United States: USCIS Suspends Approvals of Pending Diversity Visa Adjustment Applications While Security Reviews Are Conducted
Updated December 24, 2025 | December 23, 2025
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At a glance
- The agency has told adjudicators to place a hold on pending DV lottery adjustment applications and ancillary benefits (including applications for adjustment-based work and travel authorization) while the government conducts an in-depth review of each applicant. Affected foreign nationals may be required to appear for an in-person interview or re-interview.
- The suspension follows DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s social media posting announcing a pause of the DV program as a result of the recent shootings in New England; the alleged perpetrator is thought to have attained U.S. permanent residence through the DV lottery program.
- The State Department has also paused all visa issuances to DV immigrant visa applicants.
The issue
USCIS is pausing the processing of adjustment of status applications and related filings in the aftermath of the recent shootings in New England. The announcement follows and provides implementing details on a brief social media post made by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem shortly after the alleged perpetrator of the shootings was identified. Though the Diversity Visa (DV) program is run by the State Department, DHS’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services directorate adjudicates adjustment of status green card applications and related filings submitted by DV lottery selectees present in the United States.
Even before the events leading up to Secretary Noem’s social media announcement, aspects of the DV Lottery program have been effectively on hold for several months. While DV-2026 selectees have been able to submit adjustment of status applications and immigrant visa applications since October 1, 2025, the start of DV-2027 program has been delayed, as announced by the State Department in early November.
Security review of pending DV adjustment applicants
USCIS plans to conduct a review of each pending DV adjustment applicant, including:
- Screening against terrorist databases;
- Reviewing whether the applicant has been or is connected to activities, individuals, or organizations that pose national security or criminal concerns;
- Reviewing whether the applicant is or has been involved with activities, individuals, or organizations that pose serious risks to the community due to criminal conduct, mental health issues, or national security concerns; and
- Determining whether the foreign national is able to establish their identity.
State Department pause on DV immigrant visa issuances
Following USCIS’s announcement, the State Department announced that it has temporarily suspended issuance of DV immigrant visas at U.S. Embassies and Consulates to allow the agency to undertake a review of DV screening and vetting protocols, with the goal of ensuring that the agency can adequately establish the identity and visa eligibility of DV applicants and verify that they do not present a threat to national security or public safety. The State Department’s announcement notes that previously issued DV immigrant visas remain valid, and the agency will continue to accept DV applications and hold DV interviews, but no DV immigrant visas will be issued during the pause.
Impact of the adjudications hold on affected applicants
The USCIS hold placed on pending DV adjustments and related filings means that the agency can continue to process these cases but decisions on the cases will be suspended until the hold is lifted by the USCIS Director. USCIS says it will not lift any hold due to litigation unless the Director or Deputy Director grants their approval.
The USCIS hold not only affects applications for adjustment, but related applications for employment authorization and advance parole, meaning that adjustment applicants are likely to see lengthy delays that affect their ability to work and travel internationally.
It should be noted that, unlike most green card applicants, DV applicants face a deadline of the end of the fiscal year (September 30) by which their application must be approved or else they lose eligibility. As such, if the USCIS and State Department adjudication holds are lengthy, they could have a serious adverse impact on foreign nationals applying for permanent residence through the DV program.
Fragomen is closely following matters related to the DV Lottery and will provide updates as developments occur.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.
