Trump Cracks Down on Legal Immigration: EB-1 Green Cards May Close for India in 2026

The United States has indicated that EB-1 employment-based green cards may be cut off for Indian nationals, a development that signals deepening strain on the per-country visa allocation system. Indian-born applicants already face decades-long backlogs in the EB-2 and EB-3 categories, and a potential EB-1 closure would eliminate one of the few faster pathways remaining for highly skilled workers. The EB-1 category, which covers priority workers including multinational managers and individuals with extraordinary ability, has historically been less backlogged than EB-2 and EB-3 for Indian nationals. However, surging demand and per-country limits — which cap any single country at 7% of annual green card allocations — have begun pushing EB-1 India toward retrogression. For EB-3 applicants from India, this development underscores the systemic constraints built into the current immigration framework. With EB-1 potentially closing, more Indian applicants may be pushed into or held longer in the EB-2 and EB-3 queues, potentially extending wait times further for those already in the backlog. Applicants currently in the EB-3 pipeline should monitor the monthly Visa Bulletin closely for any changes to India's priority dates across all employment-based categories. Consulting with an immigration attorney about available options — including potential category portability or concurrent filing strategies — is advisable given the rapidly shifting landscape.