EB-1A Green Card Approvals Plunge 35% in US, Indians Face Biggest Impact

EB-1A Green Card Approvals Fall Sharply for Indians as US Immigration Scrutiny Intensifies

The approval rate for EB-1A, a US employment-based green card category for people who can demonstrate extraordinary ability, has declined significantly among Indian applicants during the first half of fiscal year 2026, according to a report by The Economic Times.

The drop has been especially noticeable among Indian technology professionals. Immigration experts cited in the report have linked the trend to what they describe as increased scrutiny of skilled-worker immigration.

Data from Boundless Immigration, based on figures from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), showed that the EB-1A approval rate for Indian applicants fell to 35% during the first two quarters of FY26. That compares with an approval rate of 49.1% for the whole of FY25.

Indian Applicants See Steep Drop

The figures indicate a substantial shift in outcomes for Indian EB-1A applicants.

During FY25, Indian nationals filed 14,250 EB-1A petitions. Of those, 6,993 were approved and 1,474 were denied.

In the first two quarters of FY26, 7,316 petitions were filed by Indians. Some 2,571 were approved, while 1,131 were denied, according to the report.

The EB-1A category is designed for applicants who can establish extraordinary ability in areas such as science, education, business, arts or athletics. Applicants generally need to satisfy at least three of the 10 criteria set by USCIS, in addition to meeting the overall eligibility standard.

The category has traditionally been viewed as an attractive option for highly accomplished professionals because it can offer a significantly shorter route to permanent residency than some other employment-based categories.

Indian Tech Professionals Face Greater Pressure

Xiao Wang, co-founder and CEO of Boundless Immigration, told ET that the decline has been particularly pronounced among technology professionals from India, followed by Chinese applicants.

India and China account for a large share of EB-1A filings, making changes in approval patterns particularly consequential for professionals from these countries.

The development could affect Indian technology workers who have traditionally relied on employment-based immigration to transition from temporary US work status to permanent residency.

The tougher environment also comes amid heightened scrutiny of skilled-worker immigration under the Donald Trump administration. The administration has introduced measures affecting skilled-worker programmes, including the H-1B system, in which Indian nationals constitute one of the largest beneficiary groups.

Immigration Attorneys Point to Higher Scrutiny

Immigration lawyers cited in the reports said the changing approval environment may reflect a tougher interpretation of the evidence submitted by applicants.

Joel Yanovich, a senior attorney at Ganey Law Group, attributed the higher rejection rate to changes in executive policy and said adjudicators were demanding what he described as an exceptionally high standard.

He also argued that the increased rejection rate should not automatically be interpreted as evidence that applicants have become less qualified or that the underlying law has changed.

Wang said the EB-1A process appeared more predictable in early 2025, when applicants could reasonably expect to build a case by meeting the relevant guidelines and presenting evidence under three of the 10 categories.

According to him, simply satisfying those categories is increasingly not enough.

Evidence showing that an applicant performed a leading or critical role for a distinguished organisation, or earned a high salary compared with others in the field, is increasingly being treated as a baseline expectation. Applicants may now need to demonstrate an additional strong area to distinguish their case.

US-based immigration attorney Rajiv Khanna told ET that the adjudication process had become exceptionally difficult, while also noting that at least one court has questioned the methodology being used.

Indians Look Beyond EB-1A

The tougher EB-1A environment adds to existing concerns for Indian nationals, who already face lengthy waits in other employment-based green card categories.

For those caught in EB-2 and EB-3 backlogs, immigration experts say the alternatives can be limited.

Some applicants are reportedly considering international career moves to qualify for EB-1C, which is intended for certain multinational managers and executives. Under this route, an employee may work outside the US for a qualifying multinational company before seeking an employment-based green card.

Others with sufficient financial resources are exploring the investment-based EB-5 programme.

Wang also said there had been a noticeable increase in enquiries from Indian professionals considering Canada, the UK or a return to India.

Canada’s Global Talent Stream and the UK’s Global Talent visa are among the alternatives being explored by Indian professionals seeking a different route to long-term residence.

The changing EB-1A approval landscape could therefore force more Indian applicants to reassess their US immigration strategies, particularly if the tougher adjudication trend continues through the remainder of FY26.