US court orders USCIS to resume processing for 2026 Diversity Visa applicants
Key Points(5)
- federal court has temporarily blocked a policy that placed certain 2026 Diversity Visa applications on hold, ordering immigration officials to take reasonable steps to resume processing affected cases before the end of the program's fiscal year.
- District Court for the Northern District of California issued the order Aug.
- , temporarily vacating U.S.
- Citizenship and Immigration Services Policy Memorandum PM-602-0193 while litigation continues.
- Under the ruling, USCIS was ordered, “to the extent practicable and in good faith, to take all reasonable steps during the remainder of the Diversity Visa fiscal year to resume ordinary adjudication of plaintiffs’ pending adjustment of status applications without applying” the policy memorandum.
A U.S. federal court has temporarily blocked a policy that placed certain 2026 Diversity Visa applications on hold, ordering immigration officials to take reasonable steps to resume processing affected cases before the end of the program's fiscal year.
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued the order Aug. 28 in Medani, et al. v. Trump, et al., temporarily vacating U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Policy Memorandum PM-602-0193 while litigation continues.
Under the ruling, USCIS was ordered, “to the extent practicable and in good faith, to take all reasonable steps during the remainder of the Diversity Visa fiscal year to resume ordinary adjudication of plaintiffs’ pending adjustment of status applications without applying” the policy memorandum.
The court also granted part of the plaintiffs' request for class certification.
The certified subclass covers “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.”
The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, commonly known as the green card lottery, provides an avenue for people from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States to apply for permanent residency.
The policy memorandum at the center of the case was introduced to ensure that people seeking adjustment of status through the Diversity Visa Program in the United States do not pose national security or public safety threats, according to USCIS.
The agency said it strongly disagrees with the court's decision but will comply while the case proceeds.
“USCIS strongly disagrees with the Court’s order but will follow its terms pending possible further judicial review,” the agency said.
The order is particularly time-sensitive for affected FY 2026 Diversity Visa applicants because Diversity Visas are tied to the federal fiscal year, placing additional importance on the resumption of adjudications before the program year concludes.
