Archive · 5 Oct 2026
Indian Green Card Backlogs Persist Despite New Visa Numbers
The United States gives a limited number of employment-based Green Cards each year.
Many people from India are waiting for one.
The latest Visa Bulletin shows that the waiting line for Indian applicants is far behind the line for people from most other countries.
For example, India's EB-2 final-action date is in 2013, while the date for most countries is in 2025.
Some dates for Indian applicants moved forward when the new fiscal year's visa numbers became available.
EB-2 visas for India had also become unavailable near the end of the previous fiscal year, but availability has now returned.
A filing date may let someone submit paperwork before their case is ready for final approval.
The bulletin's dates can change each month depending on demand and available visas.
The October Visa Bulletin shows Indian applicants face long waits in employment-based Green Card categories.
India's EB-2 final-action date is November 1, 2013, versus January 1, 2025 for most countries.
India's EB-3 final-action date is January 1, 2014, compared with May 15, 2024 for most countries.
India's EB-1 final-action date moved to February 1, 2023, and EB-2 visa availability was restored for the new fiscal year.
Filing dates can allow some applicants to submit adjustment-of-status applications, while final-action dates govern when cases can be approved.
- Who
- Indian professionals applying for US employment-based Green Cards.
- What
- The October Visa Bulletin shows long backlogs, alongside some movement and restored EB-2 availability.
- When
- In the US State Department's October Visa Bulletin, at the start of fiscal 2027.
- Where
- United States.
- Why
- Numerical limits on employment-based immigrant visas and per-country limits, combined with demand exceeding available allocations.
- India EB-2 final-action date
- November 1, 2013
- Most countries EB-2 final-action date
- January 1, 2025
- India EB-3 final-action date
- January 1, 2014
- Most countries EB-3 final-action date
- May 15, 2024
- India EB-1 final-action date
- February 1, 2023
- India Dates for Filing
- EB-1: July 1, 2024; EB-2 and EB-3: January 15, 2015
- Worldwide employment-based preference level
- At least 140,000 visas annually
- Countries described as oversubscribed
- India, mainland China, Mexico and the Philippines