On May 22, 2026, the U.S. Department of State confirmed that all available employment based second preference (EB-2) immigrant visa numbers for Indian nationals have been exhausted for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026. The category, which category covers professionals with advanced degrees and individuals with exceptional ability in science, business, or the arts, is immediately unavailable and will remain so through September 30, 2026. No immigrant visas may be issued at consular posts, and USCIS may not approve any pending Adjustment of Status (AOS) applications in the EB-2 India category until the new fiscal year begins on October 1, 2026. 

Impact on Pending Applications 

Applicants with an AOS application (Form I-485) already on file with USCIS are affected as follows: 

• USCIS cannot approve any pending EB-2 India AOS applications through September 30, 2026, regardless of the applicant’s priority date. Applications are not denied—they are held pending visa number availability. 

• Applicants with a scheduled AOS interview should attend as planned. Interviews may proceed normally; however, a final approval cannot be issued until October 1, 2026. 

• Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) and Advance Paroles (APs) filed concurrently with or pursuant to a pending I-485 application are unaffected by visa unavailability and should continue to be adjudicated. Clients with pending or expiring EADs/APs should ensure timely renewal to maintain work and travel authorization. 

• Consular processing applicants cannot receive an immigrant visa stamp through September 30th. Embassy interviews may be rescheduled or deferred.  

Impact on Applications Yet to Be Filed 

The unavailability of EB-2 visas for Indian nationals significantly affects filing options: 

• AOS filings (I-485): USCIS has confirmed it will continue accepting EB-2 India AOS applications that are current under the May 2026 Visa Bulletin dates for the remainder of May. In June, USCIS will use the Final Action Dates chart (not the Dates for Filing chart) for employment-based AOS filings, which means the EB-2 India category will appear as “unavailable” and new I-485 filings in this category will not be accepted until October. 

• EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) petitions: I-140 NIW petitions may continue to be filed. The visa unavailability does not halt NIW approvals, although no AOS applications may be filed until October. 

• FY 2027 planning: Availability of visa numbers will resume on October 1, 2026. However, if worldwide EB immigrant visa demand remains strong, FY 2027 availability for EB-2 India may be limited, as unused worldwide EB visas will not be available to the category. 

Recommendations 

Absent legislative reform, employment-based visa availability for Indian nationals is unlikely to improve significantly in the near future. We recommend the following steps for affected clients: 

• Confirm the status of all pending I-485 applications and ensure that EAD/AP renewals are scheduled for filing well in advance of expiration. 

• Review priority dates against current Visa Bulletin Final Action Dates to assess potential eligibility scenarios for October 2026 filings. 

• Ensure that PERM and I-140 filings are not delayed, establishing a priority date is the single most important step for Indian nationals pursuing an employment based green card. 

How Meltzer Hellrung Can Help 

At Meltzer Hellrung, we actively monitor immigrant visa availability and work with our clients to develop individualized strategies that protect priority dates, preserve work authorization, and position employees for the earliest possible green card approval. Should you have any questions about how this change in immigrant visa availability will affect your employees, please contact our team of professionals.