U.S. Department of State suspends diversity visa issuances

The U.S. Department of State has suspended the issuance of all diversity visas for applicants selected in the current fiscal year. This decision impacts more than 120,000 potential applicants.

Officials stated the suspension follows security concerns involving a shooting at Brown University and the murder of a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), allegedly involving an individual admitted through the Diversity Visa (DV) program. The pause is intended to allow the Department of State to review selection and verification protocols to ensure that the program can accurately establish identities and confirm that selected individuals do not pose a threat to national or public security.

While the issuance process is paused, authorities clarified that no diversity visas or other visa types have been revoked. Eligibility for the DV-2026 program or status adjustment remains valid until September 30, 2026.