Court Issues Critical Decision for Green Card Lottery Winners

A critical development unfolded for those selected under the Diversity Visa Program, known in the U.S. as the Green Card lottery, and who filed Form I‑485 to change status in the country. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, by its ruling on August 28, 2026, temporarily revoked USCIS’s policy memo that put DV applications on hold. The decision was issued in the Medani v. Trump case.

Waits in I‑485 Files Are Ending

At the heart of the ruling is USCIS’s policy memo No. PM‑602‑0193. That regulation had halted processing of pending status‑change applications for those selected under DV‑2026 within the United States. The court ordered that the policy be temporarily suspended and that USCIS take reasonable steps to resume normal review of the covered applications for the remainder of the fiscal year.

The Decision Covers Thousands of Files

The court did not issue a ruling solely for the parties who filed the case. It also approved a subclass that includes the primary applicants selected under the DV‑2026 program and the derivative beneficiaries subject to USCIS’s hold policy. Thus the decision concerns a broader group of applicants who meet the requisite conditions.

USCIS Will Comply with the Decision

USCIS said it does not agree with the court's decision, but it will comply with its provisions. In the agency's official statement, it was noted that the PM-602-0193 policy was temporarily removed from effect by a court decision dated August 28. The legal process of the case is still ongoing.

30 September, Critical Date

For those selected for DV-2026, the most important issue is timing. Under U.S. immigration law, visas issued under the Diversity Visa program must be completed within the relevant fiscal year. The fiscal year for DV-2026 ends on September 30, 2026. USCIS's own statements also note that DV status change applications cannot be approved after the last day of the fiscal year, and unused DV rights cannot be transferred to the next fiscal year.

Decision Does Not Mean Automatic Green Card

The federal court's ruling does not mean that every pending I-485 application will be approved automatically. Applications still require a visa number, meeting eligibility requirements, and passing other immigration criteria. The main outcome of the decision was to prevent USCIS from applying the general hold policy and leaving files unprocessed.

Three Policies on the Agenda in the Case

In the court's decision dated 28 August, three separate policies affecting the DV‑2026 process were examined. They were USCIS's hold policy on status‑change applications within the United States, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' practice that halted the issuance of Diversity Visas, and a separate suspension of immigrant visas that affected citizens of 75 countries. The court provided temporary legal protection by defining the classes related to each of these policies.

Time Is Tight for Files

The court asked the parties to submit a joint status report on the case's subsequent proceedings by 18 September 2026. That date comes just 12 days before the fiscal‑year end on 30 September. Therefore, for those selected under DV‑2026, the speed at which proceedings will move after the court's decision is of great importance.

Critical Warning for Applicants

Although the court ruling temporarily lifts a significant legal hurdle, it does not automatically guarantee a visa or Green Card to any applicant. According to USCIS's official statement, the agency will comply with the ruling, but other legal proceedings in the case continue. Those selected under DV‑2026 must take into account that the period up to 30 September 2026 is critical.