Do you want a green card? US court orders reopening of 2027 lottery for 55,000 applicants

A US federal court has ordered the government to reopen registration for the 2027 Diversity Visa Lottery, which offers a path to permanent residency, or green cards, to qualified applicants from around the world.

District Judge Jinsook Ohta ordered the US State Department to restart the registration process after it failed to open within the scheduled period. Donald Trump’s administration opposed the program and later claimed it was too late to start registration for this year, the Times of India (TOI) reported.

Under the latest ruling, Secretary of State Marco Rubio was ordered to reopen the registration window and allow eligible applicants to submit their applications. The order follows a lawsuit filed by Red Eagle Law against Rubio in August.

What did the court order?

Judge Ohta ordered the State Department to publicly announce the registration dates, the website where applicants can submit their entries, and the eligibility requirements for participating in the lottery.

“The notice shall indicate the start and end date of the registration period, the website through which individuals may submit electronic submissions, and the requirements for participation in the program”.

The judge also ordered the department to share those details through its usual public communication channels, including the Federal Register.

The court ordered that the registration window remain open for 30 days. During this period, the State Department must accept electronic applications from individuals who meet program requirements and documentation requirements.

The department must also notify selected applicants and process their applications according to its established procedures.

The US is changing the rules for green card applications

Separately, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) implemented a policy earlier this year that requires foreign nationals temporarily residing in the US to return to their home countries and apply for permanent residency, subject to exceptions in exceptional circumstances.

“From now on, a foreign national who is temporarily in the US and wants a green card must return to their home country to apply, except in extraordinary circumstances,” Zach Kahler, a spokesperson for US Citizenship and Immigration Services, was quoted as saying by TOI.

The policy was outlined in a memorandum that directed immigration officials to consider the relevant circumstances and information on a case-by-case basis when deciding whether a waiver should be granted.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which oversees USCIS, reiterated the requirement, saying, “An alien who is temporarily in the U.S. and wants a green card must return to his or her home country to apply.”

The change is intended to free up agency resources so officials can focus on processing other applications, according to the immigration office.