USCIS Resumes Diversity Visa Processing After Court Order

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has resumed ordinary review of FY 2026 Diversity Visa adjustment cases. This follows a federal court order on August 28, 2026, that temporarily vacated a policy hold.

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued the order in the case Medani, et al. V. Trump, et al. The court directed the agency to take reasonable steps to resume work on the plaintiffs' pending applications. It did not approve any case automatically.

Each application must still satisfy all applicable eligibility requirements. The fiscal year deadline for FY 2026 Diversity Visa benefits is September 30, 2026.

Policy Hold Vacated by Court

The vacated policy, known as PM-602-0193, was titled "Hold and Review of Pending USCIS Adjustment of Status Applications Filed by Aliens Under the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program." It had stopped final action on pending adjustment applications. The hold also covered related ancillary benefits and waiver filings.

A federal court in Rhode Island had previously addressed the hold in related litigation. The latest California order provides applicants with a second judicial action against the agency's original pause.

Order Affects Pending Domestic Cases

The court's order covers a certified subclass of all FY 2026 Diversity Visa selectees and derivative beneficiaries affected by the hold. This group centers on individuals with pending Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, cases filed from within the United States.

Related filings, such as requests for ancillary benefits and associated waivers tied to an adjustment application, can now proceed alongside the main cases. The order changes how these cases are treated but does not alter the legal eligibility standards. Applicants must still prove they meet all requirements and receive an individualized decision from USCIS.

The order requires USCIS to resume ordinary adjudication where practicable. It does not set a guaranteed completion date for every held case.

Applicants Face a Narrow Deadline

With the resumption of processing, applicants face a tight schedule. The court's action leaves a narrow window for cases that were paused. A case can resume review and still fail if it does not meet legal requirements or cannot be processed before the fiscal year ends on September 30, 2026.

The agency has not announced a detailed public schedule for clearing the held cases. The pace of adjudication will depend on USCIS capacity and the time remaining in the fiscal year.

Applicants are advised to monitor official notices from USCIS. They should not assume the court order guarantees an approval or an immediate decision. Processing times and fees are subject to change.

Practical Steps for Applicants

Pending applicants can take several practical steps while USCIS field offices work through the cases. They should continue under ordinary adjustment-of-status procedures unless they receive a case-specific request or notice from the agency.

Monitoring case status regularly is important, as scheduling and implementation can differ by field office. Applicants must keep evidence current for the I-485 and connected filings. This includes materials needed to respond to any request for evidence from USCIS.

Any notice from the agency should be responded to within the stated period. Applicants should preserve copies of all submissions and supporting documents. The restart of processing does not remove the need to meet the fiscal-year cutoff, which remains firmly in place.