Highly skilled Indian professionals face another pause in permanent residency visa approvals as annual allocation reaches its limit
The United States has exhausted its annual allocation of Employment-Based Second Preference (EB-2) immigrant visas for Indian nationals for fiscal year 2026, prompting an immediate halt to new visa issuances under the category until the next fiscal year begins on 1 October 2026.
In a notice issued on 22 May, the US Department of State confirmed that all available EB-2 visas allocated to applicants chargeable to India had been fully used in coordination with US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). As a result, US embassies and consulates worldwide have been instructed not to issue additional EB-2 visas to Indian applicants for the remainder of the fiscal year.
The EB-2 category is commonly used by highly qualified professionals, including engineers, information technology specialists, researchers, doctors and senior executives seeking permanent residence in the United States. Under US immigration law, EB-2 visas account for 28.6 per cent of the global employment-based immigration quota, while no single country can receive more than seven per cent of the combined employment-based and family-sponsored visa allocations annually.
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India has consistently faced lengthy backlogs in employment-based immigration categories due to strong demand from skilled workers, particularly in the technology and healthcare sectors
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A similar situation occurred in September 2025 when the annual EB-2 allocation for Indian applicants was exhausted before the end of the fiscal year
The development comes amid broader changes to US immigration policy under President Donald Trump’s administration, which has introduced stricter measures across several visa categories. Reports also suggest the State Department is considering a restructuring of visa-processing operations in Africa, potentially reducing the number of locations handling visa applications and increasing travel requirements for some applicants.
Meanwhile, routine US visa services in the UAE remain suspended following heightened regional security concerns linked to tensions involving Iran. The US Embassy and Consulate General in the UAE continue to operate with limited staffing, while American citizens have been urged to monitor security updates and review travel plans.
