EB-1, EB-2, & EB-3 Categories Reach Annual Limit for FY2025

All three major employment-based immigration preference categories — EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 — have exhausted their annual visa number allocations for Fiscal Year 2025, according to a report from immigration law firm Chugh, LLP. This development reflects the sustained and growing demand for employment-based green cards in the United States. When visa categories reach their annual limits, the Department of State stops issuing new immigrant visas under those categories until the next fiscal year begins on October 1. Applicants with approved petitions who have not yet received their visa numbers may experience extended waiting periods as a result. For EB-3 applicants specifically — which covers skilled workers, professionals, and unskilled workers — reaching the cap means that priority dates may retrogress or become unavailable in upcoming Visa Bulletins. Applicants should monitor the monthly Visa Bulletin closely and consult with their immigration attorneys regarding their individual priority dates and eligibility. Applicants already in the adjustment of status process within the United States may continue to maintain valid status and work authorization through EAD renewals while awaiting visa number availability. Those outside the US pursuing consular processing will need to wait for visa numbers to become available in the new fiscal year. Immigration practitioners advise affected applicants to ensure all supporting documentation is current and that any pending filings — such as I-485 applications or EAD/AP renewals — are submitted promptly once visa numbers become available at the start of FY2026.