(UNITED STATES) A sudden pause ordered by President Trump on the Diversity Visa (DV) program has triggered fresh anxiety among DV-2025 lottery winners, especially those already living in the United States and waiting on an adjustment of status decision. Lawyers and community groups said phones lit up with one urgent question: can a green card granted under DV-2025 be taken back now that the program is halted?
Based on the provided guidance, the answer is no for people who already became lawful permanent residents during fiscal year 2025. Their status issued is valid and can’t be canceled just because the program is stopped now.
Which green cards remain secure
The guidance states that green cards “validly issued” during the DV-2025 eligibility window — October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025 — are not subject to retroactive revocation solely because the program ended.
- The government can attempt to remove permanent residence in certain situations (e.g., fraud, certain crimes, or other individual problems).
- That process is case-specific, not a blanket revocation tied to a policy pause.
- According to VisaVerge.com, nothing in the pause points to a review sweep aimed at DV-2025 holders.
For many families this distinction matters: they may have already quit jobs abroad or signed long leases in the U.S.
Status of pending adjustment-of-status cases
Uncertainty is higher for selectees who filed for adjustment of status inside the United States and are still waiting for USCIS to act. The guidance says the pause does not freeze or cancel pending DV-2025 cases, provided:
- Filings were submitted on time, and
- The applicant remains eligible.
However, there is a hard statutory deadline: DV-based visas and green cards can only be issued through September 30, 2025. Any case still pending after that date expires by law, regardless of delays.
The DV-2025 deadline is Sept 30, 2025. Do not assume the pause protects your case—if a visa or green card isn’t issued by then, your eligibility ends regardless of delays or pauses.
The bigger risk is not the policy announcement but the statutory deadline built into the lottery itself: if USCIS or a consulate does not issue the immigrant visa or green card by September 30, 2025, the opportunity disappears.
Practical effects on applicants
Advocates describe intense, everyday pressures for DV-2025 selectees:
- Tracking medical exams, police clearances, and interview dates closely.
- Small mistakes or missed steps can cause delays that are fatal to the case.
- For those pursuing adjustment of status, the wait interferes with work and travel plans.
Even when USCIS accepts a timely filing, the agency must complete the case before the fiscal year ends. Applicants report that the countdown makes every notice nerve-wracking: one applicant said, “I check the mailbox twice scared of missing a notice.”
No special hold or new screening announced (for now)
According to the provided material, USCIS has not announced:
- A special hold on DV-2025 adjustment filings,
- A re-check or additional universal screening step for those filings.
This differs from past immigration actions that produced long freezes (for example, pauses affecting travel-ban countries or programs where parole was ended and people were told to leave).
- Lawful permanent residence has due-process protections.
- Ending a program going forward is different from reopening already completed grants.
- Attorneys warn that separate issues (e.g., an arrest or a false statement) can still jeopardize any green card holder.
Enforcement concerns and practical advice
Some applicants fear ICE will start checking DV holders at workplaces or traffic stops. The guidance clarifies:
- Enforcement may include verification of status, including during raids.
- ICE cannot deport U.S. citizens or confirmed lawful permanent residents.
For pending cases, carrying proof of a pending filing can help explain status — particularly if an employer questions work authorization.
Practical steps experts recommend:
- Monitor government communications and deadlines closely.
- Use the official USCIS case tracker: USCIS Case Status Online.
- Report address changes promptly to avoid missing notices.
- Keep copies of filing receipts and identity documents for employers, schools, or landlords.
What happens if the deadline passes
Because the DV program is tied to the fiscal year, the pause raises questions about future years. The guidance focuses only on DV-2025 and does not spell out later consequences.
- The law’s time limit is strict: no carryover of DV-2025 slots past September 30, 2025.
- Some applicants have sought congressional help or legal advice when delays mount.
- The provided material contains no evidence that the pause blocks DV-2025 cases outright.
Rights and employer confusion
Immigration advocates report some employers mistakenly view DV-based green cards as less stable. Key facts:
- Once a DV-2025 green card is issued, it carries the same rights and duties as any other green card.
- Holders can live and work in the United States, travel, and later apply for U.S. citizenship if they meet residency and other requirements.
- The main difference is the path — qualification via a lottery aimed at diversifying immigrant origins.
Key takeaways and caution
- The central message of the guidance is narrow but important: DV-2025 winners who already became permanent residents should not assume the pause puts their status at risk.
- Those with pending adjustment of status cases remain eligible for standard processing if they filed within the fiscal year rules.
- The human stakes are high—many selectees built major life changes around a single chance.
“Visas/green cards issued before then are final and secure,” the material states, referring to the September 30, 2025 cutoff.
Until final decisions arrive, many DV-2025 selectees will continue to wait and check for updates.
Recent updates confirm that DV-2025 winners who have already received their green cards are safe from the program’s pause. The government cannot retroactively revoke these statuses based on policy changes alone. However, applicants with pending adjustment of status cases must ensure their processing is completed before the September 30, 2025 deadline. After this date, the legal authority to issue these specific visas expires permanently.
