Federal Court Temporarily Halts USCIS Diversity Visa Hold Policy PM-602-0193

On Aug. 28, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ordered a temporary vacatur of USCIS policy memorandum PM-602-0193, which had imposed a hold on certain Diversity Visa (DV) adjustment of status cases. USCIS must resume ordinary adjudication of affected applicants' cases for the remainder of the DV fiscal year while litigation continues.

Key points

• The order was issued in Medani, et al., v. Trump, et al., case number 26-cv-6332, in the Northern District of California.
• The court granted in part a motion for class certification covering FY-2026 DV selectees and derivative beneficiaries subject to the USCIS DV Hold under PM-602-0193.
• USCIS is directed, to the extent practicable and in good faith, to resume ordinary adjudication of plaintiffs' pending adjustment of status applications without applying PM-602-0193.
• PM-602-0193 was originally issued to ensure DV Program adjustment of status applicants do not pose a threat to national security or public safety.
• USCIS stated it strongly disagrees with the court's order but will comply with its terms pending possible further judicial review.

Who is affected

FY-2026 Diversity Visa Program selectees and derivative beneficiaries subject to the USCIS DV Hold under PM-602-0193.

What to do