EB-2 India Per-Country Limit Reached for FY 2026, State Department Says; Resets October 1
On May 22, the State Department announced that India hit its yearly cap for EB-2 Green Cards. This does not mean individuals can no longer apply, but that the government must wait until October 1 for the cap to reset.
Who is affected by this?
- Indian nationals abroad with EB-2 cases at U.S. embassies or consulates. Posts may not issue EB-2 immigrant visas chargeable to India for the rest of FY 2026.
- Indian-born EB-2 Green Card applicants in the U.S. Pending adjustment of status cases are not denied, but they cannot be approved without an available visa number until October 1.
Who is not affected by this?
- EB-2 applicants from other countries. The per-country limit applies only to India.
- Indian EB-1 and EB-3 applicants. Both categories are still open, as of the June 2026 Visa Bulletin, with priority dates for EB-1 Indian applicants being much sooner than for EB-2 applicants.
Manifest’s principal immigration attorney Nicole Gunara says those who already have a pending EB-2 Green Card case should prepare for longer wait times, but not panic. “The government can still receive your case, schedule interviews, and even issue separate benefits like advance parole or a work permit. They just can’t finish the process and grant you the green card,” she says.
“The most important thing to do is to keep your case moving forward, whether you’re just gathering evidence for the I-140 filing or preparing your Green Card interview,” Gunara continues.
FAQs About the EB-2 India FY 2026 Cap
When will EB-2 India visas be available again?
October 1, 2026, when fiscal year 2027 begins and the annual visa limits reset.
Will my pending I-485 be denied because EB-2 India is unavailable?
No. A pending adjustment of status application is not automatically denied when a category becomes unavailable. It waits until a visa number is available again, which for EB-2 India means the October 1, 2026 reset.
Can my case still move forward while EB-2 India is unavailable?
Yes. USCIS can continue background checks, interviews, and adjudication of related benefits like employment and travel authorization. However, you cannot receive your actual Green Card until a visa number becomes available.
Can I still renew my EAD or advance parole while EB-2 India is unavailable?
Yes. As long as your Form I-485 is pending, you remain eligible to apply for and renew your employment authorization document (EAD) and advance parole.
Why did EB-2 India reach its limit in May?
High demand from Indian EB-2 applicants resulted in the annual cap being met earlier than usual. This may not be the only time we hear of a category being capped this year, as the State Department has already warned in the June 2026 Visa Bulletin that other categories were approaching their FY 2026 limits.
