US Court Halts Reopening of 2027 Diversity Visa Lottery

The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit granted an emergency stay on October 29, suspending a lower court ruling that would have required the State Department to reopen the 2027 Diversity Visa Lottery for Africans. This decision follows a lawsuit filed by immigration law firm Red Eagle Law against Secretary of State Marco Rubio in August, which argued that the State Department's failure to announce registration dates effectively canceled the program.

On October 14, US District Judge Jinsook Ohta issued a preliminary injunction ordering the State Department to publish registration details and open applications by November 1. However, the Ninth Circuit's ruling stated that Red Eagle Law did not sufficiently demonstrate a financial interest linked to the program's goals.

The Diversity Visa Lottery, which allocates 55,000 immigrant visas annually, has been a significant pathway for Africans seeking US permanent residency. With the reopening order suspended, prospective applicants now face uncertainty regarding registration dates.