US Green Card Approvals Drop 35%, Indians Hit Hardest
Indian EB-1A approval rates fell to 35% in the first half of FY2026, down from 49.1% in FY2025, with denials rising sharply.
Indian applicants are facing a sharp decline in US Green Card Approvals through the EB-1A category. Their approval rate fell to 35% in the first two quarters of FY2026, compared with 49.1% for the full FY2025, as scrutiny of extraordinary-ability petitions intensifies.
Indian EB-1A Approvals Fall Sharply
Data from Boundless Immigration, based on USCIS figures, shows that Indian applicants filed 14,250 EB-1A petitions in FY2025. Of these, 6,993 were approved and 1,474 were denied.
The numbers changed significantly in the first two quarters of FY2026. Indians filed 7,316 petitions, receiving 2,571 approvals and 1,131 denials.
That means Indian applicants have already recorded 1,131 EB-1A denials in just the first half of FY2026, compared with 1,474 denials during the entire FY2025.
Why Are Denials Rising?
Immigration experts cited in the report link the decline to tougher adjudication and increased scrutiny under the Trump administration. They say simply meeting three of the 10 EB-1A criteria may no longer be enough if the supporting evidence is not considered sufficiently strong.
Experts specifically highlighted leading or critical roles and high salary as criteria increasingly expected to be particularly strong, alongside at least one additional high-quality criterion.
EB-1A Becomes More Important For Indians
The development is particularly significant for Indian professionals facing long employment-based backlogs. While EB-2 remains a major pathway for H-1B professionals seeking US permanent residency, the report notes that EB-1A can offer a faster alternative for individuals who can demonstrate extraordinary ability.
According to the report, the EB-1A Green Card timeline is generally around 3–4 years, compared with nearly 15 years for EB-2 for affected Indian applicants.
For professionals evaluating How to get Green Card in USA, the latest numbers underline the importance of building a strong case rather than simply selecting an immigration category. The declining Green Card approval rate also highlights why eligibility, evidence and petition strategy matter when pursuing an employment-based Green Card.
What Applicants Are Considering
With EB-2 and EB-3 backlogs continuing to affect Indian professionals, some applicants are exploring alternatives, including EB-1C after qualifying overseas managerial or executive experience and the EB-5 route.
The latest EB-1A data does not change Green Card eligibility rules or Adjustment of Status procedures. However, the sharp rise in Indian denials signals a more demanding environment for professionals seeking a United States Green Card through extraordinary ability.
Stay connected with Smart Immigrant for more updates on US immigration and policy changes.
Read Full News Here:
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/trump-admin-crackdown-indian-techies-see-biggest-hit-as-us-green-card-approvals-plunge-sharply/articleshow/133289971.cms
