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The United States has officially reached the annual limit for EB-2 employment-based immigrant visas available to Indian nationals for the fiscal year (FY) 2026. This means no more EB-2 Green Cards can be issued to Indian applicants until the next fiscal year starts on October 1, 2026. This change is likely to affect thousands of skilled Indian professionals, especially those in fields such as information technology, healthcare, engineering, and research.
No More EB-2 Visas for Indians Until October 2026
The U.S. Department of State has confirmed that all EB-2 immigrant visa numbers set aside for India for FY2026 have been exhausted. As a result, U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide will not issue any additional EB-2 visas to Indian nationals until new visa numbers become available in FY2027.
What Is the EB-2 Category?
The EB-2 category is one of the most popular employment-based immigration options in the U.S. It is for:
- Professionals holding advanced degrees
- Individuals with exceptional ability in fields like science, business, arts, or technology
- Skilled workers sponsored by U.S. employers.
Indian professionals in technology, healthcare, engineering, and research make up a large portion of EB-2 applicants.
Why Has the Quota Been Exhausted?
U.S. immigration law sets yearly limits on employment-based immigrant visas and applies caps for each country to ensure fair distribution among nations. Some of the key reasons for the exhaustion include:
- Consistent high demand from Indian applicants
- Existing Green Card backlogs
- Limits on visas allocated to specific countries
As a result, India has hit its maximum allowed number of EB-2 immigrant visas for the fiscal year.
Impact on Indian Applicants
Although U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) can continue processing applications, it cannot grant final Green Card approvals without a visa number available. The exhaustion of visa numbers is likely to have several consequences:
- Longer wait times for permanent residency
- Delays in Green Card approvals
- Increased uncertainty for applicants and their dependents
- Extended processing timelines for pending cases
>> Read More: What is a B-1 Visa?
Backlog Challenges Persist
India already has one of the largest backlogs for employment-based Green Cards in the United States. Immigration experts expect the use of the FY2026 EB-2 quota to increase waiting times for many applicants. This situation also raises ongoing concerns about per-country visa limits and their effect on skilled foreign workers.
For now, affected applicants must wait until the next fiscal year's allocation is available before visa issuance can resume.
