U.S. Government Shutdown Temporarily 

Why the US Government Has Been Temporarily Shut Down

On October 1, 2025, the U.S. federal government entered a partial shutdown because Congress failed to pass new funding for the fiscal year. In practical terms, this meant many federal agencies had to close or scale back operations. Approximately 900,000 federal employees were furloughed (sent home without pay), and another 700,000 were required to work without immediate pay under “essential services” exemptions. This shutdown, the first since 2018–2019, arose from political disagreements in Congress over budget issues, causing a temporary halt in many government functions.

Under U.S. law (particularly the Antideficiency Act), when appropriations lapse, agencies can only continue activities deemed “essential” for public safety or national security. All other federal operations legally must stop, and affected personnel are forbidden to work until funding is restored. This is why you’ll hear the term “furloughed” – those employees are on involuntary, unpaid leave. In short, a government shutdown is essentially a pause on a broad array of “non-essential” services until Congress, and the President reach a funding agreement.

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What Happens During a US Government Shutdown: The Legal Framework

A federal shutdown doesn’t mean every part of government literally stops. Instead, agencies wind down all activities not legally exempted by the emergency plans. By law, certain functions continue for example, military operations, law enforcement, air traffic control, border protection, and power grid maintenance carry on, since halting them would pose threats to life or national security. Likewise, mandatory spending programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid keep running (those funds are not part of the annual appropriations process) 

However, many civilian agencies and programs cease normal operations. National parks might close, research at federal labs is halted, call centres and administrative offices shutter. The longer a shutdown lasts, the more its effects can compound, from missed pay checks for workers to backlogs of work that build up.

Legally, each agency follows a shutdown contingency plan that spells out who stays on the job. Employees classified as “essential” (or “excepted”) for having roles critical to safety or protection of property will continue working (often without pay until later). Everyone else is “non-essential” (a cold term but simply meaning their work must pause). These distinctions can sometimes be surprising, for instance, medical researchers at NIH were furloughed in this shutdown, while airport TSA screeners stayed on duty. The key point: if a task isn’t funded and isn’t critical in the short term, it goes on hold during the shutdown.

Which Federal Agencies Stop and Which Stay Open

In a shutdown, most Cabinet departments and agencies curtail operations, but the impact varies:

• The Department of Defence (military) continues vital national security and combat operations. Active-duty military personnel still report for duty (though some trainings or support functions might pause). Civilian Pentagon employees can be furloughed if not directly supporting military operations.
• The Department of Homeland Security keeps border patrol, airport security, and immigration enforcement running (these are considered essential for public safety). For example, only 5% of DHS’s 271,000 employees were furloughed in this shutdown. But DHS offices involved in research, policy, or administration might suspend work.
• Law enforcement agencies like the FBI, DEA, Secret Service, and federal prisons remain operational to protect public safety.
• Healthcare and emergency services: Hospitals run by the VA, emergency disaster response, etc., continue functioning. Programs like Medicare are mandatory spending and remain funded.
• Postal Service: The USPS is a self-funded entity and does not shut down – mail delivery continues as usual.
• Congress and the Courts: Congress has its own appropriations (and often finds a way to keep staff paid). Federal courts can operate for a limited time on non-appropriated funds; after a point, they may scale back if the shutdown is protracted.

Conversely, many agencies face a full or partial closure:

It’s a disjointed situation: the government is not one monolithic switch, but rather a bunch of dimmer switches. Some are fully on, some dimmed, some off. Each department has a different mix of what stays lit. Overall, a shutdown is disruptive but temporary. It ends when Congress passes, and the President signs, either a new appropriations bill or a continuing resolution (CR) to fund agencies. Until then, many services people rely on are in a holding pattern.

Impact on USCIS: Why Most Immigration Filings Continue

Many people are surprised to learn that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) the agency handling Green Card petitions, citizenship applications, work permits, etc; remains largely open for business during a shutdown. That’s because USCIS is primarily funded by application fees rather than annual taxpayer appropriations. Whenever you pay filing fees for a visa or immigration benefit, that money supports USCIS’s operations.

Bottom line: USCIS continues to accept and process most applications and petitions even when other parts of the government shut down. If you mail in a family-based green card petition or apply to renew your work permit during the funding lapse, USCIS officers are generally still at work adjudicating it. Cases already in progress will move forward, and new applications will be received as normal.

However, a shutdown isn’t completely business-as-usual for USCIS. Some programs under USCIS do rely on appropriated funds or inter-agency support, leading to temporary hitches:

USCIS leadership has also indicated they might reprioritize resources during the shutdown, for example, focusing on cases with national security importance over routine interviews. Routine public services like citizenship oath ceremonies or in-person interviews could be postponed if local offices have staffing issues, though as of now most USCIS field offices are operating normally.

In short, if you have an immigration application pending with USCIS, the shutdown causes minimal interruption. Keep attending any scheduled biometrics appointments or interviews unless told otherwise. Continue filing petitions or renewals as needed, USCIS will accept them. Just brace for minor delays in processing times as the agency might be juggling some workload constraints or shifting priorities.

Impact on U.S. Consulates: Visas and Passport Operations

The U.S. Department of State, which runs U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide, is affected by the shutdown in more complex ways. Visa processing and passport services are considered “fee-funded” to a large extent – applicants pay fees for visas and passports that support those services. Initially, these operations continue during a shutdown. So, if you had a visa interview scheduled at a U.S. consulate, there’s a good chance that interview is still happening as planned. Likewise, passport agencies were still processing applications, at least for the early days of the shutdown.

However, State Department functions don’t exist in a vacuum. Consular sections rely on support and security staff, facilities, and IT systems that may depend on appropriated funds. If a particular embassy or consulate runs out of funds from fees or faces staffing shortages, it may start to scale back services. The State Department has indicated that in cases where fee revenue isn’t sufficient to keep operations going, consulates will limit services to emergency cases only (life-and-death emergencies and diplomatic visas).

In practical terms, during a short shutdown:

For Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery selectees processing their immigrant visas at consulates (more on DV specifics below), the immediate effect is that interviews for already-scheduled cases in early October likely went ahead, but no new DV interviews would be scheduled during the shutdown period. The scheduling of immigrant visa interviews is done by consular staff and the Kentucky Consular Center, which would not add new appointments until normal operations resume. Since the shutdown coincided with the very beginning of the fiscal year, DV-2025 winners’ interviews for October were already set. Interviews in November and beyond depend on how quickly the government reopens and consular scheduling ramps back up.

To summarize, U.S. consulates worldwide did not all close, they operate on user fees and tried to maintain services. If you’re awaiting a visa, keep monitoring announcements from the specific embassy. Many embassies posted alerts on their websites stating that “visa services continue at this time” but cautioning that things could change if the shutdown persisted. It’s wise to expect some delays and longer lines: even if your appointment isn’t canceled, you might find the process slower as consulates operate with lean staffing. Patience is key. Once funding is restored, any backlogs or canceled appointments will be handled, but there could be a crunch of demand immediately after reopening.

Role of the Department of Labor: Employment Visa Processing in Jeopardy

One of the most acute impacts on immigration during a shutdown is at the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). If you’re an employer sponsoring someone for a work visa or green card, DOL’s functions are critical – and unlike USCIS, DOL is funded by annual appropriations, not fees. In this shutdown, the DOL essentially ceased processing all foreign labour applications.

Here’s why that matters: Many employment-based immigration processes have required DOL steps:

During the shutdown, the Office of Foreign Labor Certification at DOL stopped accepting new applications and stopped processing pending ones. That means:

Effectively, any immigration step that depended on DOL was frozen. This creates a ripple effect:

The longer the shutdown lasts, the more a backlog builds up at DOL. When the government reopens, DOL will face a pile of pending applications and new ones flooding in. Employers and foreign workers should be prepared for slower processing even after reopening, as DOL staff catch up on the accumulated work.

It’s important to note: USCIS cannot bypass DOL. If your petition legally needs a DOL certification, USCIS cannot approve it without that piece. So those cases truly sit at a standstill.

For now, if you’re in this situation (e.g. your H-1B status is expiring and your extension can’t be filed due to LCA issues), know that USCIS has in prior shutdowns shown some flexibility. In past instances, USCIS accepted filings after the deadline with evidence that the delay was due to the shutdown and treated them leniently. We may see similar accommodations this time. Still, it’s a stressful position for many. Employers and attorneys are closely watching for any special guidance once normal operations resume.

Immigration Courts and Case Backlogs During Shutdowns

The immigration court system (EOIR – Executive Office for Immigration Review) has historically been one of the hardest-hit areas during shutdowns. In previous shutdowns, the policy was: courts remain open for “detained” cases (immigrants held in custody), but “non-detained” immigration court cases are put on hold – their hearings are canceled and rescheduled for much later. This created horrendous backlogs; for example, thousands of immigration court hearings were simply not held during the long 2018-2019 shutdown, worsening an already years-long queue of cases.

This time, however, there was a twist. As of the start of the October 2025 shutdown, the Department of Justice announced that immigration courts would continue hearing cases on the non-detained docket as usual. This was a departure from past shutdown practices, likely aimed at preventing further backlog growth. In other words, immigration judges, court staff, and DHS attorneys were told to carry on with court hearings for immigrants who are not detained, despite the funding lapse.

This policy meant that if you had an immigration court hearing (and you’re not in ICE detention), your case was still set to be heard on its original date – the court didn’t automatically cancel it. This is significant because it avoids adding months or years of delay to cases that have already been pending a long time. It’s good news for respondents (immigrants in proceedings) and their lawyers, many of whom had braced for a shutdown-induced scramble of calendars.

That said, some practical issues linger:

Outside the courts, note that ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) enforcement operations (e.g. deportation officers, detention facility staff) continue working, they are considered essential for public safety. So, ICE was still making arrests and detaining individuals as normal. The ICE attorneys (OPLA) primarily focused on detained cases, but since non-detained cases proceeded, they had to cover those too.

For those with active immigration court cases: the shutdown didn’t give a free pass or delay unless you hear otherwise from the court. If you were scheduled for a hearing, you (or your attorney) should have appeared as normal, confirming the court was open. Always double-check by calling the court’s automated hotline or checking EOIR’s website, which in this case posted updates confirming the open status.

In summary, unlike many past shutdowns, the October 2025 funding lapse did not completely grind immigration court calendars to a halt. This proactive approach saved thousands of immigrants from prolonged limbo. Still, the courts remain massively backlogged overall. Any disruption at all, even a few days of uncertainty, can have ripple effects. One can hope that going forward, Congress finds a way to fund the courts (and the whole immigration system) more consistently so that lives aren’t left in flux with each budget impasse.

The Diversity Visa Program During a Shutdown: What Pauses and What Doesn’t

Now let’s talk about the Diversity Visa Immigrant Program DV-2027, often called the Green Card Program, also known as Green Card Lottery, which is of huge interest to many hopeful immigrants. The DV Program is a bit unique. It’s an annually occurring process, run by the State Department, that randomly selects up to 55,000 winners for immigrant visas from countries with low U.S. immigration rates. What happens to it in a shutdown?

First, some reassurance: The Diversity Visa program is established by law, and the State Department “will continue to implement the program as required by law,” a Department spokesperson recently confirmed. The program is not canceled or terminated just because of a shutdown. However, certain aspects of it can be temporarily delayed by a shutdown.

Key impacts on the DV Lottery:

It’s worth noting there’s another factor in the delay: the introduction of a new $1 registration fee (more on that shortly) and potential new technical requirements. These changes require IT updates to the DV entry portal. The State Dept likely needed extra time to implement them, and the shutdown further complicated the timeline. As of now, they have simply said “we will announce registration dates and details when available”

The main takeaway: The 2025 Diversity Visa Program remains in play, but its timeline is temporarily shifted. Instead of opening in early October, the entry submission period will open later (once the government is funded and the new fee system is ready). As an applicant, you haven’t missed your chance, it’s just been postponed. The moment the State Department announces the new dates, we expect the entry portal to become available and likely remain open for a similar duration as usual (probably 30 days, possibly adjusted if the start is much later than normal).

Rest assured, the DV-2027 Lottery will happen – the State Dept explicitly stated it “will continue to implement the program as required by law”. So, this is a delay, not a cancellation.

In the meantime, this actually gives serious entrants an opportunity (as we’ll discuss later) to get prepared – make sure your photos, passports, and details are all in order so you can apply as soon as the window opens.

Why the Diversity Visa Program Is Protected by Law and Hard to Eliminate

Over the years, you may have heard politicians criticize the Diversity Visa Lottery (sometimes disparagingly referred to as a “visa lottery”) and even calls to abolish it. Indeed, as recently as February 2025 a group of lawmakers introduced a bill to end the DV Program altogether. This raises a critical point: Can a President or administration just terminate the DV lottery?

The answer is NO, not unilaterally. The DV program was created by an act of Congress, specifically the Immigration Act of 1990, and is codified in U.S. law (Immigration and Nationality Act, section 203(c)). President George H.W. Bush signed it into law, establishing this program to diversify immigration sources. Because it’s in the law, only Congress can repeal or change it in any permanent way.

What about executive power? While the executive branch (the President and agencies) administers the program and can tweak certain rules (like adding security vetting requirements, proposing passport rules, etc.), it cannot abolish the DV Green Card Program outright without new legislation. Any attempt by a President to simply not run the DV Program would likely be met with legal challenges, as it would contradict existing statute that says these visas “shall be made available” each year to eligible countries.

Furthermore, in the U.S. Senate, major legislation typically requires a 60-vote supermajority to overcome a filibuster. This is a critical hurdle. Even if one party controls a slim majority in the Senate, the opposition can block a bill by preventing it from coming to a final vote, unless 60 Senators vote to end debate. In today’s political climate, reaching 60 votes on an immigration issue like the DV lottery is extremely difficult. It would likely require bipartisan agreement.

To put it concretely: Suppose an administration hostile to the DV program convinces the House and a bare majority of the Senate to pass a law ending the lottery. Opponents of the repeal (who see the value in diversity immigration) could filibuster, and unless those in favour muster 60 votes, the bill dies. As of now, neither party holds 60 Senate seats, and support for DV runs along enough bipartisan lines that a repeal doesn’t have the numbers.

In addition, immigration legislation is notoriously challenging to pass even when there is consensus on changes far less controversial than the Green Card Lottery. The program has survived multiple administrations of differing ideologies. There have been prior attempts in Congress to eliminate it, for example, the Visa Lottery Repeal Act (S.859) was introduced in 2021, and more recently the SAFE for America Act of 2025 in the House aims to end it. These proposals have so far stalled at the introduction or committee stage.

It’s also worth noting that the Diversity Visa Program has supporters. Various immigrant communities and some policymakers argue it’s an important tool for maintaining diversity in immigrant flows and giving a chance to those who lack family or employer sponsors. The program is popular in many countries and ending it could have diplomatic repercussions. All of this makes sudden elimination less likely.

Lastly, the DV program’s existence in law means that until Congress says otherwise, the State Department is obligated to run it each year (even if an administration is unenthusiastic). As the State Dept spokesperson told World News recently, “the Department of State will continue to implement the program as required by law”. That should be reassuring to would-be applicants: your opportunity to apply isn’t subject to the whims of politics from year to year, it would take an act of Congress to remove that opportunity.

In summary, the Diversity Visa Program is here to stay for the foreseeable future. Government shutdown or not, it’s baked into America’s immigration law. So don’t be swayed by rumours that it’s been eliminated, those resurface every so often but thus far have never come to pass. The current delay is logistical and temporary, not a sign of the program’s demise.

Past Efforts to End the Green Card Lottery (and Why They Failed)

To expand on the political attempts to alter the DV program: Let’s briefly look at what’s been tried and why those efforts haven’t succeeded.

The DV lottery has faced opposition primarily from some conservatives who argue immigration should be more “merit-based” and from those citing security concerns (pointing to a handful of cases where lottery selectees committed crimes). For example:

Despite these attempts, none have become law. Here’s why:

All these factors mean the DV program has proven resilient. It has outlasted its critics so far. The program started in 1995 (DV-1995 was the first) and has run annually through DV-2025, DV-2026, and so on, bringing in immigrants from all over the world who add to America’s diversity. Roughly 20 to 25 million people enter the lottery each year, highlighting its popularity globally.

For you as an applicant or a prospective one, the key point is: don’t let political noise deter you from participating. Every year, tens of thousands of people get the life-changing news that they were selected, and about 50-55,000 of them successfully immigrate through the program. That opportunity continues to exist, and you should seize it if you dream of a life in the United States.

Recent Court Rulings Safeguarding DV Lottery Applicants

While on the topic of resilience, it’s worth mentioning how the judiciary has played a role in protecting DV lottery participants’ rights in recent years. Two notable instances:

1. DV-2020 Lawsuits: The 2020 lottery (DV-2021 program) faced an unprecedented challenge, the Trump administration’s COVID-19 travel bans and consular shutdowns effectively halted visa issuance for months. As September 30, 2021 (the deadline to issue DV-2021 visas) approached, thousands of winners had not received their visas due to the bans. Several groups of plaintiffs sued the government. In one case, a federal court ordered the State Department to reserve and later process 9,095 diversity visas beyond the deadline for those lottery winners. This was extraordinary, as normally if you don’t get the visa by Sept 30, you lose out. The judge found the government’s actions (or inaction) unlawful and granted relief to the plaintiffs. This showed courts recognizing the principle that the government should not arbitrarily deny lottery winners their chance if the law provides it.
2. Passport Rule Struck Down: In 2019, the State Department (under Trump) implemented a rule requiring all DV entrants to have a valid passport number in their entry. This rule, while aimed at reducing fraud, was put in place without the standard notice-and-comment period. It drastically cut the number of entries (as many couldn’t obtain passports in time or afford them). A lawsuit was filed, and in 2022 a federal judge vacated (overturned) the passport requirement on procedural grounds, essentially ruling that the government skipped required steps in imposing the rule. The court didn’t say a passport rule was a bad idea, only that the way it was introduced violated the Administrative Procedure Act. As a result, the passport requirement was removed for DV-2023 and DV-2024 entries. It is expected that the passport rule will be reinstated from 2025 (DV-2027) as Major Step to Prevent Fraud and Protect Genuine Applicants..

These cases underscore that the DV program operates under legal scrutiny. If an administration tries to slow-walk or circumvent the program, courts can and do step in. Diversity Visa selectees have a right to a fair shot at their visas under the law, and courts have been willing to enforce that.

For example, during the recent travel ban case, the judge emphasized how Congress created the lottery to benefit people from underrepresented nations and that the executive can’t simply ignore issuing those visas by citing a general proclamation. Similarly, in 2021, when the Biden State Department was slow in scheduling DV-2021 visas post-ban, another judge ordered the department to process those as well.

The legal battles can be complex, and not every lottery selectee benefited (only named plaintiffs or class members in lawsuits did). But the overall message is there is a legal safety net preventing the DV program from being quietly snuffed out or negligently handled.

As an applicant, you might wonder how this affects you. It means you can be confident that:

Of course, it’s far better if none of these issues arise in the first place! We all prefer the program to run smoothly without needing lawyers and courts. And generally, it does, most years proceed without major litigation. But it’s good to know that the DV program’s integrity is backed by not just statute but also active oversight by the courts when necessary.

The DV Lottery Timeline: Usual Schedule vs. Shutdown Delays

Let’s lay out the normal timeline of a Diversity Visa Program cycle and see how the current situation has altered it:

So, the main pinch point right now is the entry submission window. The shutdown came right at the crucial moment when DV-2027 was to begin. The State Dept couldn’t legally start the program while unfunded (and without implementing the new fee). We expect that as soon as the State Department gets funded and finalizes the technical setup for the $1 fee payment, they will announce the DV-2027 opening date and deadline. This announcement will be on the DOS and USGCO website. If you’ve signed up for alerts or follow such news, keep an eye out in the days following the government’s reopening.

Will the entry window be shortened because of the delay? Possibly, but not drastically. For example, if they open mid-October, they might still run it to mid-November (still roughly 30 days). If it slips to early November, they could extend into December. The key is they need enough time to accept millions of entries without system issues. They also have a statutory deadline to publish the official eligible country list and rules in the Federal Register before opening (they did publish DV-2027 instructions already, except the dates were left TBD).

For applicants: this means you should be prepared to move quickly once the DV-2027 Green Card Program opens. There may be a shorter notice than usual. In previous years, everyone knew to check around October 5th, for example. This year, you have to stay vigilant for the announcement. The moment it opens, you’ll want to submit your entry well before the deadline to avoid any last-minute server overload or issues. (In fact, using a service like US Green Card Office means we’ll handle that submission for you promptly – more on that soon.)

One more note: The shutdown itself, luckily, did not last long enough to severely impact those DV-2025 winners who are processing visas now. October interviews went on, and by mid-October the government is getting back to normal. If the shutdown had dragged into November or December, the State Dept might have struggled to schedule enough interviews for DV-2025 winners before the Sept 2025 deadline, potentially causing some to miss out. Crisis averted there.

So, in summary, the DV-2027 Diversity Visa schedule is a bit off-kilter, but it’s going to happen. We’re looking at a late start, but presumably no change in the fact that results will be released and visas allocated in the normal course. It’s just crucial to stay informed about the new dates. We at US Green Card Office will be watching like hawks to update our clients and ensure all prepared applications are submitted the instant the window opens.

Diversity Visa Program Passport & Photo Requirements

The DV Lottery has specific passport and photo requirements that every applicant needs to follow closely, and these have been evolving. In fact, one silver lining of the current delay is that it gives you time to make sure you meet these requirements perfectly.

Passport Requirement: In recent years, there’s been back-and-forth on whether a valid passport is required at the time of entering the DV Program. In 2019, a rule was introduced that required all DV entrants to provide a valid, unexpired passport number on their entry. The idea was to crack down on fraud (third-party agents submitting multiple fake entries or on behalf of people without their knowledge). This passport rule dramatically reduced fraudulent entries and duplicate submissions, making the Green Card pool “cleaner.” However, as mentioned earlier, a court struck down the rule in 2022 on procedural grounds. 

For DV-2025 and DV-2026 (the last two Diversity Visa Programs), the passport requirement was not in effect. You could submit a DV Application without a passport. But this might be changing again. The State Department under the current administration has proposed reinstating a mandatory passport requirement for all DV entrants. A proposed regulation was published in August 2025, and public comments were collected, indicating that they intend to bring this rule back properly.

According to a State Dept spokesperson, the passport rule might not be implemented for this year’s DV-2027 entry if the rulemaking process isn’t finished on time. Nonetheless, at US Green Card Office, we strongly support and have already adopted the passport requirement in our own application process. We now require clients to provide a scanned copy of their passport and passport details when they apply through us, even if the government’s site might not demand it this year.

Why are we so keen on this? Because providing your passport info is an excellent safeguard against errors and fraud:

So, our advice: plan to use a valid passport for your DV entry. Even if the government site at this exact moment doesn’t demand the information, it likely will by next year, and more importantly, you will need a valid passport later if you win (to actually get the visa). Many people scramble for a passport after winning; you might as well have it ready rather sooner than later.

Photo Requirement: Every diversity visa entry must include a recent digital photo meeting Department of State specifications. This is one of the most common points of error leading to disqualification. The photo requirements are quite strict: correct size (600 x 600 pixels), neutral expression, plain light background, no glasses, full face visible, proper lighting, etc. If your photo is not compliant, say the background isn’t natural white, or the face is the wrong size in the frame, or there are shadows in or behind your face, your entry will be rejected by the automated system or you can be disqualified at the interview by the immigration officer.

Many DIY applicants unknowingly submit photos that fail the rules (for example, using a selfie against a coloured wall with shadows, or an older photo that’s more than 6 months old).

Using the professional immigration service from US Green Card Office virtually eliminates this risk because we manually review and verify every photo on the application. Our immigration team knows the photo guidelines inside-out, after reviewing millions of applications since 1998, and will request corrections if anything is off.

Remember, over 65% of self-submitted lottery applications are rejected each year due to photo and technical errors, a huge proportion! Most people never even realize their photo was the culprit. We ensure you won’t be in that 65%. 

In short, for the Diversity Visa Program, your passport and your photo are two critical elements that must be perfect:

For more details on these requirements and why they matter, check out our dedicated blog post on the Diversity Visa Program Passport Requirement. It explains how the passport rule combats fraud and why having a passport is ultimately in your best interest as an applicant. The blog also covers the data behind how a passport requirement cut down millions of fake entries, and why genuine entrants benefit from that.

To summarize: Get your passport and photos in order now, during this downtime. You’ll then be 100% ready when the DV-2027 Program opens. By preparing these items with care (and with our help), you’ll avoid the most common pitfalls that disqualify so many entrants each year.

New $1 Fee for the Diversity Visa Program – What It Means

One of the biggest changes rolling out with the upcoming Diversity Visa Program (DV-2027) is the introduction of a $1 entry fee per application. This was officially established by a State Department final rule on September 16, 2025. It marks the first time ever that entering the Green Card Lottery won’t be completely free (aside from any service you might use). Let’s break down why this fee was introduced and how it affects applicants:

Why a $1 Fee? According to the State Department, there are two main reasons:

From our perspective, this fee is great news for genuine applicants:

How will the fee work? Entrants will have to pay the $1 online, via credit/debit card, at the time of submitting the DV form. The payment system is being integrated into the entry website (which is partly why the launch was delayed). It’s a one-time fee per entry each year. If you’re married and submitting two entries (one for you, one for your spouse), you’d pay $1 for each entry.

An important note: This $1 is non-refundable and everyone must pay it.

What about the $330 fee? Those who win the Green card Program and decide to apply for the Green Card have always had to pay a visa application fee of $330 per person at the embassy interview stage. That fee still exists. The new $1 fee was initially thought to possibly offset and reduce the $330 fee, but the State Department clarified that for now the $330 will remain the same. They might review it in the future, but don’t expect the $330 to drop immediately just because of the $1 fee. Effectively, winners will be paying $331 total now ($1 to enter, and $330 if selected and going forward).

For participants using US Green Card Office, note that:

We delve into more about this fee and its implications in our blog article “U.S. Government Introduces $1 Fee for Diversity Visa Program” It explains how scammers abused the free system and how the fee will curb that, plus what it means for our customers. It’s a quick read that will get you up to speed with this new rule.

Tighter Rules for Visa Interview Locations: What DV Winners Should Know

Switching gears from the entry phase to the later stage of the DV process: If you’re selected as a winner, one of the steps is attending an immigrant visa interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate. Recently, the State Department has made a policy change to tighten the rules on where these interviews take place, to prevent what’s known as “consulate shopping.”

In the past, some Green Card winners who lived in one country would try to schedule their visa interview in a different country, often a U.S. embassy known for shorter wait times. For instance, if someone were selected while living in France but knew the U.S. embassy there was very backed up, they might ask to have their case transferred to Sweden’s U.S. embassy (perhaps because they had some connection or claimed it was more convenient). This sometimes worked, but it also sometimes led to logistical issues or even accusations that some applicants were gaming the system to get earlier interview slots.

What’s changed: Starting with DV-2026 (this current cycle of winners being processed in 2025-2026), the State Department has clarified that your DV interview will be scheduled based on your country of residence, or in some cases your country of nationality, and transfers for convenience are not allowed. In other words, if you live in Australia, your interview is going to be at the U.S. Embassy in Australia (or the designated post for immigrant visas), not in some other country, unless there’s a compelling reason like you moved and now reside elsewhere.

They have effectively ended “consulate shopping.” This means Diversity Visa Selectees need to keep their address information current and accurate. When you fill out your DS-260 visa application form after winning, you provide a mailing address and current residence. The Kentucky Consular Center (KCC) will assign you an interview location usually based on that residence.

If you try to game the system by putting an address in a different country to get a different embassy, you’re taking a risk. Consular officers can sniff that out, and you might end up with an interview far away or complications in your case. The intention is clear: each case should be interviewed where the applicant actually lives (or in their home country if, say, the home country is where documents are and where background checks might be easiest).

For example, previously someone from France with a 2-year interview wait might have attempted to interview in Italy which had a 3-month wait. Now, that likely won’t be honoured. They’ll be kept in France’s queue unless they genuinely relocate to Italy.

Why this matters for DV winners:

This change was highlighted in our blog post about USA tightening immigrant visa interview location policies. Essentially, the Department of State is plugging a gap that some used to exploit. It’s rooted in fairness (everyone in a region goes through the same process) and security (interviews done where applicants have records and can more easily obtain police clearances, etc.).

For DV Green Card selectees, just be mindful: wherever you are living, be prepared to interview there. If you anticipate a move (say you’re studying abroad or working abroad temporarily), consider the timing. You might choose to keep your residence address as your home country if you intend to return for the interview or update it if you truly settle in the new country. The interview location is typically not something you petition to change anymore.

We at US Green Card Office assist our winners through the post-selection process too. We advise on documents, strategy, and yes, things like interview location and scheduling. Our goal is to ensure you don’t miss your chance because of a miscommunication or oversight.

We’ve seen people run into trouble by ignoring an interview notice sent to an old address or being unable to travel to where they were scheduled. With our guidance, you’ll avoid those pitfalls.

In summary, the DV interview will happen where you live, a seemingly small procedural point, but very important to plan for. No more chasing a faster embassy. Trust the process and focus on preparing for the interview itself (gathering required documents like birth certificates, police certificates, etc.), because that’s what will ultimately determine if you get the visa.

Why Using a Professional Immigration Service Matters (Especially Now)

We’ve touched on this throughout, but let’s address it head-on: Why should be using the paid service from the US Green Card Office for your next Diversity Visa Program Application, especially at a time when the government site is introducing a fee and the process might seem doable on your own?

The simplest answer: to avoid mistakes that could cost you your dream.

Applying to the Green Card Lottery might appear straightforward, it’s just an online form, right? But in reality, it’s perilously easy to get something wrong, and the consequences of even a small error are total disqualification. There’s no appeal, no second chance in the same year. Here are some reasons why our professional service is immensely valuable:

In the current scenario, with a government shutdown, new fee introduction, evolving rules, having a professional service is even more of a relief. While others might be confused about when and how to apply, our applicants have the assurance that we are on top of all these developments. If the window opens tomorrow, we’re ready to submit applications that we’ve pre-approved. If the window is shortened, we ensure nothing is missed. If any anomalies happen (website glitches, etc.), we navigate them.

The cost of our service is relatively modest considering the value at stake (a chance at U.S. permanent residency). Think of it this way: the government now charges $1 + $330. For an individual, our $80 fee covers those fees and adds a professional handling, effectively the service portion is $80, so using our immigration service will save your money in the end.

We have a detailed breakdown on our site comparing the $1 government self-service vs. our professional service. In short:

For a family or couple, the value is even clearer, $120 covers both spouses’ entries and both of your fees, etc. If you both enter via government, that’s $2 upfront and potentially $660 later, with no support.

In conclusion, using our paid immigration service is about tilting the odds in your favour, not the random odds, but the odds that your application will succeed and not fall victim to a preventable mistake. It’s about safeguarding your investment in the American Dream. In a complex time with shutdowns and rule changes, having professionals by your side is incredibly reassuring.

How US Green Card Office Ensures an Error-Free DV Application

Let’s get into the specifics of what we do for you at US Green Card Office to make your application impeccable and maximize your chance of success. Our process has been refined over decades, and it’s why millions trust our service. Here’s a step-by-step of how we handle your Diversity Visa Application:

To put it plainly, US Green Card Office acts as your advocate and safeguard in the Green Card process. We do guarantee that your entry will meet all requirements and not be disqualify because of an error. Our guarantee is usually that if an application we submitted is disqualified due to an error on our part, we would refund or otherwise make it right, but guess what, that virtually never happens because we don’t make those errors.

We take pride in our success stories, thousands of clients who won and are now living in the United States of America, because we made sure their one shot each year was a bullseye. Check out testimonials on our website if you like; they often mention how hassle-free and confident people felt using our service.

In summary, our entire process is built to eliminate every possible mistake and to support you from start to finish. It’s like having an immigration expert sitting next to you while you fill out your Green Card Application, and then handing it off to an experienced case manager to file it perfectly. That peace of mind is priceless when the stakes are so high.

What You Can Do Now While the Government Is Closed

At the time of writing, the U.S. government shutdown is in the process of resolving (or may have just resolved). Regardless, there’s been a delay in the DV-2027 lottery opening. Instead of feeling discouraged, smart applicants can use this downtime to their advantage. Here’s what you can do right now to boost your chances and be fully prepared:

The key message is: don’t sit idle or get disheartened by the delay. This is actually a golden opportunity to get your ducks in a row. Many people procrastinate and then make mistakes under pressure. You, by reading this, are already more prepared than most! Take advantage of that.

Remember, US Green Card Office remains open and fully operational even when the U.S. government isn’t. We’re helping people every day during the shutdown to get ready and apply. Immigration dreams don’t need to wait for political squabbles to end.

Use this time wisely, and you’ll be in fantastic shape when the starting gun fires for the DV-2027 Green Card Program. As the saying goes, luck favours the prepared.

When and How Will the Government Reopen (and DV Processing Resume)?

Finally, a few words on what to expect in terms of the shutdown’s end and the resumption of all government services, including our beloved DV Lottery.

Historically, U.S. federal government shutdowns end when Congress passes either:

In the current scenario, Congressional leaders have been negotiating, and it appears likely that a continuing resolution will be passed to quickly fund the government in the short term (several weeks) while they hash out full-year budgets. Once that is signed by the President, the shutdown immediately ends. Federal workers go back to work, back pay is issued (by law, furloughed workers get paid back for the time off), and agencies crank back up.

For the Diversity Visa Program, this means:

Once the entry period is open, everything will proceed normally:

It’s also worth noting: if by some chance the shutdown situation had dragged out, Congress likely would have made special provisions for the DV Lottery. But it looks like that won’t be necessary now. They know how important it is to get the program going on time, not just for applicants but for the integrity of the legal immigration flow.

As of now, optimism is warranted. These funding impasses, while frustrating, do get resolved. Elected officials face pressure from the public (and federal workers) to reopen, and indeed the political cost of a long shutdown is high. In the 2018-2019 case, it ended after 35 days because the impacts were too severe, and a deal had to be struck. This 2025 shutdown is expected to be much shorter in comparison.

So, when the government reopens – rejoice! The gears will start turning again. The Diversity Visa Program that was “frozen” will thaw and spring back to life. And all the preparation you’ve done will pay off as you’ll be ready to submit and seize the moment.

In conclusion, this temporary pause is just that – temporary. The American immigration system, including the Green Card Lottery, is resilient. It might bend under pressure, but it doesn’t break. Soon enough, lights will be back on in government offices, consular interviews will be fully staffed, and the DV-2027 lottery will kick off, creating new opportunities for thousands of families around the world.

Your dream of a U.S. Green Card is very much alive. Use this time to strengthen your application, take advantage of services like ours to ensure its success, and stay positive. Sometimes a short delay can be a blessing in disguise – giving you more time to get everything right.

We’re excited for when we can hit that “Submit” button for your entry and even more excited to help you all the way to the finish line of obtaining your visa if you’re selected.

The United States is often called the Land of Opportunity – and the Diversity Visa is a golden ticket to that opportunity. The ticket booth might be temporarily closed, but it will reopen shortly. Make sure you’re first in line when it does!

FAQs on US Government Shutdown 2025 and Immigration