As of 27 October 2026 (10 Kartik 2083). The court timeline is from the public dockets of Red Eagle Law, L.C. v. Rubio in the US District Court for the Southern District of California (No. 3:26-cv-04738) and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (No. 26-6943), read on CourtListener on 27 October. The amended deadlines are as reported by Nepyork on 17 October. The US$1 fee and passport rules are from final rules covered in our EDV 2028 opening date guide. This page will be updated when the State Department announces dates.
The EDV form may open within days. A US federal judge has ordered the State Department to run the delayed DV-2027 green card lottery, with registration to open by 1 November 2026 and stay open for 30 days. The US government has appealed and asked a higher court to pause the order.
So nothing is guaranteed yet. But if the order holds, Nepali applicants will have one month to submit, and this year the form needs a valid passport and a US$1 fee. This guide explains what the court ordered, what can still change, and what to prepare today so you are ready on day one.
Fill your EDV form with Digital Solution
- We fill your EDV entry on the official site, dvprogram.state.gov, once the entry period opens, with you present or on a call.
- Correct 600 x 600 photos for you, your spouse and every child, plus a clean passport scan in the required format.
- We help you pay the US$1 government fee. Our service charge is separate and we tell you the amount before we start.
- You get the confirmation number and a printed confirmation page on the spot, and the entry uses your own email.
- We never promise selection. The lottery is random, and only Entrant Status Check gives results.
Quick answers
| Question | Answer as of 27 October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Is the EDV form open now? | No |
| Which lottery is this? | DV-2027, the programme that was deferred in November 2025 |
| What did the court order? | Announce dates by 29 Oct, open registration by 1 Nov, keep it open 30 days, notify winners by 3 Dec |
| Is the opening certain? | No. The government asked the Ninth Circuit for a stay; no ruling yet |
| Official website | dvprogram.state.gov only |
| Cost to enter | US$1 (new) |
| Passport needed? | Yes, valid passport details and a scan of the bio page (new) |
| DV-2028 dates | Not announced |
Why the EDV form did not open in October 2025
In a normal year the EDV form opens in early October and closes in early November. That did not happen for DV-2027. On 5 November 2025, the State Department said it was revising the entry process and would announce the DV-2027 registration dates “as soon as practicable”. No dates followed for almost a year.
During that time two rule changes became final. A US$1 registration fee took effect on 16 September 2025, and a rule effective 10 April 2026 requires a valid passport and a scan of its biographical page at entry. Both apply when the form opens.
The court case, step by step
A US immigration law firm, Red Eagle Law, sued Secretary of State Marco Rubio in August 2026 to force the lottery to run. Here is the timeline from the court dockets.
| Date (2026) | What happened |
|---|---|
| 19 Aug | Case filed in the Southern District of California |
| 3 Sep | Temporary restraining order denied without prejudice (as reported) |
| 14 Oct | Judge Jinsook Ohta granted a preliminary injunction; a joint motion to modify it was granted the same day |
| 19 Oct | Written injunction order; the government filed a notice of appeal and asked the district court for a stay |
| 21 Oct | The district court denied the government’s stay request and issued an amended injunction order |
| 23 Oct | The government filed an emergency motion for a stay in the Ninth Circuit (No. 26-6943) |
| 26 Oct | Red Eagle Law filed its response to the stay motion |
| 27 Oct | No Ninth Circuit ruling on the stay yet |
The deadlines the court set
According to Nepyork’s report of the amended order, the State Department must:
- Announce the registration period by midnight US Eastern time, 29 October 2026.
- Open registration by midnight US Eastern time, 1 November 2026.
- Keep it open for 30 days.
- Notify selected entrants by midnight US Eastern time, 3 December 2026.
The announcement must give the opening and closing dates, the entry website and the eligibility rules. Visas for selectees would be processed until the yearly limit is used or 30 September 2027, whichever comes first.
What could change
A notice of appeal does not pause an injunction. Only a court order can. If the Ninth Circuit grants the government’s emergency stay, the 1 November opening may not happen. If it refuses, the State Department has to comply. Either way, the announcement on dvprogram.state.gov is the only thing that counts.
Want us to fill your EDV form?
Digital Solution fills your EDV entry on the official site with correct photos for every family member, the passport scan and the US$1 payment, and hands you the confirmation number. Our service charge is told upfront. EDV рдлрд╛рд░рдо рднрд░реНрди WhatsApp рдЧрд░реНрдиреБрд╣реЛрд╕реНред
What to prepare before the EDV form opens
If registration runs for only 30 days, the people who prepare now will not be rushing in the last week when the site is slow. Get these ready today.
1. A valid passport for the main applicant
The passport rule is new and it is the biggest change for Nepalis. Many people who entered in past years never had a passport. If yours is expired or you do not have one, apply now through the Department of Passports. Our guides on the e-passport online form explain the process. Keep a clear colour scan of the bio page.
2. Recent photos of every family member
You need a separate digital photo for yourself, your spouse and each unmarried child under 21. Photos are the most common reason entries are disqualified. Use a studio that knows the US visa photo standard, and keep the files on your phone or computer, not only on paper.
3. A way to pay US$1
The fee is paid online when you submit. A Nepali dollar card or an international debit or credit card is the practical option for most people. Check that your card works for online payments abroad before the form opens. Our dollar card guide lists bank fees and limits.
4. Family details
List your spouse and all unmarried children under 21, even if they will not move to the US. Leaving out a family member is a classic reason for refusal later. Note each person’s full name, date and place of birth exactly as in official documents.
5. Education or work proof
To get a visa if you are selected, you need at least a high school education, which the State Department defines as a completed 12-year course of formal elementary and secondary education (in Nepal, that generally means completing Class 12), or two years of qualifying work experience in the last five years. You do not upload proof when you enter, but you will need it at the interview.
Which EDV form is this: 2027 or 2028?
The form that may open on 1 November is DV-2027. Many websites call it “EDV 2028” or print made-up dates. As of 27 October 2026, the State Department has announced no dates for DV-2028. If DV-2027 runs now, DV-2028 timing is anyone’s guess, and we will update our EDV 2028 page when there is official news.
Scam warning for Nepali applicants
Delays and court news create perfect conditions for fraud. Watch for these:
- Fake “EDV open” posts. Reports say fraudulent sites and social media pages have already claimed DV-2027 was open. Only dvprogram.state.gov is real.
- Agents who take money before the form opens, hold your passport or promise selection. The only fee to the US government is US$1. A genuine helper tells you its service charge upfront, fills the form on the official site after it opens, and gives you the confirmation number.
- Fake winner calls and emails. The State Department does not email or call winners. Results are only on the official Entrant Status Check with your confirmation number.
- “Guaranteed” selection. The lottery is random. Nobody can increase your chances.
If you lose money to a fake agent, our Cyber Bureau complaint guide explains how to report it.
What we will cover this week
We are publishing a short EDV series so you can prepare step by step:
- EDV photo requirements and common rejections
- How to fill the EDV form, field by field
- Mistakes that disqualify you, and agent scams to avoid
- EDV result check and what to do if selected
Each part will link here once it is live.
Frequently asked questions
Is the EDV form open now?
No. As of 27 October 2026 the DV-2027 form is not open. A US court ordered registration to open by 1 November 2026, but the government has asked an appeals court to pause that order. Check dvprogram.state.gov for the official announcement.
What is the EDV 2027 opening date?
The court order requires the State Department to open registration by midnight US Eastern time on 1 November 2026 and announce the dates by 29 October. If the Ninth Circuit grants a stay, that can change. Nepal is 9 hours and 45 minutes ahead of US Eastern daylight time, so an opening “by 1 November” may appear on the morning of 1 November in Nepal.
How much does the EDV form cost?
US$1 per entry, paid online at submission. This fee is new. Any service charge for help with the form is separate from this, is not a government fee, and should be agreed before the work starts.
Do I need a passport for EDV?
Yes. Under a rule effective 10 April 2026, the main applicant must give valid passport information and upload a scan of the passport’s biographical page.
When will EDV 2027 results come out?
The court order requires the State Department to notify selected entrants by 3 December 2026, if registration opens on schedule. Results are only available on the official Entrant Status Check.
Conclusion
The EDV form for DV-2027 could open by 1 November 2026 under a US court order, for 30 days, with a US$1 fee and a passport requirement. The government’s appeal means it is not certain yet. Use the next few days to get your passport, family photos, card and family details ready, and apply only on dvprogram.state.gov.
If you want help preparing your passport scan, photos and payment, or filling the form correctly, Digital Solution can help.
Sources
- CourtListener: Red Eagle Law, L.C. v. Rubio, 3:26-cv-04738 (S.D. Cal.) (docket read 27 October 2026)
- CourtListener: Red Eagle Law, LC v. Rubio, 26-6943 (9th Cir.) (docket read 27 October 2026)
- Nepyork: DV-2027 registration set to open Nov. 1 under revised court order (17 October 2026)
- USAHello: DV Lottery status
- BAL: State Department announces upcoming changes to 2027 DV entry
- Digital Solution: EDV 2028 opening date, what is official (fee and passport rules with Federal Register references)
- Official entry site: dvprogram.state.gov
This article explains public court records and official rules. It is not legal advice. Always follow the instructions published on dvprogram.state.gov.
Rabin Paudel
Rabin Paudel is the Founder of Digital Solution, a Content Creator, and an AI Trainer. He shares practical and easy-to-understand content on Artificial Intelligence, Digital Literacy, Online Services, FinTech, and Technology. His mission is to make technology simple, accessible, and useful for everyone.
View all posts by Rabin Paudel →
Pingback: EDV 2028 Opening Date: What Is Official So Far