US Exhausts EB-2 Green Card Quota for India in 2026
Quick Look
The US State Department has exhausted the EB-2 Green Card quota for India in 2026, with no new visas to be issued until October 1, 2026, affecting professionals with advanced degrees or exceptional abilities.
AI-generated summary
The US State Department has announced the exhaustion of the EB-2 Green Card quota for India in 2026. This category, designed for professionals with advanced degrees or exceptional abilities, sees its annual limit of approximately 2800 visas for India fully allocated. The quota will reset on October 1, 2026.
The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) dictates these limits, with EB-2 visas constituting 28.6% of the 140,000 employment-based Green Cards available annually. India’s allocation is capped at 7% of the total employment-based and family-sponsored visas.
As of the latest visa bulletin, the EB-2 Final Action Date for India is September 1, 2013, indicating applicants from this date are now eligible. However, due to the quota exhaustion, no further movement is anticipated until the new fiscal year. The USCIS may continue accepting adjustment of status filings for eligible cases, but interviews may be deferred, and approvals will be delayed until visa numbers become available.
The department attributes the exhaustion to high demand for EB-1 and EB-2 visas, necessitating the retrogression of Final Action Dates. Further adjustments or unavailability of these categories for India may occur if pro-rated limits are reached before the fiscal year’s end.
