The Diversity Visa Clock Runs Out Sept 30 (and the Next Lottery Opens in Days): Your 10-Day DV Action Plan

If you were selected for the FY2026 Diversity Visa program, the calendar is now doing that unhelpful thing where it moves very quickly.

September 30, 2026, is the final day of the DV-2026 fiscal year. After that deadline, DV-2026 visa numbers cannot be issued, and a pending case does not automatically roll into the next program year. Visa numbers may also run out before September 30.

At the same time, the next Diversity Visa registration window: DV-2028 is expected to open in early October 2026, although the U.S. Department of State must publish the official dates and instructions first.

So, whether you are protecting an existing DV-2026 case or preparing for the next lottery, here is your practical 10-day action plan.

First, what changed in the DV-2026 court case?

On August 28, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued an order in Medani v. Trump, Case No. 26-cv-6332.

The order temporarily vacated USCIS Policy Memorandum PM-602-0193, which had placed a hold on DV-2026 adjustment-of-status applications filed by people already in the United States.

The court also certified a nationwide USCIS subclass covering:

All selectees and derivative beneficiaries under the FY-2026 Diversity Visa Program who are subject to the USCIS DV Hold imposed by Policy Memorandum PM-602-0193.

In plain English, covered DV-2026 applicants adjusting status in the United States are no longer supposed to have their cases frozen solely under that policy memorandum. USCIS was directed, to the extent practicable and in good faith, to resume ordinary adjudication during the remainder of the DV fiscal year.

USCIS has stated that it strongly disagrees with the court’s order but will comply with its terms pending possible further judicial review. You can read the agency’s official notice on the court order concerning the Diversity Visa program hold policy.

That is important news. But, and this is a very large “but”, the order does not extend the September 30 deadline.

Your 10-day DV-2026 action plan

Day 1: Confirm your case and your deadline

If you were selected for DV-2026 and filed Form I-485 from inside the United States, locate:

• Your USCIS receipt notice

• Your receipt number

• Biometrics notices or appointment records

• Requests for Evidence, if any

• Interview notices

• Copies of your Form I-485 and supporting documents

• Any communications from USCIS

Check your case status through the official USCIS Case Status Online tool. Also review your USCIS online account if your case is linked there.

Do not assume that a pending I-485 equals an approved DV case. For DV-2026, the required visa number and adjustment must be completed before the fiscal-year deadline. A case still pending after September 30 may not receive the DV benefit.

Day 2: Check every USCIS notice

Read every notice carefully. Look for:

• A biometrics appointment

• An interview request

• A Request for Evidence

• A notice asking for updated information

• A rejection or deficiency notice

• A change in case status

If USCIS sends an RFE, respond by the deadline listed in the notice. Do not let the deadline sit in your inbox while you hope the immigration paperwork fairy handles it. She is notoriously unreliable.

If your case has an interview notice or other appointment, prepare immediately and follow the instructions in the notice.

Day 3: Review your document packet for consistency

Anyone adjusting status in the United States should consider having the document packet reviewed for completeness and consistency.

Compare names, dates, addresses, marital status, children, travel history, employment information, and immigration history across your forms and supporting documents.

Common problems include:

• A middle name appearing on one document but not another

• Different birth dates across records

• Translations that do not match the original document

• Missing pages

• Inconsistent marriage or divorce dates

• A passport name that differs from a birth certificate

• Documents that are not legible

• Missing proof for a previously stated fact

A consistency review is not the same as legal advice. It is simply a careful way to catch clerical problems before they create additional confusion.

Day 4: Gather updated civil documents

If your case requires updated documents, begin collecting them now. Depending on your situation, that may include:

• Valid passport biographical page

• Birth certificate

• Marriage certificate

• Divorce decree

• Adoption records

• Police certificates

• Court records

• Military records

• Certified translations

• Evidence related to qualifying education or work experience

Requirements vary by case and country. Review the official instructions and any USCIS notice you received. If a document is unavailable, document your efforts to obtain it and seek advice from a qualified immigration attorney about your options.

Day 5: If you are abroad, contact the Kentucky Consular Center

The court order’s USCIS subclass concerns adjustment-of-status applicants in the United States. It does not automatically resolve every issue for DV selectees processing through a U.S. consulate abroad.

If you are processing through consular channels, review your case through the State Department’s official Diversity Visa information and contact the Kentucky Consular Center using the current contact instructions provided by the State Department.

Keep copies of every email, confirmation, submission, and document. Also make sure your email address is monitored daily. The next ten days are not the time to let an important message disappear beneath restaurant coupons and family group-chat videos.

Day 6: Understand the number shortage risk

Selection is not a guarantee of a visa.

A selectee must still meet the program requirements, complete the process, pass required checks, and receive a visa number while numbers remain available.

DV-2026 numbers may be exhausted before September 30. If that happens, a case may not be completed even if the applicant filed on time and the case is otherwise strong.

The State Department’s official DV-2026 selected entrants information explains the program deadline and the limited nature of DV benefits.

Day 7: Prepare for the next lottery

The DV-2028 registration window is expected in early October 2026. Exact dates must be confirmed through the official Diversity Visa instructions page.

Start your checklist now:

• Confirm whether your country is eligible under the low-admission rules.

• Review the education or qualifying work-experience requirement for the principal entrant.

• Gather accurate names and birth dates for your spouse and children.

• Prepare recent digital photographs.

• Use the official State Department entry website: dvprogram.state.gov.

• Submit only one entry per person during the registration period.

• Save and protect your confirmation number.

Day 8: Get the photo right

The photo requirement is one of the easiest ways to make a simple entry unnecessarily complicated.

Based on the current DV photo standards, photos should generally be:

• Recent, usually taken within the last six months

• In color and in focus

• Square digital images

• 600 × 600 pixels

• 240 KB or smaller

• Taken against a plain white or off-white background

• A direct, full-face view

• With both eyes open and a neutral expression

• Free from uniforms, camouflage, sunglasses, and distracting objects

Religious headwear may be permitted when worn daily, but the face must remain visible.

Use a current photo for yourself, your spouse, and each qualifying child. Do not reuse an old photo from a prior lottery year. Your future self, and possibly your application, will appreciate the update.

Day 9: Avoid lottery scams

The official Diversity Visa entry is free. You do not need to pay a private website to submit your entry.

Watch for websites or social media accounts that:

• Pretend to be affiliated with the U.S. government

• Promise guaranteed selection

• Ask for money to “increase your odds”

• Say they can check results before the official site

• Request your confirmation number without a clear reason

• Pressure you to submit multiple entries

• Use government-looking seals or official-sounding names

Only use official government websites ending in .gov, especially the State Department’s DV website.

Never submit more than one entry for the same person. Multiple entries can disqualify that person.

Day 10: Think beyond the form

Immigration paperwork is connected to real life. Permanent residence can affect employment planning, tax records, family stability, and your long-term goal of buying a dream home in the United States.

If you are preparing for a mortgage someday, begin organizing:

• Tax returns

• Pay statements

• Employment records

• Immigration notices

• Identification documents

• Bank statements

• Debt information

• Closing and property records

Clean records do not guarantee mortgage approval, but they can make conversations with lenders, tax professionals, and housing professionals easier.

This is also a reasonable time to think about family protection. Life insurance may become part of the larger planning picture for new permanent residents, especially when a household depends on one or two incomes or hopes to protect a future mortgage. It is not the most exciting topic (few people have ever thrown a life-insurance-themed house party) but it can be an important part of building a stable life.

How Make-A-Move Enterprise can help with document organization

Make-A-Move Enterprise can help clients organize immigration documents, prepare administrative materials, review packets for completeness and consistency, coordinate document services, and identify missing clerical items.

The team can also assist with birth certificates, civil records, translations, notarization coordination, and document organization for families preparing for major life transitions. For firms that need additional capacity, Make-A-Move Enterprise provides outsourcing and paralegal support services for appropriate clerical and administrative tasks.

If your larger goal is to build a life, purchase a home, and keep your family’s records in order, document organization is a practical place to begin. You can also explore Make-A-Move Enterprise resources about virtual document review and planning for life insurance and a future dream home.

Important disclaimer: Make-A-Move Enterprise, LLC is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. The team consists of non-lawyers who provide reliable clerical, research, and administrative procedures to support legal work, including outsourcing and paralegal support services for firms that need it. Make-A-Move Enterprise does not determine eligibility, guarantee immigration outcomes, or replace a qualified immigration attorney. If your case involves legal strategy, removal proceedings, criminal history, inadmissibility concerns, prior immigration violations, or another complex issue, consult a licensed immigration attorney.

Final reminders before September 30

If you are a DV-2026 selectee:

• Check your USCIS or consular case status today.

• Respond promptly to every notice or RFE.

• Review your document packet for consistency.

• Contact the Kentucky Consular Center if you are processing abroad.

• Do not assume selection guarantees a visa.

• Remember that numbers may run out before September 30.

• Do not wait for the final day if action is available now.

If you plan to enter DV-2028:

• Watch the official State Department website for the registration dates.

• Confirm country and qualification requirements.

• Prepare compliant photos.

• Submit one entry per person.

• Keep your confirmation number safe.

• Avoid scam websites and promises of guaranteed selection.

The next ten days may feel intense, but a clear checklist helps. What is the first item you can complete today: checking your case status, organizing your documents, or preparing your DV-2028 photo folder?

Book an appointment online: https://calendly.com/makeamoveenterprise/60min or call us 24/7 at 561-335-0716 to schedule with a live representative.