US Court Orders USCIS to Resume Diversity Visa Adjudication for Some Applicants, Vacating Policy Hold
Summary
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California has temporarily halted a policy (PM-602-0193) that was holding up Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) applications. This court order specifically directs USCIS to resume normal adjudication of adjustment of status applications for plaintiffs in the Medani case, without applying the previously restrictive policy. For those affected by this specific litigation, this decision offers a crucial lifeline, potentially unblocking their path to permanent residency within the current fiscal year.
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California has issued a temporary injunction in Medani, et al., v. Trump, et al., effectively vacating a policy memorandum, PM-602-0193, which had imposed a hold on the adjudication of certain adjustment of status applications. This ruling mandates that USCIS, "to the extent practicable and in good faith," must take all reasonable steps to resume the normal processing of these applications for the plaintiffs named in the lawsuit during the remainder of the Diversity Visa fiscal year, explicitly without applying the now-vacated policy. This means the previous impediment to processing these specific applications is, for now, removed.
For Diversity Visa (DV) lottery winners who are plaintiffs in the Medani case and are seeking adjustment of status within the U.S., this court order is a significant positive development. It means their applications, which were previously stalled due to PM-602-0193, should now proceed. This decision provides a critical window of opportunity for these individuals to finalize their immigration process before the fiscal year ends, underscoring the power of legal challenges in navigating complex immigration policies. It does not, however, automatically apply to all DV applicants.
Background
The Trump administration implemented various policies, often through executive orders or memoranda, that sought to limit immigration, including those affecting visa processing and adjustment of status applications. The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program itself has faced scrutiny and attempts at reform or elimination by previous administrations.
Who This Affects
- Plaintiffs in the Medani, et al., v. Trump, et al. lawsuit who have pending Diversity Visa adjustment of status applications are directly and positively impacted, as USCIS must now resume their processing.
- Other Diversity Visa applicants not part of this specific lawsuit are not directly covered by this order, meaning their applications may still be subject to the policy hold if it applies to them.
- USCIS adjudicators are affected as they must now prioritize and resume the adjudication of these specific Medani plaintiffs' applications without applying the vacated policy memorandum.
What You Should Do Now
- If you are a plaintiff in the Medani lawsuit, contact your legal counsel to understand the specific implications for your case and any immediate steps you should take.
- Monitor official USCIS communications and case status updates closely, as your application's processing should now resume without the previous hold.
- For other Diversity Visa applicants, it's crucial to understand that this order is case-specific; consult an immigration attorney if you believe your case is similarly affected or to explore other legal avenues.
Key Takeaway
A court has temporarily vacated a policy hold for specific Diversity Visa adjustment of status applicants, enabling their cases to proceed for now.
Source: Read official article on USCIS (Official)
Publisher note — NaviBound summarizes cited third-party sources for convenience only. Confirm all requirements with the linked official announcement and qualified professionals. Not legal advice. Display date: Sep 04, 2026. Editorial policy