The State Department says the EB-1 program may become unavailable to Indians in fiscal year 2026.
The EB-1 (employment-based first preference) visa is the first-class permanent residency (green card) category in the United States. It is intended for individuals of exceptional ability, distinguished professors or researchers, and multinational managers or executives.
The EB-1 used to be the quickest path to a green card because it had little to no backlog where they wouldn’t be taken at the maximum – because they didn’t qualify for it.But in its August visa bulletin, the State Department warned that the EB-1 program may become unavailable to Indians in FY206, which ends in September. “High demand and utilization of the number by foreigners charged to India in the EB-1 visa category may necessitate the category being made unavailable in the coming weeks if India’s quota limit in the EB-1 category is reached before the end of the fiscal year.
The ministry added that this situation will be monitored continuously, and any necessary adjustments will be made accordingly.
What is the current waiting period for Indians to get an EB-1 vsa visa?
People from India who received an EB-1 Green Card now file their initial petitions (priority date) on or before October 15, 2022.Cutting date: The official deadline (final action date) for Indian applicants in the EB-1 category is October 15, 2022.Submission/application date: Individuals who received their green cards today initially filed Form I-140 (Immigrant Petition) or set their priority date for around late 2022 or earlier.
Waiting time: This corresponds to an effective processing waiting time of approximately 3.5 to 4 years for Indian citizens in the EB-1 category.
Why does the EB-1 category get so many applications from India?
Many EB-2 and EB-3 applicants are switching to EB-1 eligible green cards faster, increasing competition. There are a few spillover effects from family quotas to the EB-1 category as well.There are three types of EB-1 visas: the first is for leading scientists, founders, artists and athletes, the second is for university professors and senior researchers and the third is for vice presidents, directors and senior managers of companies.
