A U.S. federal court had ordered the State Department to open registration for the DV-2027 Green Card lottery by November 1, 2026, but on October 29 an appeals court stayed that order while the appeal is pending. Registration is not open, and the State Department has not announced new dates. Additionally, participation in the lottery will require a $1 registration fee paid with a foreign bank card.
Court Decision and Lottery Drawing Timeline
A U.S. district court ordered the State Department to open Green Card lottery registration by November 1, 2026, for 30 days, and to notify selectees by December 3. On October 29, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals stayed that order while the appeal is pending, so these deadlines no longer apply.
The government appealed, and the appeals panel found that it is likely to win: the only plaintiff, the law firm Red Eagle Law, has no cause of action under the lottery statute. The court did not rule on whether the pause of the program itself is lawful. The appeal continues, registration is not open, and the State Department has not announced new dates.
Registration Fee Payment: What You Need to Know
To participate in the Green Card lottery, you must pay a registration fee of $1. This payment cannot be made with Russian Mir cards, QR codes, or UnionPay. A foreign bank card such as Visa or MasterCard is required.
Such cards can be opened remotely without visiting the issuing country. They can be funded in rubles from Russia without commission and used not only for the Green Card registration fee, but also for U.S. visa fees, payments to foreign services, and international transactions.
Bank Cards vs. Virtual Cards
When preparing for the lottery, it is important to distinguish between real bank cards and virtual cards issued by financial services. Virtual cards are often issued not by banks but by various online services, designated as LLCs or individual entrepreneurs. This can be easily determined by the first six or eight digits of the card.
The problem is that virtual cards often fail to process payments on the websites of many major companies. When attempting to pay, the system returns an error and suggests using a different card. The same occurs when paying U.S. visa fees. Therefore, it is better to open a real bank card in advance or find friends and acquaintances who already have one.
How to Prepare for the Lottery Start
It is recommended to open a foreign bank card in advance, before lottery registration begins. This will eliminate rush and technical issues at the last moment. The card must be functional and tested for international payment capability.
Winners in the Green Card lottery will have their last chance at straightforward lottery participation, so preparation must be thorough. Having a ready foreign bank card is a necessary condition for timely payment of the registration fee and subsequent visa application processing.
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