State Department Resumes Diversity Visa Issuance After Court Order Lifts Trump-Era Pause

WASHINGTON, September 2, 2026 — The U.S. State Department has resumed issuance of diversity visas (DV) effective August 28, 2026, complying with a federal court order that lifted a months-long suspension imposed by the Trump administration.

The pause, first implemented in December 2025, had halted all DV visa issuances at U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide while the State Department conducted a review of screening and vetting protocols. The suspension created uncertainty for thousands of selectees from the DV-2026 program, who face a statutory deadline of September 30, 2026, to obtain their visas before the fiscal year ends.

US State Department resumes diversity visa issuance after court order lifts Trump-era pause

The Court Challenge: Medani et al. v. Trump et al.

The resumption follows a district court order in Medani et al. v. Trump et al., Case No. 5:26-cv-06332 (N.D. Cal.), filed on June 24, 2026. The lawsuit, brought by 664 Diversity Visa selectee families representing 1,489 plaintiffs, challenged the administration's blanket suspension of the DV program.

According to court filings, the plaintiffs sought to compel federal agencies to resume processing and final adjudications before the statutory deadline of midnight September 30, 2026. The court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, ordering the State Department to lift the pause.

What the Resumption Means for Selectees

Aspect	Details
Effective Date	August 28, 2026
Legal Basis	Court order in Medani et al. v. Trump et al.
Prior Policy	December 2025 pause for screening review
Deadline	September 30, 2026 (end of fiscal year)
Consequence of Missing Deadline	Visa number is lost

Urgent: Diversity immigrant visas must be issued by September 30, 2026, or the visa number is forfeited. Selectees are urged to complete all required steps immediately.

Background: The December 2025 Pause

On December 23, 2025, the State Department announced an immediate pause on all diversity visa issuances, stating it would "undertake a review of the screening and vetting protocols in the DV program".

The pause was accompanied by:

• Suspension of visa issuances at U.S. embassies and consulates

• A hold on adjustment-of-status applications for diversity visa selectees

• Direction for consular officers to refuse DV visa applications under Section 221(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act

The suspension sparked multiple legal challenges, culminating in the August 28 court order that effectively ended the pause.

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Quick Reference Summary

Aspect	Details
Policy Status	Resumed
Resumption Date	August 28, 2026
Suspension Period	December 2025 – August 2026
Lawsuit	Medani et al. v. Trump et al.
Plaintiffs	664 DV selectee families (1,489 individuals)
Deadline	September 30, 2026
Fiscal Year	FY 2026 (ends Sept 30, 2026)

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