May 2026 Visa Bulletin: Indian Nationals Hit Hard by EB-2 & EB-3 Green Card Backlogs

The May 2026 US Visa Bulletin confirms that Indian nationals continue to face some of the most severe green card backlogs in the employment-based immigration system. Both the EB-2 (professionals with advanced degrees) and EB-3 (skilled workers and professionals) categories remain deeply retrogressed for India-born applicants, with priority dates lagging years — in some cases over a decade — behind other countries. The persistent backlog creates significant practical challenges beyond just waiting. Indian nationals with pending adjustment of status applications face serious travel restrictions, as departing the US without proper advance parole documentation can jeopardize their pending green card cases. This effectively limits international travel for hundreds of thousands of applicants currently in the queue. For EB-3 applicants specifically, the May 2026 bulletin reflects little to no forward movement in India's priority dates, consistent with a pattern of minimal advancement seen in recent months. The slow progression is driven by annual per-country caps that limit India to roughly 7% of total employment-based green cards, despite Indian nationals comprising a disproportionately large share of applicants. Applicants are advised to monitor each monthly visa bulletin closely and consult with their immigration attorneys before making any international travel plans. Those with Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) and advance parole should ensure their travel documents remain valid and unexpired before departing the US.