The United States Department of State has released its latest Visa Bulletin, and it brings no good news for Indian nationals awaiting Green Cards. The bulletin shows minimal to no movement in priority dates, meaning the already lengthy waiting periods continue to stretch. For many Indians, securing permanent residency in the US now involves a wait exceeding a decade, often between 10 to 15 years. This immense delay stems primarily from the per-country cap, which limits each nation to just 7% of the annual Green Card allocation.
Current Green Card Waiting Times for Indian Applicants
The Visa Bulletin outlines two key sets of dates: Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing. Final Action Dates indicate when a visa number is actually available for approval, leading to the Green Card. Dates for Filing show when applicants can submit their I-485 adjustment of status application. Here is the detailed breakdown for Indian applicants as per the latest bulletin.
Final Action Dates (Visa Issuance/Approval)
- EB-1 (Extraordinary Ability, Outstanding Professors/Researchers, Multinational Executives): February 1, 2023. This category faces a significant backlog. Your priority date must be before this to proceed.
- EB-2 (Advanced Degrees or Exceptional Ability): July 15, 2013. This translates to a backlog of more than 12 years for Indian professionals.
- EB-3 (Skilled Workers and Professionals): November 15, 2013. The wait here is similarly long, mirroring the EB-2 situation.
- EB-3 Other Workers (Unskilled): November 15, 2013. This category shares the same date as the standard EB-3.
- EB-5 (Unreserved Investors): Backlogged with a date of May 1, 2022.
Dates for Filing (Application Submission)
- EB-1: August 1, 2023. Applicants can file if their priority date is before this.
- EB-2: December 1, 2013. Again, this means a wait exceeding 12 years.
- EB-3: August 15, 2014.
- EB-3 Other Workers: August 15, 2014.
- EB-5 Set-Asides: Current. There is no wait for filing in this specific investor category.
Key Takeaways for the Indian Community
The bulletin reveals several critical points for Indian hopefuls. First, there is no forward movement for India in the EB-1, EB-2, or EB-3 categories compared to the previous month. The dates remain completely stagnant, showing neither advancement nor retrogression. Second, while the EB-3 category saw some advances for applicants from "All Other Countries" (excluding India and China), Indians received no such relief this month. The situation remains unchanged and challenging.
Expert Perspective on the Stagnation
Immigration lawyer Nicole Gunara provided context on the lack of movement. She stated that while the stagnant dates may seem disappointing, they do not necessarily spell bad news. "After several months of progress, a pause in February is not surprising and can be part of normal pacing for the year," Gunara explained. She emphasized that Visa Bulletin movement is not linear. "Quiet months often follow periods of advancement as the government measures actual demand against available visa numbers," she added. This suggests the current stall might be a temporary recalibration rather than a permanent halt.
The overall picture remains one of extreme patience for Indian professionals and workers in the US immigration queue. With per-country caps firmly in place and high demand, the wait times are unlikely to shorten significantly in the near future. Applicants must prepare for a long and uncertain journey toward permanent residency.
