UPDATE
Shortly after I published this post and video the Dept of State published their policy. So I created a SECOND video and have posted that below here too.
The policy if you wish to read it is available here.
I feel I need to give an update on the pause announced over the last few days. Please watch the video to catch up on the latest.
January 8, 2026 at 06:16
Hey Britt,
How are you? I hope you’ve been doing well.
I was wondering if you’ve heard any updates regarding the pause, since it’s been some time since it started. Do you happen to have any insights or thoughts on how long it might last? Do you still think it’s a temporary situation?
Thank you so much—I really appreciate it!
January 8, 2026 at 09:08
No updates. Yes I still think it will be temporary.
January 5, 2026 at 16:47
Hello Simon,
I wanted to ask how the current pause will affect the order of processing once it is lifted. If my documents are still incomplete at the time of the interview, will the visa be issued based on the date the case becomes complete, or according to the original case number once processing resumes?
Thank you for your help!
January 5, 2026 at 19:45
Cases get scheduled based on being processed (DS260) and current. Those cases go into a queue – you can watch the video below to understand better.
https://youtu.be/8D5QzxAiXBI?si=QEKmwANW0OLkp19w
December 30, 2025 at 07:33
I go with Britsimon’s prediction of about 1-2 months duration on the pause because if otherwise they knew the pause would last longer then they would have paused cp as well…..
January 1, 2026 at 16:01
Hello and Happy New Year
If the pause is more than one month, I will have to go to the US for a few days. My case is approved, I just need tv pause to be over but if it s not the case, can I apply for a Esta Visa ( I m French) or is it a potential issue to have 2 visa requests ( esta and dv ?)
Thanks !
January 1, 2026 at 16:30
No problem.
December 28, 2025 at 13:14
Hi Simon , If the U.S. Diversity Visa Lottery does not open in January 2026 and is delayed until March 2026, the results will be announced in September. The issuance of visas will then begin on January 1, 2027, and continue until September 30, 2027. As a result, we will not be able to reach the quota of 55,000 visas. This is the likely scenario.
December 28, 2025 at 14:37
If only there was some official notification…
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/changes-to-2027-dv-program-entry-period.html
December 27, 2025 at 09:13
Hi Simon ,
So the DV 2027 will still happen we just have to wait for the opening of the procedure?
Thank you in advance.
December 27, 2025 at 09:23
Yes
December 26, 2025 at 10:27
Hi Brit,
Thanks for keeping us updated on what’s happens these days on the lottery program, I am an exciting LPR resident and a couple of days before I filled and submitted the N-400 form for the citizenship , and I am originally from Sudan (one of the 39 countries that been on the holding list) , My question is Does what happens now will affect my citizenship process in any way ? because I heard that some people in Indianapolis at the ceremony were turned them back and put there situation on hold !! is that right or some fake news ?
Thanks again Brit and really appreciated
December 26, 2025 at 10:55
I think you could find you have some sort of delay. Some people have had their oath ceremonies cancelled, so USCIS are obviously doing what they can to be petty at Noem’s direction. BUT a delay won’t change the eventual outcome. Just get mentally prepared for some delay – but know that you will be fine in the end.
December 26, 2025 at 11:22
Oh, Alright, that’s feel relieving ,,, Thank you so much Brit,,
and I will try to keep you and the people here updated with the situation , especially for people have the same case like me .
Thanks again and appreciated
December 26, 2025 at 10:13
As of today, 26 December 2025, the U.S. Department of State has not yet published the official instructions for the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery 2027 program. So far, registration for the DV Lottery 2027 has not been announced. Do you think the results will be released in August, or earlier?
December 26, 2025 at 10:21
I will wait for the instructions…
December 24, 2025 at 14:45
Hi Brit, thanks for all the useful information!
I had a question and was wondering what your recommendation would be.
I’m currently in the U.S. on a student visa with my wife. Our DV number is AS17***, which becomes current in February. Originally, we were planning to go through the AOS process since we prefer not to travel back, especially because my wife is pregnant, which complicates things a bit.
We haven’t started the process yet, and now we’re wondering whether it might be worth reconsidering and going through consular processing instead, to be on the safer side. I know it’s hard to say whether either option is truly “safe,” but with consular processing it seems like cases are still moving forward with document processing and interview scheduling. With AOS, it feels riskier to submit the forms, since there’s a concern that it could affect my current visa status if we ultimately don’t receive the green card.
I’d really appreciate your thoughts. Thanks again!
December 24, 2025 at 16:21
I would probably stick with AOS, but maybe delay filing during the pause. Filing the DS260 for CP processing could also affect future NIV applications – but frankly I expect the pause to be short.
December 24, 2025 at 11:19
Hello Simon,
Do you know anyone who received their visa after the interview before the DV suspension and then traveled after the suspension? I’m in a similar situation and wanted to check.
December 24, 2025 at 11:35
Yes. It’s fine.
December 24, 2025 at 17:06
Me. Got it 24 October and landed 24 December. About 4 mins at immigration counter at JFK this morning and was done. No secondary just a long queue to get to the counter
December 24, 2025 at 06:28
But KCC will continue to process DS and schedul interviews?
December 24, 2025 at 08:42
That is what the statement says – but we will see….
December 24, 2025 at 05:26
Diversity Visa Issuance Updated Guidance,but the duration of the suspension of visa issuance has not been specified. Is this not intentional on the part of the Trump administration, and will this situation continue until the end of the DV-2026 year? And for DV-2027 as well, will they again say that ‘we are reviewing security issues’? Isn’t this deliberate and a trap to avoid opening DV-2027 registration?
You may say that I am pessimistic, but I don’t know… I feel that Trump and his administration are doing everything possible to stop this, and that they have found excuses. What does this have to do with us? Someone coming from Portugal has a problem with another person who is also from Portugal, simply because his friend became a university professor and he did not.
Can you reassure me that DV-2027 will open? And even if it does open, when will the results be announced?
→ May
→ June
→ July
→ August
December 24, 2025 at 08:39
You are being overly pessimistic, yes. Watch my videos. I literally published 4 videos in the past few days on this subject.
December 24, 2025 at 02:11
Could you elaborate a bit more on what makes you believe the pause will last 1-2 months? Has there ever been other comprehensive reviews on other policies done by the government that take somewhat this amount of time? Just curious how can we know the government will not want to drag it for as long as possible if they hate the programme?
December 24, 2025 at 08:36
Experience. Not just in this, but in general. It’s a pointless conversation though, because you will only know when I am right, once I am right.
December 24, 2025 at 00:56
Hello Simon,
First of all, thank you so much for all the work you do and for keeping everyone informed.
My family and I seem to have a bit of a special relationship with the DV program. We were selected in DV2018 with a relatively adequate number (~28k), but that year the cutoff stopped around 25k, so we unfortunately missed out. Luckily, we were selected again for DV2026.
We’re currently in the US and were planning to file AOS in January once we become current. Given everything that we know so far, my question is: for AOS cases is the best approach simply to file as soon as we’re current and see how things go, or are there other tactics you’d recommend in this situation?
Thanks again for everything you do.
December 24, 2025 at 08:35
Well congrats on winning twice!!
AOS is still a great approach, although there will be some delays during the pause. Just make sure you are following “Sm1smom” as your guide for the AOS, and you’ll be fine.
December 23, 2025 at 20:15
Hello Simon,
Do you know how this will go if they dont lift the pause by September 2026? Does the case expire and the costs for everything and the interview was for nothing?
December 23, 2025 at 20:36
Cases still in 221g on October 1 lose their chance and any fees they have paid are wasted.
But really – I don’t think this will pause last that long…
December 23, 2025 at 18:45
DoS released some info.
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/diversity-visa-issuance-updated-guidance.html
It seems mild to me. If they were planning on dragging the process for months, I think they would not schedule new interviews and increase their burden. I really want to believe your 1-2 months pause prediction.
December 23, 2025 at 20:30
Yeah it is as I expected, and it does make me lean toward a short duration for the reason you said.
December 23, 2025 at 20:50
The embassy officer told us today that, as she approved our case, we will only have to send our passports by DHL when the pause will be over ( if indeed the pause is over before end of sept). Do you think it will be as simple as that for the ones who have been approved without the possibility to let the passports because of this pause?
December 23, 2025 at 21:31
Well the medical my need renewing, but apart from that it could be simple…
December 23, 2025 at 17:15
Hello Simon,
In the case of a lawsuit, does my number need to become current? What if they intentionally keep the same cut-off numbers in the Visa Bulletin?
December 23, 2025 at 17:29
In past lawsuits, that has meant you could not sue. It is just one of the problems that the lawsuit would have…