Archive · 24 Aug 2026
US Warns EB-1 Green Cards May Become Unavailable for Indians
The EB-1 is a US green card pathway for certain highly qualified workers.
It includes people with extraordinary abilities, internationally recognized professors and researchers, and some multinational executives.
Many Indian applicants are waiting to use this category.
The US Department of State says the available visa numbers for Indians could run out soon.
If that happens, the category would be marked unavailable for Indians for the rest of the fiscal year.
This does not mean the EB-1 program is being cancelled.
In September 2026, the category is still available for applicants whose priority dates qualify.
Applicants usually need an approved petition and must complete the required visa or status-change procedures.
The US Department of State warned that EB-1 visas for Indians could become unavailable in coming weeks.
The warning is linked to high demand and India reaching its allotted visa share before fiscal year-end.
EB-1 remains available for India in the September 2026 Visa Bulletin and has not been cancelled.
The September 2026 EB-1 India Final Action Date is October 15, 2022, while the filing date is December 1, 2023.
Applicants generally need an approved Form I-140 and an eligible priority date before completing visa processing.
- Who
- Indian applicants seeking US permanent residence through the EB-1 employment-based category.
- What
- The US Department of State warned that EB-1 visa numbers for Indians may become unavailable.
- When
- The warning concerns the coming weeks and the remainder of fiscal year 2026; the relevant bulletin is for September 2026.
- Where
- The United States immigration system, including consular processing or status adjustment within the US.
- Why
- High demand and increased use by Indian applicants could exhaust India's pro-rated EB-1 visa limit.
- Visa category
- EB-1, the Employment-Based First Preference category for priority workers.
- September 2026 Final Action Date
- October 15, 2022, for India.
- September 2026 Dates for Filing
- December 1, 2023, for EB-1 India.
- Potential status
- The category may be marked unavailable if India's allocated numbers are fully used.
- Required petition
- Applicants generally use Form I-140 for employment-based immigration.
- Covered workers
- People with extraordinary ability, outstanding professors or researchers, and certain multinational executives or managers.
- Family category noted
- India's September 2026 F4 Final Action Date is November 1, 2006.