The United States of America (US) government has confirmed that the registration period for the Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) Program (Greencard Lottery) for the 2027 cycle has not yet opened.
According to the U.S. Department of State, the window for submitting entries remains closed.
The announcement follows recent media reports suggesting that registration had already begun. However, the Department clarified that those reports are incorrect and that any claims of a currently open registration period are fraudulent.
In a statement, the agency warned the public about third-party services and online posts that falsely claim registration has opened or guarantee successful selection.
“The DV-2027 entry registration period is not open at this time. We are aware of reports of fraudulent claims that the DV-2027 entry is open and of individuals and services falsely claiming they can increase your chances of selection. This is not true.” the message reads in part.
The State Department also emphasised that details such as the exact registration dates, any changes to the process, and the list of eligible countries will be announced via their official channels when available.
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One major update this year is the introduction of a new $1 (approx. Ksh 130) electronic registration fee for all applicants submitting entries for DV-2027. This is the first time in the program’s history that an entry fee will be required.
Previously, entery into the lottery was free and only those selected went on to pay the later visa application fee (currently US $330).
The rationale behind the new fee is to fairly distribute administrative costs across all entrants and discourage speculative or duplicate registrations.
The Department estimates the fee could raise around US $25 million annually.
Prospect applicants are reminded to stay alert for the official announcement of the entry period which could open later than the typical early October window due to the new process changes