US Issues Warning After Reports it Opened Registration for US Green Card: “Not True”

• The Department of State clarified reports about the DV-2027 entry registration period and warned the public against fraudulent websites
• Officials stated that the official registration dates and any changes to the 2027 application process will be announced
• The US government has also ended the automatic extension of work permits for foreigners

Elijah Ntongai, an editor at TUKO.co.ke, has over four years of financial, business, and technology research and reporting experience, providing insights into Kenyan, African, and global trends.

The United States government has dismissed reports circulating online claiming that registration for the 2027 Diversity Visa (DV) is open.

In an official statement, the US Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs clarified that the DV-2027, commonly known as the Green Card Lottery, entry registration period has not yet begun.

Fraudulent US DV claims

The US state deparment warned the public to beware of fraudulent websites and individuals spreading false information.

“The Diversity Visa (DV) 2027 entry registration period is not open at this time. We are aware of reports of fraudulent claims that DV-2027 entry is open and of individuals and services falsely claiming they can increase your chances of selection. This is not true,” the State Department stated in a notice on social media.

The department assured that the official registration dates and details about any changes to the 2027 application process will be announced once available through official government channels.

Did the US introduce charges for DV applications?

The clarification comes barely a month after the US government announced a new $1 (KSh130) electronic registration fee for the upcoming DV-2027 programme.

This will be the first time applicants are required to pay a fee to submit their entries, in addition to the existing visa application fee for those selected for interviews.

The Diversity Visa programme, which grants permanent residency to qualified applicants from eligible countries, remains one of the most sought-after immigration channels to the United States.

The State Department reiterated that official updates will only be communicated through the dvprogram.state.gov website to protect applicants from scams.

Did the US end automatic extension of work permits?

In other news, the United States government has ended the automatic extension of work permits for foreigners, including Kenyans, through a new rule announced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) effective October 30, 2025.

The policy discontinues automatic renewals of employment authorisation documents (EADs) for specific categories, requiring foreign nationals to undergo more frequent screening and apply for renewals at least 180 days before expiry.

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) stated the change aims to prioritise national security by enhancing vetting before extending work authorisations.

USCIS described employment in the US as “a privilege, not a right.”

The move could reduce the number of foreign workers and negatively affect remittances to countries like Kenya.

Kenyan expatriate William Kimani noted that while many Kenyans will be affected, and Indian nationals, who hold the majority of H-1B visas, will be the most impacted.

Source: TUKO.co.ke