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January 26, 2026 at 08:01
This DV2026 lawsuit favor for all or only the participants if they win the lawsuit..
January 26, 2026 at 09:17
Both outcomes are possible.
January 26, 2026 at 11:55
Hi Brit,
What practical benefit or protection do DV-2026 applicants get by being part of the lawsuit against the two suspensions?
Does it help if an interview is scheduled during the suspension?
January 26, 2026 at 12:24
Your questions should really be directed at the lawyers, not me, but from my understanding. the lawsuit isn’t seeking to give plaintiffs additional benefit. It is simply aimed at removing the pauses.
January 26, 2026 at 13:27
In the 2020 DV lawsuit, the suspension was lifted very late and, as I understand it, only applicants who were part of the collective lawsuit benefited, because embassies gave them priority based on a court order.
Is this understanding correct, or am I mistaken?
January 26, 2026 at 13:49
Your understanding is not correct.
The private lawsuits in DV2020 were mostly combined with the Gomez lawsuit. Gomez was a class action, the class was certified, and about 7000 visas were issued in September 2020 to named and non named plaintiffs.
January 26, 2026 at 15:08
Do you think the challenges DV-2026 selectees face in reaching visa issuance are similar to 2020, or is 2026 proving to be even more difficult overall, regardless of the reasons for the pauses?
January 26, 2026 at 16:24
DV2020 was a full stop. So no – that was worse.
January 25, 2026 at 23:27
Does this visa pause affect only DV-2026, or also DV-2027 and DV-2028 ?
The U.S. State Department has not specified how long the visa issuance pause will last.
Will this continue for DV-2027 and DV-2028 as well?
Thank you
January 26, 2026 at 09:17
Well you answered your own question.
January 25, 2026 at 15:14
Hi Simon
I just saw a tweet from Trump written there will be a govt shutdown in 6 days time.And those that affect the work of Dv process
January 25, 2026 at 15:33
It does not affect processing.
January 25, 2026 at 12:19
Hi Brit, I have a question about the DV lottery 2026 process. Are the embassies still calling winners for interviews under the two-pause situation? If yes, does this mean there’s hope for a visa later on? Thanks
January 25, 2026 at 14:08
Yes, and yes.
January 25, 2026 at 08:35
A commenter is saying that visas will open in October because, according to them, this information comes from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Are these claims confirmed? If visas really start in October 2026, wouldn’t that mean there is no longer hope for DV-2026?
January 25, 2026 at 08:45
That is certainly not reliable information.
January 25, 2026 at 05:56
Hi BritSimon,
I have a DV interview and my country is not one of the 75 countires, If everything goes well i will still have the pasue right?
January 25, 2026 at 08:44
The DV pause is still in effect, yes.
January 24, 2026 at 20:32
I have some questions about the next program, DV-2028, and I would really appreciate your thoughts:
Can Trump prohibit or stop ( pause ) the opening of DV-2028 registration/entry period (for example, prevent it from opening in October 2026 as usual)?
Can the first pause (the current full pause on Diversity Visa 2026 issuances that started in December 2025) continue and apply to DV-2028 (meaning no visas issued even if selected)?
Can the second pause/restrictions (the expanded immigrant visa processing pause affecting 75 countries that started in January 2026) continue for DV-2028 ?
Additionally, I have heard that during the DV lottery application or process, they ask questions about whether you speak English and your university level/education. But I thought the official conditions for DV lottery are just high school education (or equivalent) and no English requirement at all. Is that correct, or do they really ask about English proficiency and higher education levels?
Thank you so much for everything you do.
January 25, 2026 at 08:41
For all “is it possible” questions, the answer is yes – although your scenarios are extremely unlikely.
English is not required currently, but some English is useful.
January 24, 2026 at 17:55
Is the yearbook for 2024 and 2025 also delayed?
What would could the possible reasons be, since there is no $1 fee to implement that?
I am keen to find out if uk is eligible or not for dv2027
January 24, 2026 at 19:27
Yes the yearbook data is delayed. Not sure why you are connecting that to the $1 fee.
January 24, 2026 at 19:50
I meant to say since there isn’t a connection, what other excuse the government can have
January 24, 2026 at 17:38
A question for Fiji applicants (Oceania)
The U.S. Embassy in Suva, Fiji requires that all Diversity Visa immigrant visa applicants, use their approved panel physicians.
1. Which Medical center (approved physician) would you recommend in the Suva city area?
2. How did you find the process and what is required ?
3. What is the cost per adult ? (Do children need to go through the medical process)
4 How many working days it take for the medical result to reach the US Embassy from the Medical center?
The answers above from Fiji applicants will greatly provide some clarity to the rest
January 24, 2026 at 18:40
The approved physician lists are provided in the instructions.
January 25, 2026 at 17:34
Hi
Hope this helps
https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/iv-dv-supplemental/SUV_Fiji.pdf
January 24, 2026 at 13:46
Hi Simon, I just realized that if they delay DV2027 a little bit longer, it might be possible to use the same photo for DV2027 and DV2028, because the entry periods will be less than 6 months apart.
January 24, 2026 at 14:23
Oh wow – yes that is true.
January 24, 2026 at 10:36
Hello Brit Simon
Please with regards to child tax refund can I claim refund for children who joined me in the states on August 2025. 5 months in 2025
January 24, 2026 at 14:23
I am not an accountant.
January 24, 2026 at 09:48
We have been waiting for a long time, and up to this moment there has been no official announcement regarding the opening of the registration for the Diversity Visa Lottery 2027. According to information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, visa issuance is expected to begin in October 2026
As far as we know, the registration period usually lasts about one month . Given the limited time remaining, it is unclear how all the necessary steps will be completed within such a short timeframe There is not much time left; how will they manage to do that?.
January 24, 2026 at 14:23
I don’t know. I guess we will see.
January 25, 2026 at 14:19
what information?
January 24, 2026 at 07:57
Hello britsimon, does ds-260 processing still continue even if ure ds-260 is unlocked & does unlocking delay ure case in any way!!
January 24, 2026 at 14:22
Unlocking does not generally cause delay.
January 24, 2026 at 03:39
Hi Simon, what if I request Nairobi Embassy to reschedule my until Trump may remove the ban on South Sudan 🇸🇸, DV26 with 12k got 2nl for Feb interview
January 24, 2026 at 14:21
You could try that, but the date is uncertain.
January 23, 2026 at 19:38
Dear Simon,
I understand that Form I-134 is normally not required for the Diversity Visa (DV) program. However, due to the current pause affecting applicants from 75 countries and the increased focus on public charge concerns, do we now need to prepare a Letter of Financial Support or Form I-134 for the interview, as well as a bank statement or bank confirmation?
Thanks.
January 23, 2026 at 20:13
I would suggest being overprepared. Have the i134 if possible and other financial proof too.
January 23, 2026 at 22:26
Hi Simon,
Hope you are keeping well.
Just a follow-up question on this. Me and my spouse have two joint accounts which is under both our names. Moreover we also each have salary accounts (registered seperately as our individual salary is deposited in this) which primarily is always low in funds as we deposit everything (minus our living expenses) into our joint savings account.
Hope its not too confusing but my question is :
1. In terms of DV interviews, will the financial stability be assessed collectively since majority of our funds we have in our saving accounts which are joint ? How does this work.
Thank you 🙂
January 23, 2026 at 23:28
You show the accounts you want to show.
January 23, 2026 at 03:44
Hi Brit,
I saw in one of your replies that you mentioned the 75-country pause has not come into effect yet.
Could you please clarify:
Has the U.S. Department of State officially published a ban or pause for these 75 countries?
As of today, is there any formal announcement from the Department of State regarding this?
January 23, 2026 at 11:47
It came into effect 2 days ago.
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/immigrant-visa-processing-updates-for-nationalities-at-high-risk-of-public-benefits-usage.html
January 23, 2026 at 02:07
Hi mr Simon i did my interview in 21th january they gave me 221g paper in other section they wrote down (executive order14161) is their any hope ? or my case needs more check than others? becuase another one with me in the interview he got a paper wrote down ( presidential proclamation 10998) whats the difference between them?? by the way we both from iraq that affected by two pauses
January 23, 2026 at 11:55
You are affected by the two pauses. The person affected by 10998 must be from a different country.
January 22, 2026 at 17:57
Hello Simon,
Two questions…
Are you able to see IP addresses when questions are sent in? I would like to remain anonymous…
Second, I am of Iranian origin, meaning my parents are from Iran, but I was born and raised in Sweden. I have lived here my whole life. I have dual citizenship – both Iranian and Swedish. Will this be a problem for me when applying for a B2 visa?
I would like to point out that my intended visit to the USA is for completely tourist purposes, mostly wanting to try out fast food places and different restaurants, going to various types of events, tours, landmarks, parks, etc.
Thank you.
Best regards.
January 22, 2026 at 19:56
1. Yes
2. I don’t answer questions not related to DV lottery.
January 22, 2026 at 14:13
Hi Brit,
Please see below the updated information regarding interviews scheduled after January 21. It appears that U.S. embassies, at least for those 75 countries, will now require a sponsor in the United States.
“We received the list of documents required for preparation for the upcoming interview in early February in Almaty. New items have been added to the standard list of required documents.”
15. I-134 Affidavit of Support from a sponsor who is a U.S. citizen or U.S. lawful permanent resident
16. Sponsor’s 2024 tax documents: Form 1040 and W-2
January 22, 2026 at 19:55
Yes, I’m aware. This isn’t really a new thing, and in fact recent internal memos show a move away from the I-134. So the info from Almaty would be more of a surprise if this is truly new.
January 22, 2026 at 13:20
Hi Simon – noticing your forum gets way fewer DV questions these days, especially about DV-2027 entries. With the pauses, delays, and new fee, is actual interest in the lottery dropping (fewer people planning to enter), or is it just quieter because everyone’s waiting for official news and holding off? What are you seeing?
January 22, 2026 at 19:51
Hopefully it is the latter. There are only so many times the exact same question can be asked when there is no news…
January 22, 2026 at 11:31
Hi Simon! I will acquire another citizenship by investment in the next week and I have an embassy interview after 2 months. What should I do? can I inform the embassy I acquired another citizenship and would that cause any issue?
January 22, 2026 at 19:50
There is some official “suspicion” toward cbi scenarios. So yes you inform the embassy of the second citizenship, but you may still face additional scrutiny. To be clear it is the second passport you need.
January 24, 2026 at 00:51
Thanks for your reply! My original nationality is banned, so CBI is my only way out. Do you know someone who got around the ban with CBI?
January 24, 2026 at 14:21
Yes – but their stance on that could change.
January 22, 2026 at 10:46
Hi Brit,
Apart from the DV pause, are DV AOS process affected by 75 countries ban list?
I’m planning to file I485 (AOS) once my number (Nepal) becomes current which is in 75 countries ban list. If the DV pause is lifted, will the ban impact the AOS process or is it just the Consular Processing?
January 22, 2026 at 19:48
I have not seen the 75 country pause being announced by USCIS or DHS – so I don’t think they followed on.
January 22, 2026 at 04:19
If a DV interview is scheduled during the current suspensions, is it still advisable to attend even though the visa cannot be issued?
Does attending place the applicant in a stronger position than not attending?
Thank you Simon
January 22, 2026 at 19:44
Well yes it can save time later.
January 22, 2026 at 02:24
Hi Simon,
I understand that in recent visa bulletins, the Department of State (DoS) mentioned they would release further information on DV-2027 ‘as soon as practicable’. However, this statement was made well before the general pause on the DV programme was announced.
I am also aware that, by law, the DV-2027 programme must commence; however, the current administration appears to have little regard for the law. Even if the start is delayed beyond March or April and lawsuits are filed, it would likely be too late by the time the courts intervene. Furthermore, the administration seems indifferent to the fact that applicants stand to lose 52,000 visas.
You have also suggested that time is required to build a payment gateway capable of accepting international payments (for the $1 DV registration fee). Yet, as they already have a functional pay.gov system, this hardly seems a valid reason for such a lengthy and unexplained delay.
It appears they intend to delay the programme to such an extent that, even with a court intervention, resuming it would be unfeasible, given that the lottery results are expected to be released by July or August
January 21, 2026 at 20:21
“Is there any chance that the registration for the 2027 U.S. lottery will open? Even if it does, it’s unclear how it will be handled due to the limited time before the results are announced.”
January 21, 2026 at 22:20
Yes
January 21, 2026 at 20:13
Hi Simon, I have a DV Appointment for 5-March. But I’m a little concerned by all the different pauses – I’m an Indian citizen who was born in Lebanon. I qualified via my birth country of Lebanon. Now I see that Lebanon is on the immigration ban list., while India is not. Except the overall DV pause, am I impacted by the latest pause?
January 21, 2026 at 22:19
You can be exempt from the ban by travelling on a non banned passport.
January 21, 2026 at 12:35
Hi uncle B,
How’re you doing today?.quick question,I want to please ask if I’ll need to go for interview with my marriage certificate when I was single when filling my DS-260 and did not add my partner as derivative and not willing to add her.Must I still go for interview with my marriage certificate as a now married person? Thank you
January 21, 2026 at 22:17
You must inform them of your correct marital status and show documents to prove that status.
January 21, 2026 at 10:37
Hi Simon,
I am from Côte d’Ivoire (a partially banned country. My wife and I fortunately got our visa early and entered the US in December. We also received our SSN 2 weeks after our arrival but we have not received our green cards yet. Please are we affected by all the suspensions and bans or are we going to receive our cards very soon ? Thanks in advance for your help.
January 21, 2026 at 12:02
You are not subject to the bans, but you might experience a delay in getting your greencard. However, that doesn’t matter as the endorsed visa proves your immigration status for work and so on.
January 21, 2026 at 04:56
Hi Brit,
Have you considered planning or supporting a lawsuit regarding the two immigrant visa suspensions, similar to the legal action you took previously concerning the UK case number issue?
Thank you for your time.
January 21, 2026 at 07:15
I am considering having a public discussion with a lawyer who plans two lawsuits.
January 21, 2026 at 04:36
Hello! We are winners of the 2026 DV lottery. My wife is the principal applicant and a German citizen, but she was born in one of the 75 countries currently affected by the pause. Our children are also German citizens. I am a citizen of one of the 75 countries. We had our interview at the U.S. Consulate in Frankfurt before the pause and were given a 221(g) for missing police clearance. My question is: if the general DV visa pause is lifted but the pause for the 75 countries remains, what will happen to our case? Will my wife and children still be able to continue, and how will this affect my own eligibility?and While we submit the police clearance can we submit the affidavit support document because we didn’t give them while we take the interview on December because they didn’t ask for it so what do you think can it affect in negativity b/c we submit what they didn’t ask
Thank you!
Can you correct the above paragraph
January 21, 2026 at 07:14
I’m not 100% sure how they will handle this situation – or that the DV pause will be lifted before the 75 country pause. I suggest you need to wait and see how they implement that.
January 20, 2026 at 16:24
Hi,
I just received my 2nl (OC region :Fiji- double blocked pause applies in my case). Interview date is for March 12th. Should I invest in medical and interview or give up and abandon my case? Is there a way to defer interview until the pause is lifted?
January 20, 2026 at 16:36
Well that is two months away – so there is time to see the pauses lifted during that time. You don’t need to decide that now. The pauses are supposed to be temporary.
January 21, 2026 at 19:01
Hi Nit,
I just wanted to ask you as you mentioned in some previous comments that your number was 11XX. May I ask when did you submit your DS260 forms.
My number is OC8XX and I submitted mine mid December before the pause.
January 22, 2026 at 03:22
Hi mate,
I submitted mine few days after the results came out back in May 2025.
After the first DV2026 was published I wrote to KCC in September to confirm whether my DS260 had been processed and they responded with “ Records indicate you have submitted a complete and valid DS-260 application for each family member to the Kentucky Consular Center”.
I suppose Britsimon mentions that 2nls are also dependent on your embassy capacity and efficiency so even though your forms might be processed it could just be an embassy reason. May I ask which embassy your case is planned for ?
January 23, 2026 at 03:27
Hi Nit
Also in the oceania range in Fiji, case number is 115X, which embassy are you assigned to ? Is it in Fiji or some other embassy in the OC region?
January 24, 2026 at 02:56
Although Fiji citizen, I’m living in Japan so I’ll be interviewing in Tokyo. Staying positive. Hope you’ve received your 2NL as well.
January 24, 2026 at 08:05
Hey KS, Hey Nit, another fellow Fijian here. My family with OC11XX submitted their DS260 towards end of September (due to password processing issues in Fiji) and waiting for 2NL. They know a few other DV winners in Fiji who are more or less scheduled based on how early they submitted their DS260 (other factors like background check in consideration). So I guess nothing out of ordinary. Just posting here to keep us Fijians motivated, especially with the double pause. Fijians are one of the hardest working folks in USA, so America benefits from us being here. Stay positive! Good luck guys!
January 27, 2026 at 20:39
Hi Nit,
My planned embassy is Suva. Lets see when the 2NLs are issued. Fingers crossed.
January 20, 2026 at 14:25
Hello Simon
If the law governing the Diversity Visa Lottery allows for both:
1) Husband (spouce) to enter the draw
2) Wife (spouce) to enter the draw
The Lottery process draws numbers and the algorithm in the computer does not know who is the spouce of who, and may mathematically select both Husband and wife as winners in the Lottery (duplicate winners)
My question is
1) in your estimation, what percent could the wife and husband, both be selected as from the Lottery ?
January 20, 2026 at 14:38
This is a math question.
If we assume that each person has a 1 in 100 chance of winning (although that varies from year to year), then the chance of both winning is 1 in 10,000.
January 20, 2026 at 09:13
Hi Simon,
I’d really appreciate your opinion on our situation.
My wife and I are Iranian nationals from ethnic minorities, and we had our DV immigrant visa interview at the U.S. Consulate in Frankfurt last week.
We requested the ethnic minority exception under the Presidential Proclamation and brought concrete documentary proof of our ethnicity and background. However, the consular officer denied our visas under INA 212(f), stating that although we are ethnic minorities of Iran, we are living in Germany and therefore “safe,” so we are not eligible for the exception.
As far as we understand, neither the PP nor the guidance issued following the Curtis Morrison lawsuit requires ethnic minorities to be unsafe or in danger inside Iran to qualify for this exemption. This is while we are not even permanent residents of Germany. We are both students on temporary residence permits. Despite this, the officer argued that we could simply stay in Germany after our studies and denied us on that basis. What makes this more confusing is that we personally know many similar Iranian DV cases (ethnic minorities, including some living in Germany and interviewing in Frankfurt) who were approved!
On top of that, surprisingly the officer’s behavior was extremely rude and dismissive, and she barely looked at our evidence before refusing us!
We wanted to know your opinion about emailing the consulate and formally requesting a supervisory review of our case. Do you think that might work? If so, how should such an email be framed to maximize the chance of it being properly reviewed?
And if the consulate refuses or repeats the same reasoning, would you recommend then contacting LegalNet to raise a legal interpretation issue about how the PP exception was applied?
We’d be very grateful for your thoughts.
Thanks a lot for everything you do.
January 20, 2026 at 09:39
I don’t have any particular expertise regarding the ethnic minority exception.
So yes you can ask for a review, but they do not have to accept your request. Perhaps you should hire a lawyer who might be able to use some influence at the embassy.
January 20, 2026 at 08:43
Hi britsimon, i became current in dec however wen i inquired with KCC on my case status it indicated forms are still at NVC stage one yet i submitted in July my ds-260,is this bse of the embassy capacity not being available.
January 20, 2026 at 09:34
Your message is a bit confused.
If they said your DS260 is still processing – that has nothing to do with the embassy.
January 20, 2026 at 07:21
Hi Simon,
Thank you truly for your expertise, time, and help you constantly provide us. I’ve been trying to read all the posts to learn about the process and what not. I have a question regarding my upcoming interview.
As much as I find your opinion on the pause convincing, I’m pondering whether I should reschedule my interview in Tokyo from February to March. I did read your January 8 reply that you do not recommend postponing interviews. The reason for considering is that I’m concerned that the visa — if approved — could be already expired or just before the expiration date by the time this open-ended pause is lifted. Could you kindly describe the advantages and disadvantages that entail by rescheduling?
Thank you for your help,
A
January 20, 2026 at 09:33
If everyone reschedules, it could be hard to get scheduled, so you are more likely to run out of time.
January 20, 2026 at 17:52
Thank you for your reply. Is rescheduling the medical exam to a later date than the interview wiser so that the visa could be valid till the end of fiscal year? May understanding is that the visa issue date starts its validity, if medical is schedlued successfully, or is it the approval date?
Thank you,
A
January 20, 2026 at 18:36
The visa validity is 6 months after the medical date.
January 20, 2026 at 21:02
Great! Thank you!
A
January 20, 2026 at 06:32
Hi Brit,
If Curtis’s lawsuit is successful, would the benefit apply only to those who paid and joined the lawsuit, or to all applicants affected by the two pauses?
Thank you.
January 20, 2026 at 09:32
I can’t see into the future.
January 20, 2026 at 09:47
I understand that there are no guarantees. My question was not about prediction, but about legal principle: in similar cases, has it happened that the decision also benefits applicants who are not parties to the lawsuit?
January 20, 2026 at 11:51
It has gone both ways.
January 19, 2026 at 23:55
Hi Simon,
I have passports from two countries and one of them is on the travel ban:
1- Can I get the visa issued on the passport of the travel banned country? As the memos usually say exemptions are dual nationals so I guess passport isn’t really a requirement
2- if answer to above is Yes, would that cause any issues on entry, or do I have to just show them the passport of the non banned country?
January 20, 2026 at 09:31
1. No. The ban specifically state travelling on a non banned passport.
January 19, 2026 at 23:35
Hi Brit.
Do you think it’s possible that the Visa Bulletin will remain essentially a copy-paste each month until the pauses are lifted?
January 20, 2026 at 09:29
There is no need to ask me what is possible. Anything is possible.
January 19, 2026 at 13:49
Hi Simon,
Once the DV pause is lifted I was just wondering is it still possible to work out how many visas have been allocated per region as time progresses using the CEAC data? Also for cases still at NVC does this mean they have not submitted a DS-260 yet or does it contain both who have and haven’t of which there number is not current yet. Thanks
January 19, 2026 at 17:50
No we will not have good issuance data.
NVC is any case that has not been scheduled. Every scenario.
January 19, 2026 at 09:58
With a case number around EU1500X and two pauses already in place, do you think I still have a realistic chance to succeed in DV-2026?
Thank you
January 19, 2026 at 10:32
I have said many times that I expect the pauses to be temporary. You just seem to want the answer over and over again…
January 19, 2026 at 11:55
It’s true that I’ve written to you before, but I wanted to reach out again as things may have evolved and there may be new dynamics in the background.
January 19, 2026 at 09:14
Hello Simon, how are you? Do you think that joining the lawsuit could have a negative impact, in terms of being more scrutinized because of that fact, if the pause is lifted?
January 19, 2026 at 10:30
No
January 18, 2026 at 17:26
Hi Simon, Do we know whether administrative processing under 221(g) for cases that were interviewed before the pause has also been paused, or if it is still continuing behind the scenes?
January 18, 2026 at 20:34
The memos have all said that processing will continue, it is only visa issuance that is paused.
January 18, 2026 at 12:24
Hi Simon,
How is the lawsuit progressing?
Do the selectees from the 75 ban Countries have a little hope?
January 18, 2026 at 20:34
Dude. The lawsuits haven’t even been filed yet…
January 18, 2026 at 07:22
Hello Brit,
If you were in my position, facing two visa suspensions, would you personally join Curtis’s lawsuit?
Thank you,
January 18, 2026 at 20:31
I don’t know your position, and as I mentioned in my live video yesterday I would not be in a rush to join any lawsuit. I would review the situation in a few weeks time.
January 18, 2026 at 06:33
ANAS MIMOUNI,
1. After filing the complaint on March 14, 2026, how long does it typically take for the court to issue an initial response or decision?
Court’s don’t issue “initial responses or decisions” based upon a complaint being filed. We are hopeful that we get a decision on our motion for preliminary injunction within 4 months of filing that (right after complaint), but sometimes it is faster and sometimes it is longer.
2. If the court is asked to rule in favor of removing the DV visa pause, what is the approximate timeframe in which we might expect such a ruling?
I think this is the same question. We are hopeful that we get a decision on our motion for preliminary injunction within 4 months of filing that (right after complaint), but sometimes it is faster and sometimes it is longer.
3. Do you anticipate that the court may issue a preliminary order or injunction before a final judgment?
Yes
If so, how long might that process take?
We are hopeful that we get a decision on our motion for preliminary injunction within 4 months of filing that (right after complaint), but sometimes it is faster and sometimes it is longer.
4. In the event that the government appeals a favorable decision, how long does the appeal process usually take
1-3 years. But you’re assuming that the State Department would not have to implement the order because of the pending appeal, and that is usually true. The State Department would need a stay from the court to get out of implementing the order but I don’t think they would get one in this context.
, and could such an appeal affect Diversity Visa 2027 winners, considering that DV 2027 visas are scheduled to begin issuance in October 2026?
The DV2027 program (if started) would likely be completed before the outcome of the hypothetical appeal that you are speculating about.
Listen, we have real problems we need to solve now – this year, and we will never solve them if we focus on the problems we could possibly have in 2027 and 2028.
Sincerely,
Curtis Morrison
January 18, 2026 at 11:22
Courtis says that suing the state won’t work fast enough. By the time the court actually makes a decision, the 2026 fiscal year will already be over, so the winners won’t get their benefits in time.
January 18, 2026 at 11:59
So why is Kurti filing that lawsuit?
January 18, 2026 at 04:45
I am from Morocco, Simon, and I have an interview scheduled in March. I am honestly surprised that my country is included among the 75 countries affected by the second suspension. It is really strange. By God, the psychological pressure is immense, and we do not know when this second suspension will be lifted. Perhaps the first one is closer to being lifted. We hope they will both be lifted at the same time. What are your expectations, Simon ?
January 18, 2026 at 20:29
I can see various scenarios – but I will wait and see.
January 18, 2026 at 04:37
“Will the Diversity Visa Issuance Updated Guidance (Last Updated: December 23, 2025) and the Immigrant Visa Processing Updates for 75 Nationalities at High Risk of Public Benefits Usage (Last Updated: January 14, 2026) affect winners of the DV-2027 Diversity Visa Lottery?”
January 18, 2026 at 20:29
Not immediately. Any changes as a result of the review might do so.
January 18, 2026 at 02:38
<>
January 18, 2026 at 20:28
Thanks for the message. I don’t get into private messaging on cases – I am not a lawyer so prefer to provide my answers in public for more to benefit. I edited out all of your message for your privacy, but any future replies would be public.
You mentioned about your profession in terms of whether that would help with lawsuits. No – that is not a useful point for DV because the allocation of visas is not for employment cases. So – I don’t see any likely advantage for cases based on their profession.
If you still feel you want to pursue the legal aspects, then I would recommend you engage, or discuss it with a lawyer – who may see things differently to my view.
Thanks for the detailed message and ideas.
January 17, 2026 at 23:38
Hi Brit,
Will the interviews and 2NLs be stopped after January 21 for the 75 countries, or is it only the visa issuance that will be paused?
Thank you.
January 18, 2026 at 20:17
Interviews will still be scheduled, it is visa issuance that is paused.
January 17, 2026 at 20:51
Hi Simon, I have a few questions regarding the potential redistribution of visas to Europe:
1. Does Africa need to become current for a period of time before the government realizes the quota won’t be met, or is it enough for them to simply reach a reasonably high case number to trigger redistribution?
2. Is there a specific deadline by which this redistribution must occur to ensure Europe receives the maximum number of visas possible?
3. While we don’t have CEAC data this year to be precise, what is your estimate for how many visas could be redistributed from Africa and Asia? Taking into account selectees affected by travel bans, average non-response rates in those regions, and other relevant factors.
January 18, 2026 at 20:17
1. I don’t know.
2. No
3. I don’t know.
I think you might be placing too much reliance on the redistribution. The government are not *required* to issue the visas. So – they could use redistribution but that will be for them to decide.