DV-2026 Green Card lottery winners face September 30 deadline

Time is running out for DV-2026 Diversity Visa lottery selectees: according to the US State Department, their visas must be issued, or adjustment of status approved, by September 30, 2026, or their eligibility expires.

Ally Daily Editorial DeskSeptember 29, 2026, 02:41 PMUpdated: October 12, 2026, 06:50 PM

DV-2026 Green Card lottery winners face September 30 deadline

Time is running out for selectees of the DV-2026 Diversity Visa program, widely known as the Green Card lottery. According to the US State Department, all diversity visas for fiscal year 2026 must be issued, and adjustment of status applications for those already in the United States approved, no later than September 30, 2026.

A sample US permanent resident card (Green Card)

Filing an application or attending an interview is not enough: the process must be completed by the deadline. Selectees who have not received their visa or had their change of status approved by then lose their DV-2026 eligibility, which does not carry over to the next year. The same deadline applies to spouses and children applying as derivatives, and visa numbers can run out even before September 30.

The US Embassy in Ankara (file photo)

The final weeks cap a turbulent year for the program. The State Department paused diversity visa issuance in December 2025 while it reviewed screening and vetting procedures, and resumed issuance as of August 28, 2026, following a federal court order in Medani et al. v. Trump. Selectees whose cases are still pending are advised to check their case status without delay.