U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem instructed USCIS on Dec. 18 to pause the DV1 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program. The program, often called the "green card lottery," generally makes up to 50,000 immigrant visas available each year. Reuters reported the development from Bengaluru; official guidance on the pause's scope and duration has not yet been released.
US Homeland Security Pauses DV1 Diversity Visa Program After Directive From Secretary Noem
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem attends a House Homeland Security hearing entitled "Worldwide Threats to the Homeland," on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S. December 11, 2025. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said late on Dec. 18 that she has instructed U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to pause the DV1 program.
Details
The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (commonly known as the "green card lottery") makes up to 50,000 immigrant visas available each year. The Reuters report cited the USCIS website for the program's annual allocation but did not include further details about the scope or expected duration of the pause.
What This Means
Immediate effect: The directive instructs USCIS to suspend processing under the DV1 program for the time being. Officials have not yet published a public timeline or additional guidance about how the pause will be implemented or whether pending cases will be affected.
Background
The Diversity Visa Program was established to diversify the immigrant population by making visas available to applicants from countries with lower rates of immigration to the United States. It typically issues up to 50,000 visas each year through a lottery-based selection process.
Reporting by Gursimran Kaur in Bengaluru; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman.
Next steps: Watch for formal guidance from DHS or USCIS that will clarify how long the pause will last and which applicants or application stages are affected.
