The U.S. Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery Program remains legally intact despite growing uncertainty over delays to the DV-2027 registration cycle, according to immigration attorney Akua Poku, principal of AK Poku Law PLLC.
In a public legal update shared on Instagram, Poku addressed widespread speculation that the federal government may be moving to cancel the long-running immigration program. She emphasized that while DV-2027 registration has not yet opened, the delay does not amount to a repeal of the program.
“As of today, registration for DV-2027 has not opened,” Poku said, noting that the application window was widely expected to begin around October 2025. “The U.S. government has indicated that changes are being made to the process, and new dates will be announced later. Right now, nothing is open.”
DV Lottery Protected by Federal Statute
Poku underscored that the DV Lottery Program is established in federal law, specifically Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). As a result, the program cannot be terminated by executive action or administrative policy alone.
“For the DV Lottery to be repealed, Congress would have to introduce a bill amending or eliminating INA Section 203(c), pass it in both the House and the Senate, and have it signed into law by the President,” she explained. “None of that has happened.”
While various lawmakers have previously proposed bills to limit or eliminate the program, Poku noted that none have advanced through Congress.
Freeze on Issuance and Heightened Scrutiny
According to Poku, the current situation reflects a pause and procedural delay, not a legal dismantling of the program. She confirmed that issuance of diversity visas has been frozen, both within the United States and at U.S. embassies abroad, pending further guidance from the federal government.
The delay comes amid renewed national security and vetting concerns, following reports that an immigrant involved in a recent Brown University shooting allegedly entered the U.S. through the DV Lottery. While the incident has prompted political scrutiny, Poku stressed that it has not altered the program’s statutory foundation.
Warning Against Misinformation
Poku cautioned applicants and prospective entrants against relying on social media rumors, which she said have fueled unnecessary panic among immigrants from eligible countries.
“Timing is critical with the DV Lottery,” she said. “This is a developing situation. Anyone affected by these updates should consult a knowledgeable immigration attorney with DV Lottery experience.”
The Diversity Visa Lottery Program, created to promote immigration from under-represented countries, continues to exist in U.S. immigration law.
However, applicants are advised to monitor official government announcements closely as changes to procedures and timelines are finalized.
