Cubans awaiting news about the 2027 U.S. Visa Lottery have a new schedule to follow, although it is still unconfirmed whether individuals born on the Island can participate in this edition.
A federal judge ordered the State Department to announce the registration dates by October 30 and to open the electronic registration no later than November 1, 2026.
The decision represents a new change in the timelines of the Diversity Visa Program (DV-2027), popularly known as the Visa Lottery or the Green Card lottery.
However, for interested Cubans, there is a crucial warning: the reopening of the program does not mean that Cuba has been automatically included among the eligible countries.
Judge Jinsook Ohta of the Federal Court for the Southern District of California approved a revised schedule in the case Red Eagle Law, L.C. v. Rubio, after the parties requested changes to the initially set dates.
According to information published by The American Bazaar and Business Standard, the State Department is expected to announce the registration period no later than October 29 and to begin receiving electronic applications no later than November 1.
This does not mean that registrations will necessarily begin on November 1. That date is the deadline set by the court, so the opening could occur earlier.
Until this Monday, the official page of the Department of State still did not indicate a specific date for the start of applications and stated that the announcement would be made as soon as possible.
Will Cubans be able to participate in the 2027 Visa Lottery?
The question is particularly important because Cuba was not eligible for the previous call.
In the DV-2025, individuals born in Cuba were among those eligible to participate. However, that changed for the DV-2026, when the country was excluded due to the volume of Cuban immigration to the United States during the five years used to determine eligibility.
The State Department itself confirmed in October 2025 that individuals born in Cuba were not eligible for the DV-2026, as more than 50,000 people born on the Island had immigrated to U.S. territory during the reference period.
The agency made that clarification after detecting that some Cuban participants had incorrectly received a notification indicating that they had been selected.
Therefore, it is not enough for the Visa Lottery 2027 to reopen to conclude that Cubans will be able to sign up.
The list of eligible countries is determined for each application round and must be included in the official instructions related to DV-2027.
Until those instructions are published, it cannot be confirmed that individuals born in Cuba are authorized to participate under general conditions.
Eligibility is primarily based on the country of birth, not on current citizenship or the applicant's place of residence.
There are limited exceptions related to the spouse's or parents' country of birth, but they are subject to specific requirements.
These rules may allow the participation of certain individuals who do not qualify based on their country of birth, although they do not represent a blanket authorization for all Cubans.
Thus, a Cuban citizen born in another country might find themselves in a different situation than someone born in Cuba, depending on the rules applicable to their case.
What are the new dates for the 2027 Visa Lottery?
The judicial reform changes the deadlines that had initially been announced in mid-October.
The first order stipulated that the State Department had to begin accepting registrations no later than October 18. However, that date was later changed after the judge accepted a joint request from the parties.
The new calendar establishes:
- October 29, 2026: last day to publicly announce the enrollment period and its conditions.
- November 1, 2026: deadline to enable electronic registration.
- 30 days: established duration for the enrollment period, with the exact closing day yet to be announced.
- December 3, 2026: judicial deadline to notify the selected participants.
These dates correspond to the calendar set by the court. They should not be confused with an official announcement of opening that would allow for the completion of applications.
On October 15, it was reported about the court order requiring Secretary of State Marco Rubio to reactivate the 2027 Visa Lottery.
The new schedule modifies the deadlines announced at that time, so it is no longer appropriate to use October 18 as the expected opening date.
Where is the registration done and how much does it cost?
The only official site to submit electronic applications is dvprogram.state.gov.
The form must be completed during the authorized period. The system does not allow late registrations or paper applications.
Interested parties should also keep in mind that the procedure has incorporated changes to its fees.
The Department of State currently establishes a registration fee of one dollar for the primary applicant, which should be distinguished from the fees charged later to those who are selected and apply for an immigrant visa.
The application fee for a diversity visa for a selected individual is 330 dollars, not including any possible additional expenses for medical exams, documents, or travel.
These changes make it particularly important to be cautious of ads on social media and unofficial pages that offer early registrations or guarantee results in exchange for money.
No intermediary can guarantee that a person will be selected. The drawing is carried out through a random system, and selection alone does not ensure the granting of permanent residency.
Applicants must keep the confirmation number generated by the official system, as it will be necessary to subsequently check the result.
What requirements must the participants meet?
In addition to having been born in an eligible country or being within one of the stipulated exceptions, the primary applicant must meet certain educational or work requirements.
The regulations state that one must have completed secondary education equivalent to 12 years of formal primary and secondary education in the United States, or demonstrate at least two years of experience within the last five years in an occupation requiring a minimum of two years of training or experience.
Not all jobs qualify for this second alternative.
The information provided must be accurate and complete. Reasons for disqualification include duplicate entries, false information, and non-compliance with the photography specifications.
Regulatory changes related to passport information and documentation have also been approved. Therefore, those interested should carefully review the final instructions for the DV-2027 before completing the form.
The Department of State publishes the general requirements and official instructions in its section dedicated to the Diversity Visa Program.
Time will also be an obstacle for those selected
The delay in registrations poses another problem for those who may eventually be selected: the time available to complete the immigration process.
The fiscal year 2027 began on October 1, 2026, and will end on September 30, 2027.
According to the Department of State, the changes in the enrollment period do not affect the legal timeframe for processing visas related to the DV-2027.
This means that the selected individuals must complete the required procedures before the end of September 2027, provided that visas are available.
The procedures may include submitting the relevant immigration form, gathering documents, medical examinations, and a consular interview.
For applicants residing in Cuba who need to visit a consular office in another country, travel arrangements and appointment availability may pose additional challenges.
It is also important to distinguish between the reopening of the registration and the actual issuance of visas. The State Department has published a suspension of the issuance of diversity visas, although it allows certain stages of the process to continue, including applications and interviews.
The court order regarding the registration for the DV-2027 should not be interpreted, on its own, as the lifting of that suspension.
Even when a person is selected, they may end up not receiving a visa if they do not meet the requirements on time, if they do not pass the necessary checks, or if the available number is exhausted.
Therefore, the deadline of September 30, 2027, will remain crucial for those who manage to progress in this call.
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