green cards

On December 23, 2025, the State Department announced that it has stopped issuing new Diversity Immigrant Visas to previous winners of the Diversity Lottery. This follows the December 18th announcement by the Department of Homeland Security directing USCIS to stop processing applications by previous Diversity Lottery winners for adjustment of status to permanent residence. While existing visas that have already been issued to previous Diversity Lottery winners should not be affected, it is not clear whether the lottery will be opened to new registrants, since the State Department still has not announced the official registration dates for the 2027 Diversity Lottery. Read more

The Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery for 2027 is scheduled to open in the Fall of 2025. Through this program, the U.S. Department of State allocates up to 55,000 immigrant visas annually to individuals who may not have any other options for permanent immigration. Unlike family-based immigrant visas and most employment-based immigrant visas that require a U.S. sponsor, the diversity visa lottery allows individuals to self-sponsor themselves for a green card. Learn more about the diversity visa lottery, eligibility criteria, important dates, and how to apply in our article below. Read more

Adjustment of Status is the process by which a noncitizen who is already in the United States can apply for Lawful Permanent Resident status (a Green Card) without having to leave the country. However, strict legal requirements limit the eligibility for this process for humanitarian parolees and other categories of applicants. Read more