U.S. Pauses Diversity Visa Issuance Amid Security Review Tied to Brown and MIT Shootings
Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Department of State has paused issuing Diversity Immigrant Visas (DVs) effective immediately, a move that could delay relocation plans for thousands of families who were selected through the annual “green card lottery.”
State officials said applicants can still submit required paperwork and attend scheduled interviews at U.S. embassies and consulates, and appointments generally will not be canceled or rescheduled — but no DV visas will be issued while the pause is in effect. The department said there are no exceptions to the policy.
In updated guidance posted December 23, the State Department said it is conducting a review of screening and vetting procedures for the DV program after concerns raised in the wake of shootings at Brown University and the killing of an MIT professor, which authorities have linked to a suspect who previously entered the U.S. via the DV program.
For parents, the practical impact is uncertainty around school enrollment, housing leases, and travel timing. Advocates and immigration attorneys have urged families not to make irreversible plans, like quitting jobs or purchasing nonrefundable tickets , until visa issuance resumes.
What parents should know
Keep your interview if scheduled; the consulate can still process your case even though it cannot issue the visa right now. DV eligibility is time-limited: for DV-2026 selectees, benefits generally run through September 30, 2026, under U.S. law.
The State Department did not provide a timeline for lifting the pause. Families should monitor official updates on Travel.State.gov and follow instructions from their assigned U.S. embassy or consulate.
This article was produced by a education parenting today journalist with the assistance of AI. This is not legal advice. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
Source: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/diversity-visa-issuance-updated-guidance.html
