The Diversity Visa pause lifted this month. The State Department sent a cable to its embassies and consulates worldwide on the change. It followed a federal court order announced on September 10, 2026. The cable states that the Diversity Visa (DV) and Immigrant Visa (IV) pauses from earlier in 2026 no longer apply. It also tells posts to find DV and IV applications they refused under either pause. Those posts must now reconsider those cases.
Cyrus D. Mehta & Partners PLLC reported the update in its Immigration Update on September 28, 2026. The change matters for Diversity Visa lottery applicants. It also matters for people applying through other Immigrant Visa categories. Both programs felt the earlier pauses. The update reaches applicants in eligible countries around the world. It does not target one region or nationality.
What the Diversity Visa Pause Lifted Actually Changes
Earlier in 2026, the administration paused Diversity Visa and Immigrant Visa issuance at several points. Those pauses stopped some approved or pending cases from reaching visa issuance. Consular posts also refused some DV and IV applications outright because of the pauses.
The new cable reverses that position. It tells posts plainly that the pauses no longer apply. For applicants, a stalled case or a refusal tied to the pause is no longer the end of the road. Posts must take a fresh look.
Why the Pause Ended: The September Court Order
A federal court order announced around September 10, 2026 triggered the reversal. Tamara News does not have the case name, docket number, or presiding judge. This article describes it only as a court order for that reason. It does not attribute the change to a specific ruling.
The practical result is confirmed. The State Department sent formal guidance to posts abroad. That guidance told them to stop applying the DV and IV pauses. The department used a cable, its standard channel for giving consistent instructions to embassies and consulates worldwide. A cable like this one binds every post to the same approach.
Which Applications Get a Second Look
The cable does more than end the pauses going forward. It also directs posts to find DV and IV applications they refused specifically because of either pause. Posts must reconsider those cases. That reconsideration step matters most for people who already hold a refusal.
Tamara News does not have a figure for how many applicants this affects worldwide. No official reconsideration timeline exists beyond “identify and reconsider.” Posts appear to be handling this case by case rather than on a fixed public schedule.
Diversity Visa Applicants and Other Immigrant Visa Categories Worldwide
The Diversity Visa lottery draws applicants from many eligible countries each year. The pause reversal applies to that entire global pool. It does not single out any one nationality. The same cable also covers other Immigrant Visa categories. Family-based and employment-based cases refused under the earlier pause fall under this update too.
Applicants tracking visa number availability can compare this development with other recent changes. These include the September 2026 Visa Bulletin update for family-based categories and the reported delay affecting the October 2026 Visa Bulletin. Visa number cutoffs move independently of this pause reversal. A reconsidered case still needs an available visa number to move forward.
What Previously Refused Applicants Should Do Now
Anyone who received a DV or IV refusal tied to either 2026 pause should watch for direct outreach from their consular post. Posts must find affected applications on their own. Applicants likely do not need to file a new petition to trigger the review.
Applicants should still move fast once a post contacts them. Visa numbers, especially Diversity Visa numbers, run on a strict fiscal-year clock. A slow response to a document request or an interview date can still cost an applicant their number, even after a favorable reconsideration. The most useful step right now is simple: keep contact details, passports, and supporting documents current and ready to submit.
Applicants who have not heard from their post can check the State Department’s own Diversity Visa program page for current guidance. They can also confirm their case status through their post’s normal consular channels.
How This Fits the Wider 2026 Visa Picture
This reversal joins several other changes reshaping visa processing in 2026. Employers and workers face shifting federal posture elsewhere in the system too. One example is the order increasing scrutiny of H-1B holders after layoffs. Together, these updates show a visa system that can shift direction quickly. Applicants should check official channels often rather than assume a past refusal is final.
Diversity Visa Pause: Reader Questions Answered
What does it mean that the Diversity Visa pause lifted?
The State Department told its posts worldwide that the DV and IV pauses from earlier in 2026 no longer apply. DV and IV issuance can resume under normal processing.
When did the State Department send this update?
The cable followed a federal court order announced around September 10, 2026. Cyrus D. Mehta & Partners PLLC reported the update publicly on September 28, 2026.
Will my previously refused Diversity Visa application be reopened automatically?
Posts must find DV and IV applications refused under either pause and reconsider them. No public timeline exists yet, so applicants should watch for direct contact from their post.
Does this affect only Diversity Visa applicants?
No. The cable covers Diversity Visa applicants and other Immigrant Visa categories. It applies to applicants worldwide, not one nationality or region.
Do I need to file a new application to get reconsidered?
Based on the reported guidance, posts identify affected cases themselves. Applicants likely do not need to file a fresh petition to trigger a reconsideration.
Why does responding quickly still matter if my case is reconsidered?
Diversity Visa numbers and other visa numbers carry fiscal-year limits. A delayed response to a document or interview request can still cost an applicant their visa number, even after a favorable reconsideration.
Sources for This Report
- Cyrus D. Mehta & Partners PLLC — Immigration Update, September 28, 2026. https://cyrusmehta.com/blog/2026/09/28/immigration-update-september-28-2026/
- U.S. Department of State — Diversity Visa Program Entry. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/diversity-visa-program-entry.html