🌍 DV-2027 Lottery Registration Delayed — State Department Confirms Upcoming Changes
The U.S. Department of State has officially announced that the opening of the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery for 2027 will not follow its usual early-October schedule. Along with this delay, the Department revealed that important changes to the application process are on the way.
Although the exact start and end dates for the DV-2027 registration period have not been released, officials assured that details will be shared soon through the Department’s website and the Federal Register.
💲 New $1 Electronic Registration Fee Introduced
One of the major confirmed updates is the introduction of a non-refundable $1 registration fee for every DV Lottery entry.
This rule was finalized and published in the Federal Register on September 16, 2025, and took effect immediately. The fee will be paid online during the application submission.
✳️ Why the New Fee?
The Department explained that the new fee will:
-
Distribute the cost of managing the lottery more fairly among applicants.
-
Discourage speculative or fraudulent entries.
-
Cover operational expenses related to the electronic random selection process.
Previously, the administrative costs were included in the $330 Diversity Visa application fee, which was only charged to winners. With this update, the $1 registration fee shifts some costs to all entrants, while the $330 application fee remains unchanged for now. Officials estimate this new system will generate around $25 million annually to support program operations.
📝 Passport Requirement Proposal Still Under Review
In a separate development, the Trump administration has revived a proposal that would require all DV Lottery applicants to provide a valid passport at the time of entry.
This rule, first introduced under the Biden administration but never finalized, is currently under legal review. Officials confirmed it will not apply to the DV-2027 registration, but it may be implemented in future programs.
🌐 About the DV Lottery Program
The Diversity Visa Lottery, also known as the Green Card Lottery, grants up to 55,000 immigrant visas each year to individuals from countries with historically low rates of U.S. immigration. While the program itself is mandated by law, the Department of State manages the registration and selection process annually.
📢 What Applicants Should Do
✅ Keep an eye on official announcements on travel.state.gov.
✅ Prepare documents and photos in advance to avoid last-minute issues.
✅ Beware of fraudulent websites or agents promising guaranteed selection.
✅ Submit your entry as early as possible once registration opens.