There is an important update for Indians waiting for a US green card. As the final two months of the US fiscal year begin, the US State Department has released its latest update on employment-based green card categories.
The department has also warned that some categories could see further delays or even become temporarily unavailable if the annual visa limit is reached before September 30, 2026, the end of the current fiscal year.
Green Card Status by Category
Here is the latest status of the major employment-based (EB) green card categories:
EB-1
Current for all countries except India and China.
China’s cutoff date has moved to July 1, 2023.
India’s cutoff date remains October 15, 2022, with no change.
EB-2
The category is unavailable for India because all available green cards for fiscal year 2026 have already been issued.
China’s cutoff date remains September 1, 2021.
The category is current for most other countries.
EB-3
China’s cutoff date has advanced from December 22, 2021, to January 1, 2022.
India’s cutoff date remains January 1, 2014.
The Philippines remains at August 1, 2023.
EB-4
The EB-4 category, including certain religious workers, has moved forward by one month to October 15, 2022, for all countries.
EB-5
The EB-5 Unreserved category remains current for most countries.
However, it remains unavailable for India and China, with a cutoff date of December 1, 2016.
Why This Update Matters for Indian Applicants
The State Department has said that if the yearly quota for green cards is exhausted before September 30, 2026, some employment-based visa categories may become unavailable until the next fiscal year begins.
This could lead to longer waiting periods for many applicants, especially those from countries with high demand, such as India.
Bad News for EB-1 Applicants from India
The latest update brings a warning for Indian applicants in the EB-1 category.
The EB-1 visa is meant for highly skilled professionals, including people with extraordinary abilities, outstanding professors and researchers, and multinational company managers and executives seeking permanent residency in the US.
According to the State Department, demand for EB-1 visas from Indian applicants has increased significantly.
If India reaches its annual EB-1 visa limit before the end of the fiscal year, the category could become temporarily unavailable in the coming weeks.
The department said it will continue monitoring visa usage and make further adjustments if required.
