GENERAL INFORMATION · DIVERSITY VISA PROGRAM

Diversity Visa cases can follow two different federal processing paths

The State Department handles the program's overseas immigrant-visa route, while USCIS handles adjustment applications filed by certain selectees inside the United States. The two routes share annual visa-number limits but are administered differently.

A United States Embassy employee speaking with a family during a consular outreach event at Yokota Air Base, Japan

Official U.S. Air Force photograph by Senior Airman Matthew Gilmore, May 22, 2019. The event offered several embassy services, including immigrant-visa services. The photograph is illustrative; it does not show a Diversity Visa interview, selectee, USCIS office, or the September 2026 court case. Original DVIDS federal media record ↗.

By U.S. Immigration Brief Editorial DeskPublished September 7, 2026Last verified September 7, 2026

Selection begins with the State Department

The State Department runs the annual electronic entry and random-selection system. It says selection means a person may be eligible to continue in the program; it does not guarantee an interview, an available visa number, a visa, or permanent residence. More people are selected than the number of visas ultimately available because some cases will not be completed or approved.

The overseas route uses consular processing

For cases processed abroad, the Kentucky Consular Center handles program administration before an interview can be scheduled. A State Department consular officer at a U.S. embassy or consulate decides the immigrant-visa application. This is a Department of State process, not a USCIS field-office adjudication.

The inside-the-United-States route uses adjustment of status

USCIS describes a separate route for certain selectees who are physically present in the United States and seek lawful permanent residence through adjustment of status. USCIS—not the State Department—adjudicates that Form I-485 process. This overview only identifies the agencies and does not assess who may use either route.

Both routes operate within the same fiscal year

The State Department's DV-2026 notice says the program year began October 1, 2025, and ends September 30, 2026. It also reports approximately 129,516 prospective applicants were registered, while the adjusted visa limit is approximately 51,850. Those are program-planning figures, not approvals. Visa numbers can become unavailable before the final date if the annual allocation is used.

Why the distinction matters in news coverage

A USCIS announcement about adjustment applications should not be described as an order governing every embassy or consulate case. Likewise, a State Department notice about overseas issuance does not automatically describe USCIS processing inside the country. Agency, location, affected group, and fiscal year must be identified before comparing developments.

Primary federal sources

Corrections: No corrections have been made. Program figures and agency descriptions were last checked against the cited federal pages on September 7, 2026.