Diversity Visa Lottery paused

On December 23, 2025, The State Department temporarily paused all visas issued pursuant to the Diversity Visa Lottery Program. This pause is in response to the shootings at Brown University and at a Brookline, MA home by a person who came to the United States many years ago through the Diversity Visa program. The State Department stated that it will be using the pause to review screening and vetting protocols for the program. 

In a similar move, the Department of Homeland Security issued a Policy Memo directing officers to hold and review pending green card applications submitted pursuant to the Diversity Visa program. 

See the announcement from the State Department here and the USCIS Policy Memo here.