India EB‑2 Immigrant Visa Numbers Exhausted for FY2026
Key Takeaways
- It has been reported that the U.S. State Department has issued all EB‑2 immigrant visas chargeable to India for fiscal year (FY) 2026.
- No additional EB‑2 visas for India will be issued until the FY2027 numbers become available on October 1, 2026.
- Applicants with approved I‑140s or pending adjustment of status must wait for a new visa allocation; priority dates determine who moves next.
- Affected immigrants should monitor the State Department Visa Bulletin and consult counsel about status options and alternate pathways.
What happened
It has been reported that the U.S. Department of State has exhausted the pool of EB‑2 (employment‑based, second preference) immigrant visas chargeable to India for FY2026. That means consular immigrant visa issuances and any U.S. adjustment of status filings that require a current EB‑2 India visa number cannot proceed further until the new fiscal year starts on October 1, 2026. The EB‑2 category generally covers professionals with advanced degrees or persons of exceptional ability; immigrant visas are limited each fiscal year by statutory caps and per‑country ceilings, and heavy demand from India commonly produces long backlogs.
Who is affected and the human impact
This affects Indian‑born employment‑based applicants in EB‑2 who are waiting for a visa number — including those with approved I‑140 petitions and people awaiting immigrant visa interviews at consulates or adjustment of status (I‑485) adjudication in the U.S. For many families this means delayed green cards, prolonged reliance on nonimmigrant work visas, possible separations, and uncertainty about long‑term employment and life plans. Priority dates — the applicant’s place in the queue based on their petition filing date — still control who becomes eligible when numbers are renewed.
What to watch and practical steps
Monitor the monthly State Department Visa Bulletin (which shows priority date movement) and USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) updates. Talk to an immigration attorney about immediate options: maintaining or changing nonimmigrant status, portability rules if an I‑485 is pending, or exploring other immigration categories (for example EB‑1 or family‑based avenues) that might have different backlogs. Ultimately, EB‑2 India applicants should plan for a wait until FY2027 numbers are released on October 1, 2026, and prepare financially and logistically for continued delay.
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