The US State Department has given a major relief to Indian applicants under the unreserved EB-5 visa category.
The final action date for this visa has been extended by six months. This decision comes at a time when the number of pending US visa applications is rising rapidly.
As of July 2025, over 11 million immigration-related applications were pending in the US, including those of Indian H-1B workers and family-based green card seekers.
The EB-5 visa, also known as the Immigrant Investor Program, allows foreign nationals to invest at least $800,000 (around ₹7 crore) in an eligible US business.
This investment must create at least 10 jobs for American workers. In return, the investor and their family can get a US green card.
Why EB-5 is Becoming Popular Among Indians
The EB-5 visa covers the main applicant, their spouse, and unmarried children under 21 years of age. Once approved, the entire family receives green cards.
Reserved category applicants usually get their green cards within 2–3 years, making this visa a popular option for Indian families looking for a direct path to permanent residency.
In April 2025, the final action date for Indian EB-5 unreserved visa applications was extended due to high demand.
The new extension has now been confirmed in the August 2025 visa bulletin. The unreserved category refers to investments made outside rural or high-unemployment areas.
Demand for EB-5 Visas on the Rise
According to the American Immigrant Investor Alliance (AIIA), there has been a sharp rise in Indian interest in the EB-5 program since April 2024.
Since October 2022, Indian investors have filed more than 1,790 EB-5 petitions. If this trend continues, the number may cross 2,000 by the end of the 2025 financial year.
Many Indians are now choosing EB-5 over H-1B or student visas due to the uncertainty around temporary visa statuses.
The EB-5 program is seen as a more secure and straightforward option.
It offers key benefits such as no requirement for employer sponsorship and no lottery system, which makes it especially attractive to Indian applicants.
