Group Lawsuit DV2026

This group lawsuit is an opportunity for DV-2026 selectees to challenge the legality of USCIS’s hold on, and the State Department’s pause of the DV-2026 program which became effective on December 19, 2025 and December 23, 2025, respectively. We will also challenge the “pause” on processing for 75 countries reported on January 14, 2026, as it impacts our plaintiffs.

Also, because it is the right thing to do, we will also include a cause of action in this group lawsuit challenging State Department’s failure to announce the entry period for DV-2027.

We will be filing this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Important Dates

Deadline to participate: February 28, 2026

Filing date for complaint: March 14, 2026

These are firm deadlines.

To participate in this lawsuit, a participant must be DV-2026 selectee.

Important disclosure:

Many DV-2026 selectees are citizens of travel ban countries due to Proclamation 10949 and 10998. Those countries include: Afghanistan, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Gabon, The Gambia, Iran, Laos, Libya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Palestinian Authority, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia, and Zimbabwe).

This group lawsuit will not be challenging these 2 travel bans as unlawful. That is not the focus of this lawsuit. Thus, if you are a citizen of a travel ban country, and you choose to participate in this group lawsuit, understand that even with the best outcome, this group lawsuit will only remove one obstacle you face.

Cost to Participate:

The attorney fee to participate as plaintiffs in the lawsuit will be $2,500 for each DV-2026 selectee. This fee includes the cost of participation of all derivative beneficiaries regardless of family size.

For terms of payment, $500 will be due in advance of the representation to onboard as a plaintiff. The remaining $2,000 will be due only after entry into the US, and payable in monthly payments of $250 per month.

How to participate:

Onboarding for this lawsuit is automated. Visit this link once registration is available to get started:

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Are visa applicants from any other visa category eligible to participate in this lawsuit?

No. Only DV-2026 selectees are eligible to participate.

2. What is the purpose of this lawsuit?

The purpose of this lawsuit is to end the hold/pause on the DV-2026 applications of our DV-2026 clients.

3. What is the deadline to join this lawsuit?

The deadline for joining the lawsuit is February 28, 2026. That deadline is in concrete and will not be extended. However, keep in mind that the earlier plaintiffs join the lawsuit, the better we can integrate our plaintiffs’ facts into our arguments, which will result in a stronger and more convincing lawsuit. If everyone joins at the last minute, we will have less time, to prepare the best possible lawsuit. Time is of the essence, and we appreciate all those who choose to participate early.

4. Where will this group lawsuit be filed?

This litigation will be filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Note: there is no guarantee as to which judge we will be assigned. The assignment of our judge is unknown and will remain unknown until after the lawsuit is filed. Based on our experience with related cases, judge assignments may change more than once in the initial weeks of the case, before being finally assigned to a judge who will preside over the case to conclusion.

5. Is it possible that the judge could reserve unused FY 2026 visas for future issuance?

It is very unlikely, because in 2024, the Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that judges do not have that authority.

6. Are you willing to communicate with the embassy regarding my case process?

No. Representation will not include consular processing support.

7. What are the attorney fees for family of two or more?

The fee for all families is the same. We only charge the DV selectee. We do not charge extra fee for derivative spouse or children.

8. Is the litigation guaranteed to win?

Absolutely NOT. No litigation is ever guaranteed.

9. Will this be a class action lawsuit?

No.

10. Can DV-2026 selectees who are located inside the US participate in this lawsuit?

Yes. Whether you are DV-2026 selectee inside the US using USCIS or outside the US using State Department processing, you may participate.