The United States government has issued a fresh update on the upcoming Green Card Lottery, announcing that the DV-2027 application dates have not yet been released and warning the public about widespread misinformation online.
In a statement dated Thursday, November 6, 2025, the U.S. Department of State clarified that the DV-2027 entry registration period remains closed, despite numerous reports suggesting it had already opened.
“We are aware of reports of fraudulent claims that DV-2027 entry is open and of individuals and services falsely claiming they can increase your chances of selection. This is not true,” the department stated.
The US government stated that the DV-2027 registration dates and details about changes to 2025 process will be announced by the Department of State when available.
The statement by the US government comes amid new rules that change how the Diversity Visa (DV) lottery program is funded.
US Govt Says Green Card Lottery Application is Not Yet Open
Kenyans and other foreign nationals seeking to apply for the lottery program will be required to spend more when applying for the Diversity Visa (DV) lottery program.
The DV lottery is a United States government program that makes 55,000 immigrant visas available each year, enabling individuals and families to get a Permanent Resident card (Green Card) in the country, even if they don’t have family or employment ties.
These visas are awarded randomly to people from countries with historically low immigration rates to the United States, which include Kenya.
Starting with the DV-2027 program, a small registration fee will be applicable. Applicants will be required to pay a $1 (Ksh129) electronic registration fee when submitting their entry.
Also Read: US Releases Green Card Application Results- How to Check
This rule is set to take effect with the new registration period, which is announced when applications are scheduled to open.
The rule was published in the Federal Register in September 2025, but the Department of State clarified that the payment requirement will only take effect with the next open registration period.
This means that DV-2026 and earlier lotteries remain unaffected, while applicants applying from the 2025 registration period onward, which is yet to begin, will be required to complete the new payment step
“The Department of State (“Department”) proposes an adjustment to the Schedule of Fees for Consular Services of the Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs (“Schedule of Fees” or “Schedule”) to establish a $1 fee to register for the Diversity Visa lottery program,” reads part of a summary by the Federal Register.
“This change will more fairly place the burden of the lottery registration on individuals seeking the benefit of gaining access to the DV application process instead of charging only the small percentage of successful registrants for the costs associated with administering the lottery program for all registrants.”
How to Apply for the Lottery Program
Applications for the program must be submitted electronically on the official Department of State DV Program website as soon as the dates are announced.
Only one entry per person is accepted, as submitting more than one entry will disqualify all entries for that individual.
Also Read: US Opens Green Card Applications- How to Apply
For a complete entry on the Department of State website, all the listed requirements must be provided.
After submitting your entry, you will receive a confirmation screen with your name and a unique confirmation number.
Save your application information for reference. Starting May 2026, applicants can check the status of their entries on the DV-2027 program website to see if they’ve been selected.
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