In a big hit for Indian techies, the approval rate for the visa that is one of the routes to US green cards has seen a sharp drop. The approval rate for Indian applicants has come down to 35% in the first half of FY26, compared with 49.1% for the full FY25.The approval rate for EB-1A, the US green card category meant for individuals with extraordinary ability, has dropped sharply in FY26, with Indian applicants bearing a significant share of the impact, according to several immigration experts who spoke to ET.Data from US immigration platform Boundless Immigration, based on USCIS figures, show that Indian applicants filed 14,250 EB-1A petitions in FY25. Of these, 6,993 were approved while 1,474 were rejected. In the first two quarters of FY26 for which data is available, Indians submitted 7,316 petitions, with 2,571 approvals and 1,131 denials.
India, China hardest hit
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, who together account for the largest volumes of EB-1A filings.Also Read | How Trump’s policies are turning US dream into a nightmare for Indian students, H-1B visa & green card aspirantsThis drop comes amid tighter scrutiny of skilled-worker immigration under the Donald Trump administration. Over the past year, the Trump administration has introduced several measures aimed at restricting skilled-worker immigration, particularly involving H-1B visa holders, among whom Indians make up one of the largest beneficiary groups.The tougher environment is now also being felt by skilled workers seeking permanent residency in the US through the green card system.Although EB-2 remains the most widely used pathway for H-1B visa holders, individuals who can demonstrate extraordinary ability – including executives working for multinational companies – may pursue the EB-1A category if they meet at least three of the 10 criteria prescribed by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services.The EB-1A route generally takes about 3-4 years, compared with a waiting period of nearly 15 years under the EB-2 category.
Why the change?
“The chief driver here is a shift in executive policy. The current administration has adopted a noticeably hostile posture toward immigration, and that mandate is clearly being implemented via adjudicators who are now demanding an unreasonably high bar be met,” said Joel Yanovich, Senior Attorney, Ganey Law Group. He stressed that the rise in rejections does not reflect a decline in the quality of applicants or any change in the law.Wang said the EB-1A process appeared more straightforward in early 2025, when applicants could reasonably expect to qualify by meeting the guidelines and presenting evidence under three of the 10 prescribed categories. That approach, he said, is increasingly proving insufficient.“Now there’s more evidence that two of the criteria: ‘Performing in a leading or critical role for distinguished organizations’ and ‘Commanding a high salary relative to others in your field’ are table-stakes, that they must be strong, with the need of one more that’s of high quality,” he pointed out.Also Read | Harsh reality for H-1B visa returnees: Changed Indian IT hiring landscape, lower salaries and fewer jobsUS-based immigration attorney Rajiv Khanna said the government has made the adjudication process exceptionally difficult, even though at least one court has found the methodology being applied to be incorrect.Yanovich described the current mood among applicants as a combination of fatigue and pragmatism.“Options are incredibly narrow, especially for Indian nationals caught in the massive EB-2 and EB-3 backlogs. Some are leaving the US to work for a multinational abroad for a year as a manager or executive so they can qualify for the EB-1(C) category. For those who can afford it, EB-5 remains a great option, and we are seeing a massive rush of Indian applicants right now,” he said.Wang said there has also been a noticeable increase in enquiries from people considering a move to Canada, the UK or a return to India. “Canada’s Global Talent Stream and the UK’s Global Talent visa are increasingly on the table for Indians, specifically,” he said.
