United States: EB-2 India Unavailable Through September 30, 2026, What Employers and Indian Nationals Need to Know

The U.S. Department of State has announced that the EB-2 immigrant visa category for Indian nationals is unavailable through September 30, 2026. This means no new EB-2 visas can be issued to Indian-born applicants during this period.

The unavailability stems from high demand and annual numerical limits on employment-based green cards. The EB-2 category, which covers professionals with advanced degrees or exceptional ability, has been oversubscribed for India for years due to per-country caps.

Employers sponsoring Indian nationals for EB-2 green cards will face delays. Current applicants with approved I-140 petitions must wait until the category becomes available again, likely after October 1, 2026, when the new fiscal year begins.

Indian nationals in the EB-2 queue may consider alternative options, such as the EB-1 category for individuals with extraordinary ability, if eligible. However, EB-1 also faces backlogs for India, though it is currently more current than EB-2.

The announcement underscores the ongoing challenges in the U.S. employment-based immigration system, where demand from countries like India far exceeds the supply of green cards. Employers and applicants should plan for extended wait times and explore all available visa pathways.