Indian Professionals Face 179-Year US Green Card Wait

The National Foundation for American Policy reports that high-skilled Indian professionals applying for employment-based green cards in January 2026 or later could face wait times of up to 179 years in the EB-2 category. Nearly one million Indian nationals are currently in the backlog, accounting for approximately 79% of the 1.2 million total pending applications. These delays stem from a 140,000 annual statutory cap established in 1990 and a 7% per-country limit.

While the EB-2 and EB-3 categories face extreme delays, the EB-1 category for priority workers has a shorter wait of about five years. However, the United States Department of State warned in its September Visa Bulletin that EB-1 visas for Indian nationals may become unavailable within weeks as pro-rated limits are reached before the fiscal year ends on September 30.

Under the Trump administration, the federal government has further tightened residency limits and intends to impose a $103,000 administrative fee for H-1B visa applications. Supporters of the current system argue these delays hinder the ability of U.S. employers to retain talent. Conversely, critics from the Institute for Sound Policy claim the H-1B system suppresses wages for American jobseekers and negatively impacts domestic innovation.

Immigration lawyer Rajiv Khanna noted that the 179-year projection may be inflated because it ignores H-1B extension protections and periodic system fluctuations that can increase approval numbers.