Department of State Resumes Processing Some Diversity Visa Applications

The Department of State (DOS) announced today that it will resume processing diversity visas (DV-2020) for individuals selected in the diversity visa lottery in embassies and consulates where resources and local health conditions allow.  This announcement comes after a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to resume processing and adjudicating DV-2020 diversity visa applications by September 30.

Although applicants may be issued a visa, entry into the United States is currently suspended by executive order for certain immigrants, including diversity visa applicants. Only visa recipients who meet an exception to the restrictions in the executive order will be allowed to travel to the United States on the issued visa. For more information about the executive order restricting the entry of immigrants, please see here.

Applicants subject to a regional COVID restriction proclamation (i.e., in countries including China, Iran, the Schengen Area, the UK, Ireland, and Brazil) may be interviewed and processed for immigrant visas, but will not be issued an immigrant visa until they have been outside the affected area for 14 days.

For more information, please read the DOS announcement.