US Green Card Wait for Indians Still Over a Decade, Visa Bulletin Shows No New Movement
January 17, 2026
The US State Department's latest Visa Bulletin brings little cheer for Indians waiting for their Green Cards. Waiting times remain stuck, with some categories showing a backlog of more than 12 years. Indians face a per-country cap limiting visa approvals to 7% annually, causing long queues.
For final action dates—the stage when visas can be issued—the key dates for Indians are:
- EB-1 (Extraordinary Ability, Outstanding Professors/Researchers, Multinational Executives): February 1, 2023
- EB-2 (Advanced Degrees/Exceptional Ability): July 15, 2013
- EB-3 (Skilled Workers/Professionals): November 15, 2013
- EB-3 Other Workers (Unskilled): November 15, 2013
- EB-5 (Investors): May 1, 2022 (backlogged)
Dates for filing I-485 applications allowing visa processing are:
- EB-1: August 1, 2023
- EB-2: December 1, 2013
- EB-3 and EB-3 Other Workers: August 15, 2014
- EB-5 Set-Asides: Current, no wait for filing
Compared to January 2026, there is no forward movement for Indians in EB-1, EB-2, or EB-3 categories—dates remain stagnant. While some advances occurred for "All Other Countries," Indians received no relief this month.
Immigration lawyer Nicole Gunara said, "After several months of progress, a pause in February is not surprising and can be part of normal pacing for the year. Visa Bulletin movement isn’t linear, and quiet months often follow periods of advancement as the government measures actual demand against available visa numbers."
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Green Card
Visa Bulletin
India
Us immigration
Eb Categories
Visa Wait Times
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