolonged wait,” said Keshab Seadie, an immigration attorney based in New York.
Is a passport mandatory for the DV lottery that will open this time?
No, a passport will not be mandatory for DV-2027 registrations.
The Trump administration has proposed a rule to make passports mandatory for DV Lottery applicants, but this regulation is unlikely to take effect for the upcoming application period due to insufficient time for legal and procedural compliance. It was the Trump administration that formally proposed this requirement in August, though the Biden administration had initially planned to introduce it last year.
Previously, in June 2019, the Trump administration introduced an interim rule mandating passports for DV applications. However, this was struck down by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Kelly, who ruled that the regulation was implemented without following proper procedures. Notably, Judge Kelly was appointed by President Donald Trump. Following the court’s decision, the U.S. Department of State issued a final rule in 2022, eliminating the passport requirement.
The current Trump administration is now working to reinstate the passport requirement, ensuring legal compliance. On August 5, 2025, the proposed rule was published in the Federal Register, with a public comment period open until September 19, 2025. However, with limited time before the DV-2027 application period, it is unlikely this rule will apply to the upcoming lottery.
If implemented, applicants will need to provide their passport serial number, issuing country, expiration date, and a JPEG scan of the passport’s biographical and signature pages.
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Kishor Panthi
View More PostsKishor Panthi is the founder and editor-in-chief of Khasokhas and NepYork. He is the author of three books, “Kampan,” "UNTRANSLATABLE" and “Zero Mile.” He writes about social issues, immigration, and politics.
