US Suspends Diversity Visa Processing for Security Review
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services has placed a hold on all pending Diversity Visa adjustment of status applications, while the Department of State has simultaneously paused the issuance of Diversity Visas at U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide. According to officials, the suspension allows both agencies to conduct comprehensive security reviews of the Diversity Visa program's screening and vetting protocols.
The USCIS directive, issued to adjudicators in late December 2025, requires that all pending DV adjustment applications and related benefits be placed on hold while security reviews are conducted. According to Fragomen, a leading immigration law firm, the hold affects not only applications for permanent residence but also related requests for employment authorization documents and advance parole travel documents. The agency has indicated that affected foreign nationals may be required to attend in-person interviews or re-interviews as part of the enhanced screening process.
The State Department announced that effective immediately, it has paused all visa issuances to Diversity Visa applicants. According to the Department's guidance, DV applicants may continue to submit visa applications and attend scheduled interviews, but no Diversity Visas will be issued during the pause. The Department clarified that existing diversity visa appointments generally will not be rescheduled or cancelled, and previously issued visas remain valid.
According to the BBC, the suspension follows a shooting incident at Brown University in December 2025, where two people were killed. The alleged perpetrator, a Portuguese national, is believed to have obtained U.S. permanent residence through the Diversity Visa lottery program. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that the individual "should never have been allowed in our country," according to BBC reporting.
The State Department's guidance explains that the pause will allow the agency to review screening and vetting protocols to ensure it can adequately establish the identity of individuals selected through the DV entry lottery, verify their visa eligibility, and ensure they do not present a threat to national security or public safety. USCIS plans to conduct security reviews of each pending DV adjustment applicant, including screening against terrorist databases and reviewing connections to activities or organizations that pose national security or criminal concerns.
The USCIS hold means that the agency can continue to process DV adjustment cases, but final decisions will be suspended until the hold is lifted by the USCIS Director. According to the agency's guidance, holds will not be lifted due to litigation unless the Director or Deputy Director grants approval. Unlike most green card applicants, Diversity Visa applicants face a strict deadline of September 30, the end of the fiscal year, by which their application must be approved or they lose eligibility. According to immigration experts, if the holds are lengthy, they could have serious adverse impacts on foreign nationals applying for permanent residence through the DV program.
What's Next / Context
The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, commonly known as the green card lottery, was established by the Immigration Act of 1990 to provide up to 50,000 immigrant visas annually to individuals from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States. The program operates through a random lottery system, with applicants selected from millions of entries submitted each year.
The program has faced periodic scrutiny over the years, with some lawmakers and security experts questioning whether the lottery-based selection process adequately screens for security risks. The current suspension represents one of the most significant pauses in the program's history. The enhanced security review comes at a time when immigration policy is under increased scrutiny, and the administration has emphasized the importance of maintaining rigorous vetting standards.
Diversity Visa applicants and their legal representatives are monitoring developments closely, as the length of the suspension could significantly impact applicants' ability to complete the immigration process within the required timeframe. The agencies have not provided a specific timeline for when the security review will be completed or when the hold will be lifted. Applicants are encouraged to continue preparing their cases and to consult with qualified immigration attorneys for guidance on their specific situations.
