Indian nationals seeking permanent residency in the United States face new restrictions as the EB-1 employment-based green card category may close within weeks and the EB-2 pathway has already become unavailable, according to multiple reports.
Officials warned that the EB-1 category, reserved for workers with extraordinary ability or multinational executives, could shut for Indian applicants in the coming weeks, sources said. The EB-2 category, for professionals with advanced degrees, is already unavailable to Indian nationals.
Reports indicate Indian applicants could face wait times of up to 179 years for green cards under current backlogs, though the specific timeframe and methodology behind the estimate were not detailed in available sourcing.
The employment-based green card system is divided into preference categories, with annual caps subject to per-country limits. Indian nationals have historically faced longer wait times due to high demand and country-specific quotas.
No official statement from US immigration authorities was cited in available reports detailing the timing or scope of the restrictions.
