EB-2 India Visa Limit Met 2026: Green Card Backlog Deepens for Indian Nationals

The U.S. Department of State has announced that the annual numerical limit for EB-2 employment-based immigrant visas allocated to India has been met for the current fiscal year. This means that no additional EB-2 visas will be issued to Indian nationals until the new fiscal year begins in October, adding further pressure to one of the most backlogged immigration queues in the U.S. system. For Indian nationals in the EB-2 category—which covers professionals holding advanced degrees or those with exceptional ability—this development signals a temporary halt in visa issuances regardless of priority date. Consular posts abroad and USCIS adjustment of status adjudications will be affected, as visa numbers are required to complete the green card process. This situation is closely watched by EB-3 applicants as well, since India's per-country demand across employment-based categories remains extraordinarily high. When EB-2 limits are exhausted, it reflects the broader systemic backlog facing Indian-born applicants, who often wait decades due to annual per-country caps that do not account for population size. Applicants currently in the pipeline should consult with their immigration attorneys to understand how the visa cutoff affects their specific priority dates and whether any alternative pathways, such as EB-3 downgrade options, may be available. Monitoring the monthly Visa Bulletin from the Department of State will be critical in the coming months.