US warns EB-1 green cards for Indians may become unavailable

The US State Department has warned that employment-based first-preference (EB-1) green cards for Indian nationals may become temporarily unavailable in the coming weeks. According to the September Visa Bulletin, high demand and rapid visa consumption could exhaust India’s pro-rated allocation before the US fiscal year ends on September 30.

The EB-1 category is reserved for priority professionals, including those with extraordinary ability, researchers, professors, and certain multinational executives. Officials stated that the situation is being monitored and adjustments will be made if the statutory limit is reached.

This potential restriction adds pressure to an already significant immigration backlog for Indian applicants. The EB-2 category (professionals with advanced degrees) is currently listed as unavailable (marked “U”) for September, having also been unavailable in August. Additionally, the EB-3 category faces a substantial backlog, with a final action date of January 1, 2014, meaning many applicants have been waiting over 12 years.