India's EB2 Visa Quota for Fiscal Year 2026 Exhausted: Applicants Face Prolonged Waits Until October 2026
Summary
The U.S. State Department has announced that all available EB2 immigrant visas for Indian nationals for Fiscal Year 2026 have been issued, effective immediately. This critical development means that no further visas in this employment-based second preference category will be allocated to applicants from India until October 1, 2026, when the FY2027 limits reset. Indian professionals seeking permanent residency through the EB2 pathway must now prepare for a significant and unavoidable delay in their immigration process.
The U.S. State Department has confirmed that the annual allocation of Employment-Based Second Preference (EB2) immigrant visas designated for India for Fiscal Year 2026 has been completely exhausted. This official notice indicates that no new EB2 visas will be issued to Indian applicants for the remainder of the current fiscal year and the entirety of FY2026, which concludes on September 30, 2026. Applicants whose priority dates are current for FY2026 but who have not yet received their visa will now experience a forced pause in their application processing, pushing their potential visa issuance to the next fiscal year. This early exhaustion of the quota highlights the immense demand from India for highly skilled immigration pathways.
This exhaustion necessitates that affected Indian EB2 applicants will have to wait until October 1, 2026, the commencement of Fiscal Year 2027, for the possibility of their cases moving forward. The immediate practical impact is a prolonged waiting period, which can cause significant uncertainty and disruption for individuals and families planning their futures in the U.S. It underscores the challenges posed by per-country limits and the high volume of applications from certain nations, often leading to substantial backlogs and multi-year waits even for otherwise qualified professionals.
Background
U.S. immigration law imposes per-country limits on the number of employment-based immigrant visas issued annually, ensuring no single country receives more than 7% of the worldwide total, which frequently results in significant backlogs for high-demand nations like India and China in categories such as EB2 and EB3.
Who This Affects
- Indian nationals with an approved I-140 petition in the EB2 category whose priority dates were current or became current for Fiscal Year 2026 are directly impacted, as their visa processing will now halt until FY2027.
- Applicants awaiting their green card interviews or final visa issuance will experience significant delays, prolonging their wait time by at least several months until the new fiscal year begins.
- Future Indian EB2 applicants with later priority dates will see the overall backlog exacerbated, potentially pushing back their eligibility for a current priority date even further.
What You Should Do Now
- Consult with an immigration attorney to understand the precise impact on your individual case and explore any alternative pathways or strategies that might be available.
- Monitor the U.S. State Department's Visa Bulletin regularly for updates on priority dates and any potential shifts in policy or visa availability.
- Maintain valid non-immigrant status (e.g., H-1B, L-1) if you are currently in the U.S. to ensure continued legal presence while awaiting your EB2 visa.
Key Takeaway
Indian nationals pursuing an EB2 visa must now prepare for an unavoidable and significant delay, as no further visas in this category will be issued until Fiscal Year 2027 commences on October 1, 2026.
Source: Read official article on Murthy Law Firm
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