TLDR: The U.S. State Department has announced that all available EB-2 employment-based green card visas for applicants from India have been used up for fiscal year 2026. This means embassies and consulates can’t issue any more EB-2 immigrant visas to India-chargeable applicants until the new fiscal year begins on October 1, 2026, when the annual limits reset. If you’re an Indian national in the EB-2 category, your case isn’t lost; it’s paused. Understanding why this happens and what to do next can help you stay on track toward your green card.
What Just Happened with EB-2 Visas for India?
On May 22, 2026, the State Department, working closely with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), announced that it has issued every available immigrant visa in the Employment-Based Second Preference (EB-2) category for applicants chargeable to India for fiscal year 2026.
In plain terms: the annual supply of EB-2 green cards for Indian nationals ran out before the fiscal year ended. For the remainder of FY 2026, U.S. embassies and consulates cannot issue EB-2 visas to applicants in this group.
The good news? This is temporary. The annual limits reset when the new fiscal year (FY 2027) begins on October 1, 2026. After that date, consulates and embassies may resume issuing EB-2 visas to qualified India-chargeable applicants.
Why Does This Happen? Understanding the Numbers
If you’ve been waiting in the employment-based green card line, you already know the U.S. immigration system can feel overwhelming and complicated. The per-country limit is one of the biggest reasons why, and it helps to understand the math behind it.
The Annual Caps
Congress, through the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), sets firm limits on how many employment-based green cards can be issued each year. A few rules drive what just happened:
- The EB-2 worldwide limit: Under INA 203(b)(2), the EB-2 category is capped at 28.6 percent of the total worldwide employment-based limit each fiscal year.
- The seven percent per-country rule: Under INA 202(a)(2), no single country can receive more than seven percent of the total employment-based and family-sponsored visas available in a year.
Why India Is Affected First
Because demand from India is so high (and because every country, large or small, gets the same seven percent ceiling) Indian applicants in high-demand categories like EB-2 often reach the cap well before the fiscal year ends. It isn’t a penalty or a sign that anything went wrong with your case. It’s simply how the statutory limits work when demand outpaces supply.
What This Means If You’re in the EB-2 Category
Here’s the most important point: reaching the per-country limit does not cancel or deny your case. Your petition and your place in line remain intact. What changes is timing.
- If your priority date is current and you were hoping for visa issuance before October 1, you’ll likely need to wait until FY 2027 begins.
- Consular processing for EB-2 India cases will pause for the rest of FY 2026.
- Once the new fiscal year opens, processing can resume for qualified applicants.
We understand how frustrating this is. You’ve done everything right, gathered every document, and waited patiently… only to be told to wait a little longer. Nobody should have to navigate immigration alone, especially when the rules shift beneath your feet. Feeling stuck, anxious, or confused right now is completely understandable.
How to Stay on Track While You Wait
A pause is not the same as a stop. There are productive steps you can take to protect your case and position yourself for a smooth resumption when FY 2027 opens.
Keep Your Information Current
Make sure your contact information, passport validity, and any required medical exams or supporting documents stay up to date. An expired document at the wrong moment can create avoidable delays once visa numbers become available again.
Monitor the Visa Bulletin
The State Department’s monthly Visa Bulletin is the official source for priority date movement. Watching it closely helps you anticipate when your category may become current again in the new fiscal year.
Get a Strategy Review
Berardi Immigration Law will prepare and file your case for you, and just as importantly, we help you understand your options. Depending on your situation, there may be strategic considerations worth exploring, such as eligibility in another category, cross-chargeability through a spouse, or maintaining valid nonimmigrant status in the meantime. Every case is different, and a knowledgeable review can reveal paths you may not have realized were available.
With the right guidance, you’ll go from an applicant to an American, and the process becomes far less intimidating when someone experienced is walking it with you.
This Is a Pause, Not a Dead End
The EB-2 India per-country limit being reached for FY 2026 is disappointing news, but it’s a familiar and temporary part of how the U.S. immigration system operates. The visas will return on October 1, 2026, and qualified applicants can move forward.
At Berardi Immigration Law, we’ve guided countless individuals, families, and businesses through exactly these kinds of waiting periods and bottlenecks. Our team turns complicated rules into a clear plan, so you can stop worrying about the fine print and focus on your future. The result is what we promise every client: a smooth process for a better immigration outcome.
If you have questions about your EB-2 case or want to understand your options before FY 2027 begins, we’re here to help. Book your consultation with our team of immigration attorneys today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does reaching the per-country limit mean my green card application is denied?
No. Your petition and priority date remain valid. The limit only affects when a visa can be issued, not whether you remain eligible. Once the new fiscal year begins on October 1, 2026, processing can resume for qualified applicants.
Q: When can EB-2 India applicants expect visas to be available again?
The annual visa limits reset at the start of fiscal year 2027 on October 1, 2026. After that date, embassies and consulates may resume issuing EB-2 visas to qualified India-chargeable applicants, subject to priority date availability in the Visa Bulletin.
Q: Is there anything I can do while EB-2 visas are unavailable for India?
Yes. Keep your documents and contact information current, monitor the monthly Visa Bulletin, and consider a strategy review with an immigration attorney to explore whether alternative categories or options apply to your situation.
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