EB-2 Green Card limit exhausted for India for 2026: What does it mean?

The Employment-Based Second Preference (EB-2) Green Card quota for individuals from India has been fully utilized for the 2026 fiscal year, according to the U.S. State Department. This category is designated for professionals holding advanced degrees or possessing exceptional abilities.

The announcement signifies that U.S. embassies and consulates can no longer issue EB-2 Green Cards for Indian nationals until the annual limit is replenished at the start of the new fiscal year on October 1, 2026. This exhaustion stems from a combination of high demand and the per-country limits imposed by the Immigration and Nationality Act, which restricts the number of visas any single country can receive.

Typically, India receives approximately 2,800 EB-2 Green Cards annually, based on a 7% country cap of the total employment-based visas. The "Final Action Date" for Indian EB-2 applicants has retrogressed to September 1, 2013, meaning those who applied on that date are now eligible, but the quota's closure halts further processing. While applications may still be accepted, approvals and interviews will be deferred until visa numbers become available.