Kenyans Selected for US Diversity Visa Face Race Against 30 September Deadline

Thousands of Kenyans selected for the US Diversity Visa programme face growing uncertainty after a court ruling temporarily removed barriers to visa processing, while the State Department has since suspended the issuance of Diversity Visas.

On 28 August, Judge Edward Davila of the US District Court for the Northern District of California certified groups of affected Diversity Visa applicants and suspended three government policies that had restricted their cases. The measures included a freeze on pending adjustment of status applications, a suspension of Diversity Visa issuance and restrictions affecting immigrant applicants from dozens of countries.

The ruling gave applicants an opportunity to resume cases that had been delayed despite the time and money they had invested in the process. Kenya has participated in the Diversity Visa programme for many years. The scheme is intended to broaden US immigration by offering permanent residency opportunities to people from countries with historically low levels of migration to the United States.

For those selected under the DV-2026 programme, however, eligibility is only part of the challenge. The programme follows a strict annual timetable, and successful applicants must complete the required stages, including submitting the DS-260 form, undergoing medical examinations and attending interviews, before the end of the US fiscal year on 30 September 2026.

Applicants who do not receive a visa by that deadline lose their opportunity under the programme, regardless of how far their applications have progressed. The court ruling initially offered applicants a renewed opportunity to advance their cases. However, the State Department subsequently suspended Diversity Visa issuance again, citing national security concerns.

The department said the suspension followed a review of vetting procedures after violent incidents involving a suspect who reportedly entered the United States through the Diversity Visa programme. While applicants may continue with interviews and other parts of the process, visas will not be issued while the review remains in place.

For Kenyan applicants, the timing is particularly critical. The court ruling provides a legal basis for challenging the policies that had restricted their applications, but it does not guarantee that applicants will receive visas. Applicants must still complete security checks, meet all admissibility requirements and obtain a visa number before the 30 September deadline.