US visa processing paused for 75 countries, Green Card lottery not resumed despite court orders

US visa processing for two groups, Diversity Visa applicants and immigrant visa applicants from 75 countries, remains stalled despite federal court rulings striking down the pauses, immigration attorney Jennifer Bade has said. A federal judge on August 21 struck down the 75-country immigrant visa pause, and another on August 28 ruled against the Diversity Visa pause. The State Department acknowledged the rulings but Bade said most embassies have not resumed processing.

Bade said families with scheduled interviews found them cancelled without explanation, and the government used a loophole saying interviews would be rescheduled. The State Department formally instructed embassies to resume processing on September 10, but Bade said most consular posts have shown no real movement. For Diversity Visa selectees, the deadline is September 30, if a visa is not issued by then, the selection expires and cannot roll over to the next year. Bade advised affected applicants to follow up directly with the consulate and document all communications.