Outlook Business Desk
EB-1, EB-2 and EB-3 are employment-based immigrant visa categories that determine how quickly skilled workers can obtain a US green card. EB-1 is for individuals with extraordinary ability, outstanding professors or researchers, and senior multinational executives. EB-2 is for professionals with advanced degrees or exceptional ability, while EB-3 is for other skilled workers.
The final action date for EB-1 is 15 March 2022. For EB-2, it stands at 15 May 2013, while EB-3 has moved to 22 September 2013. The EB-4 category is set at 1 September 2020, and EB-5 at 1 July 2021.
Filing dates for Indian applicants are: EB-1 on April 15, 2023; EB-2 on December 1, 2013; EB-3 on August 15, 2014; EB-4 and certain religious workers on February 15, 2021; and EB-5 on April 1, 2022. Applicants with earlier priority dates can submit documents to the National Visa Center.
The visa bulletin also notes that for fiscal year 2026 the family sponsored preference limit stands at 226,000 while employment based categories have a worldwide minimum allocation of 140,000 under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
For Indian applicants, the US Department of State has set final action dates in the family-sponsored preference categories. These dates determine when applicants can receive their green cards, ranging from November 8, 2016 for F1 to February 1, 2024 for F2A.
For the F1 category, for unmarried sons and daughters of US citizens, the final action date is November 8, 2016. The F2A category, for spouses and children of permanent residents, has moved to February 1, 2024, enabling eligible applicants to move forward with their green card process.
F2B, for unmarried adult children of permanent residents, is set at Dec 1, 2016. F3, for married children of US citizens, stands at Sep 8, 2011, while F4, for siblings of adult US citizens, is at Nov 1, 2006. These dates define the current timelines for applicants in each category.
Filing dates for Indian applicants differ slightly: F1 can file from September 1, 2017; F2A from November 22, 2025; F2B from March 8, 2017; F3 from July 22, 2021; and F4 from December 15, 2006.