9 hrs ago
Indian Green-Card Queues Worsen as EB-1 Faces Shutdown
Many Indians waiting for U.S. work-based green cards may have to wait even longer.
The government says the EB-1 category could run out of visas for Indians within weeks.
EB-2 visas for Indians are already unavailable this month.
EB-3 is still processing applications with priority dates from January 1, 2014.
India’s regular EB-5 investor category is also unavailable.
Some special EB-5 categories are still open for everyone.
These limits exist because the United States has a fixed number of employment-based visas and country limits.
The State Department will keep watching demand until the fiscal year ends on September 30.
The United States warned that EB-1 visas for Indians could become unavailable within weeks if the annual allocation is exhausted.
India’s EB-2 category is already unavailable for September, while EB-3’s final-action date remains January 1, 2014.
India’s unreserved EB-5 category is also unavailable, although EB-5 set-aside categories remain current for all countries.
For September, India’s EB-1 final-action date is October 15, 2022; its filing date is December 1, 2023.
The State Department cited strong demand, the worldwide employment-based limit of 186,317 for fiscal 2026, and statutory per-country limits.
- Who
- Indian applicants seeking U.S. employment-based green cards, the U.S. State Department, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
- What
- The State Department warned that India’s EB-1 category could become unavailable, while EB-2 and unreserved EB-5 are already unavailable for September and EB-3 remains heavily backlogged.
- Where
- The United States, affecting visa applicants chargeable to India.
- When
- The warning appeared in the September Visa Bulletin, with the fiscal year ending September 30.
- Why
- High demand, annual employment-based visa limits, and statutory per-country ceilings have constrained the number of visas available to Indian applicants.
Key facts
- EB-1 India final-action date
- October 15, 2022
- EB-1 India filing date
- December 1, 2023
- EB-2 India status
- Unavailable for September
- EB-3 India final-action date
- January 1, 2014
- EB-5 India status
- Unreserved category unavailable for final action in September
- Fiscal 2026 worldwide employment-based limit
- 186,317 visas
- Fiscal-year end
- September 30
Quotes
US State Department
The US government department that publishes the Visa Bulletin
“High demand and number use by aliens chargeable to India in the EB-1 visa category may necessitate making the category unavailable in the coming weeks if India’s pro-rated limit in the EB-1 category is reached before the fiscal year ends.”
thestatesman.com
“This situation will be continually monitored, and any necessary adjustments will be made accordingly.”
thestatesman.com
Sources
Related news
US Warns EB-1 Green Cards May Become Unavailable for Indians
EB-2 exhausted, EB-1 could close for Indian green card applicants
September 2026 Visa Bulletin Keeps Indian Green Card Backlogs
September 2026 Visa Bulletin Holds Dates, Warns of Backlogs
Indian Backlog Nears One Million, EB-2 Waits Reach 179 Years
September Visa Bulletin Brings Family Gains, Employment Warnings for Indians
Lula's cautious Brazil election campaign faces misinformation and polarization concerns
Why India Struggles to Attract Foreign Tourists
Judge Blocks Trump’s Newest Order Limiting Birthright Citizenship
Bessent Warns Iran Supporters as US Escalates Sanctions Campaign
