EDV 2027: Is the DV Lottery Form Open? Latest Update for Nepal
The EDV 2027 form is not open: a US appeals court paused the order to open it. What happened, what's new (US$1 fee, passport) and how to avoid EDV scams.
Thousands of people in Nepal are searching for the EDV 2027 opening date. The short answer: the DV-2027 entry form is not open, and no opening date has been announced. A US court had ordered the State Department to open it by 1 November 2026, but on 29 October 2026 a US appeals court paused that order (Fragomen; Bloomberg Law).
At a glance
- Is EDV 2027 open? No. The DV-2027 registration has not opened.
- Why not? The US State Department paused the programme in December 2025, and a court order to reopen it was put on hold on 29 October 2026.
- When will it open? Nobody knows yet. Watch only the official site, dvprogram.state.gov.
- New when it opens: a US$1 entry fee, and a valid passport for the main applicant.
What happened, step by step
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| November 2025 | The State Department announces changes to the DV-2027 entry period |
| December 2025 | The State Department pauses the Diversity Visa programme, including DV-2026 visa processing |
| 19 August 2026 | Red Eagle Law, a US immigration law firm, sues over the failure to open DV-2027 |
| 14 October 2026 | A federal judge in California orders registration to open by 1 November 2026 for 30 days |
| 29 October 2026 | The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals pauses that order; DV-2027 stays closed |
(Fragomen; Bloomberg Law)
The programme was suspended after a Portuguese national who had received a visa through the lottery was suspected of killing several people in shootings in Rhode Island and Massachusetts (Bloomberg Law).
The appeals court said "we do not endorse the Department's failure to open the lottery registration period", but found that the law firm that brought the case was unlikely to win, mainly because it is not a lottery applicant itself. The decision does not end the case: the appeal continues, and the situation could change (Bloomberg Law; Fragomen).
What will be different when it opens
- US$1 entry fee: a new rule introduced a US$1 electronic registration fee per entry, paid online when you submit (Camp Legal). Entering used to be free.
- Passport required: under a final rule effective 10 April 2026, the main applicant must give details of a valid, unexpired passport and upload a scan of its photo and signature page on the entry form (EIG Law; GT Law).
If you don't have a passport yet, apply now. Getting a Nepali passport takes time, and the entry period, when it comes, is usually only about a month long.
How to avoid EDV scams
- The only place to enter is the official site, dvprogram.state.gov. Any other website or Facebook page saying "EDV 2027 is open" is wrong until that site says so.
- Nobody can register you early, and no agent can improve your chances. Selection is random.
- The official fee is US$1. Don't pay anyone for "guaranteed" or "priority" entries.
- When you enter, save your confirmation number yourself. You need it to check your result, so don't leave it only with an agent.
- Keep your photo and details exactly correct: one entry per person; duplicate entries are disqualified.
Frequently asked questions
Is EDV 2027 open in Nepal? No. As of 1 November 2026, DV-2027 registration has not opened anywhere in the world.
When will EDV 2027 open? No date has been announced. It depends on the court case and the US State Department.
Can Nepalis apply? Nepal has been among the eligible countries in recent years. The official DV-2027 instructions, when published, will confirm the eligible countries.
Is it EDV 2027 or EDV 2028? The programme is named after the US fiscal year of the visas. DV-2027 is the one currently delayed; dates for DV-2028 have not been announced either.
Related: UK Graduate visa update · Nepali date converter (to convert BS dates on your documents to AD)
Sources: Fragomen, 30 Oct 2026 · Bloomberg Law, 30 Oct 2026 · Fragomen: court order · EIG Law · GT Law · Camp Legal · Newsweek