Judge Certifies Nationwide Classes for FY-2026 Diversity
A federal judge has certified nationwide classes for FY-2026 Diversity Visa selectees stalled by USCIS and State Department holds, allowing them to resume
A U.S. District judge has certified nationwide classes for FY-2026 Diversity Visa selectees and their family members whose cases were stalled by federal holds. The order, issued on August 28, 2026, allows these applicants to resume visa processing but does not extend the program's statutory deadline.
Judge Edward J. Davila of the Northern District of California entered the certification in the case Medani v. Trump. The ruling broadens the potential relief beyond the original plaintiffs to include all similarly affected applicants across the country.
The government must now resume processing for covered cases under the court's order. This applies while the underlying lawsuit continues.
Policies Affecting the Certified Classes
The certified groups include selectees and derivative beneficiaries impacted by three specific federal measures. The court's order covers cases delayed by a USCIS policy hold and two separate State Department pauses.
One of these is described as the "75-country pause." The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services later confirmed that the court temporarily vacated its Policy Memorandum PM-602-0193 pending further litigation.
Processing Window and Fixed Deadline
Covered applicants regain an opportunity to have their cases processed under standard Diversity Visa procedures. The order, however, does not guarantee that any individual will ultimately receive a visa.
FY-2026 Diversity Visa eligibility conclusively ends on September 30, 2026. Visas not issued by that date are lost. Derivative spouses and children lose their eligibility on the same fixed deadline.
The court order creates a legal path back into processing but does not alter this statutory cutoff. This leaves agencies and applicants working within the remaining weeks of the fiscal year.
Impact of the Class Certification
Before this ruling, relief in similar Diversity Visa lawsuits was often narrower and typically limited to named plaintiffs. The nationwide class certification significantly changes the reach of the Medani litigation.
It now protects an entire class of affected applicants and their derivatives as the case proceeds. The timing pressure is acute, as all processing must conclude with a visa issuance before the September 30 deadline for the court's relief to result in an immigrant visa.
