Anyone searching for the DV-2028 Green Card lottery registration date should start with one key fact: as of September 14, 2026, the U.S. Department of State has not published the opening or closing dates for DV-2028.
Claims that registration will “definitely open in October” rely on past patterns. They are not official announcements.
| Short answer: There is no verified DV-2028 opening date. For DV-2027, the Department’s November 5, 2025 notice said it would announce the registration start date and the date when results may become available later. Do not act as though a registration window exists until an official source publishes it. |
When will the DV-2028 Green Card lottery open?
The Diversity Visa program runs annually. However, the year in the program name refers to the U.S. fiscal year in which selected applicants may receive visas. It does not simply identify the calendar year when people submit entries.
Therefore, only the DV-2028 instructions can establish the actual DV-2028 registration period.
For each program year, the Department publishes separate rules covering eligible countries, education or work-experience requirements, photo specifications, and exact registration times. Until those instructions appear, applicants should not assume that a prior year’s technical requirements or eligibility list will remain unchanged.
What happened to DV-2027?
On November 5, 2025, the Department said it was implementing changes to the DV entry process. It stated that it would announce the DV-2027 registration start date and the date when selection results might become available through Entrant Status Check.
At the same time, it preserved the visa application period for selected DV-2027 applicants: October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
That notice did not say that DV-2027 was canceled. Instead, it showed that the entry and results timetable had departed from the familiar cycle.
As of this article’s review date, the cited DV-2027 notice still does not provide a firm registration or results date. A later official notice should control if the Department updates its guidance.
What does the current visa-issuance pause mean?
The Department’s guidance updated on August 31, 2026 records two separate developments. First, it says the prior pause that began in December 2025 was no longer in effect following an August 28 court order.
Then, the Department announced an immediate new pause on all diversity immigrant visa issuances.
Under that guidance, applicants may submit applications and attend interviews, and the Department may continue scheduling appointments. Still, officers will not issue diversity visas while the pause remains in place.
The notice lists no exceptions and says it did not revoke currently valid visas. This is not a registration announcement, so it does not set the DV-2028 opening date. It does, however, show that current DV processing is unusually fluid.
| Time-sensitive point: DV-2026 eligibility ends on September 30, 2026 and does not carry into the next fiscal year. The relationship between that deadline and the current issuance pause may be critical for an individual case. People with pending DV-2026 matters should review official updates and case-specific options promptly. |
A safe DV-2028 preparation checklist
- Monitor only the DV instructions on travel.state.gov and the official dvprogram.state.gov portal.
- Compare each family member’s name, birth details, marital status, and citizenship information against official records.
- Prepare a new photo only after the program instructions publish the current technical specifications.
- Keep the unique confirmation number shown after submission. You need it to check your result.
- Remember that the initial online entry is free. Ignore anyone who claims a fee can improve your odds or unlock an official result.
- Recheck country eligibility, education or work experience, and family-listing rules when the new instructions appear.
How and where should you check the result?
The Department does not send an official selection letter or an email saying that you won. Entrant Status Check is the only official method for learning whether an entry was selected.
Even if someone helped prepare the form, the entrant should retain control of the confirmation number.
Selection does not guarantee a visa. A selected entrant must still qualify, complete each step on time, provide the required evidence, and have a visa number available. Current administrative or legal developments can also affect processing.
How can you verify an official announcement?
Start with the Department of State Diversity Visa instructions. Do not treat a social media date as official until this page publishes the registration window and current rules.
The entry form opens only through the official DV portal. Check the domain yourself before entering personal or family information.
The Department’s Diversity Visa fraud warning explains why “winner” emails and advance payment demands should not be trusted.
How should readers understand the DV-2027 delay?
Our 2026 Diversity Visa Lottery guide explains the normal entry structure. Use it for process context, but rely on the latest official notice for current dates.
The Department’s DV-2027 entry-period notice does not announce cancellation. It says registration and results dates will follow after changes to the entry process.
That wording matters. “No date has been announced” is not the same statement as “Congress ended the program.”
Does the DV pause stop every Green Card route?
No. Our current Green Card pause analysis separates the worldwide DV issuance pause from family, employment, and investment immigration.
A DV policy does not mean that USCIS stopped every permanent residence case. Identify the agency, category, nationality rule, and procedural stage before drawing a conclusion.
Readers who need the broader framework can start with what a Green Card is and how to apply. Each route has its own petition, evidence, timing, and admissibility rules.
Why does timing still matter after selection?
Selection does not create an immediately available visa. Case-number movement, regional cutoffs, document readiness, and the fiscal-year deadline still shape the process.
An overview of ways to obtain a Green Card helps distinguish the DV route from petition-based options. The categories cannot replace one another without meeting their separate requirements.
The Department’s August 31, 2026 DV issuance guidance allows applications and interviews to continue but pauses visa issuance. An interview date alone does not establish that a visa can be printed.
A final check when the entry form opens
If registration opens, compare every answer before submitting. A small inconsistency may require an explanation later.
- Enter names as they appear in the passport or other official identity record used for the entry.
- Do not confuse place of birth with citizenship. DV chargeability usually follows the country of birth, subject to specific rules.
- Select the current marital status and include every spouse or child required by the new instructions.
- Confirm that the photo meets the current rules for age, dimensions, background, and file format.
- Do not submit multiple entries for the same person during one program period.
- Save the confirmation page and number immediately after submission.
If another person prepares the form, review every answer yourself. Do not leave the only confirmation number in a consultant’s account.
Submitting in the first hours does not create a separate selection advantage. Accuracy and one timely entry matter more than speed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will DV-2028 definitely open in October 2026?
No. Although earlier programs often opened in the fall, no official DV-2028 date had been published as of September 14, 2026.
Was DV-2027 canceled?
The cited official notice does not announce a cancellation. It says the registration and results dates will be announced after changes to the entry process.
Is there a government fee to submit the initial DV entry?
No. The initial electronic registration is free. Fees arise later for selected applicants who move into visa processing.
Can I learn that I was selected by email?
No. An email may remind you to check, but only Entrant Status Check at dvprogram.state.gov provides the official result.
Does selection guarantee a Green Card?
No. Selection creates an opportunity to continue. Eligibility, deadlines, visa availability, and all other legal requirements still apply.
| Legal information notice: This content provides general information only. It is not legal advice, does not create an attorney-client relationship, and does not guarantee any immigration outcome. Rules and agency practices can change. Have a qualified U.S. immigration lawyer assess your facts. |
