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US green card: An analysis by the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP) reveals that 998,599 Indian nationals are stuck in the U.S. employment-based green card backlog
News18
An Indian professional filing an employment-based Green Card application in August 2026 could face a potential wait of 179 years under the EB-2 category, according to a newly released report by the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP).
The staggering projection underscores a massive structural bottleneck in the United States immigration system that has left nearly one million Indians trapped in a multi-generational queue.
NEARLY 1 MILLION STUCK
An analysis by the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP) reveals that 998,599 Indian nationals are stuck in the U.S. employment-based green card backlogmaking up roughly 79% of the total 1.26 million applicants waiting across the top three employment-based categories. Due to strict statutory annual caps and country-specific limits, highly skilled Indian professionals applying today face catastrophic wait times that could stretch up to 179 years.
The Breakdown by Category
The green card backlog is heavily concentrated within three specific employment-based (EB) preferences:
EB-2 (Advanced Degrees/Exceptional Ability): 731,566 Indians are trapped in this tier, representing the largest and most severely impacted group.
EB-3 (Skilled and Professional Workers): 213,414 Indians are currently waiting in this tier.
EB-1 (Priority Workers/Multinational Executives): 51,619 Indians are waiting, a figure that actually decreased from roughly 72,000 in 2020 due to faster processing shifts.
WAIT TIMES BY VISA CATEGORY FOR NEW INDIAN APPLICANTS
The projected wait times fluctuate wildly depending on the specific immigration preference category:
| Category | Typical Applicants | Projected Wait Time for New Filings (2026) |
| EB-2 | Professionals with Advanced Degrees / Exceptional Ability | 179 Years |
| EB-3 | Skilled Workers / Professionals with Bachelor’s Degrees | 38 Years |
| EB-1 | Priority Workers / Multinational Managers / Outstanding Researchers | 4 to 5 Years |
WHY THE WAIT IS SO LONG
The unprecedented crisis stems from a combination of massive demand and outdated immigration limits:
The 7% Cap: US law enforces a strict per-country ceiling, meaning nationals from any single country cannot receive more than 7% of the total employment-based green cards available in a fiscal year.
Overwhelming Backlog: Out of the estimated 1.26 million people currently stuck in the US employment-based backlog, Indian nationals account for a staggering 79% of the total.
Fixed Annual Quotas: The US caps total employment-based green cards at roughly 140,000 annually, a statutory limit that hasn’t been significantly adjusted since 1990.
THE REALITY OF ‘H-1B LIMBO’
Because the wait time mathematically exceeds human life expectancy, most Indian professionals must live and work in the US under temporary H-1B visa extensions indefinitely. This system creates massive complications:
Job Lock: Workers must maintain qualifying employment with sponsoring employers.
Layoff Risks: If laid off, H-1B workers generally have just 60 days to secure a new job or leave the country.
Aging Out: Children of backlogged applicants often “age out” of dependent visa status at 21, forcing them to find separate visas or leave the US.
While the 179-year statistic is a mathematical projection based on current data and not a guaranteed timeline, it highlights a system that experts agree is fundamentally broken without congressional reform.
Quick Answers
Ask News18A proposed bill, reintroduced by California Senator Alex Padilla, could create a pathway to lawful permanent residency for over eight million long-term US residents, including H-1B visa holders and children of visa holders. This legislation aims to amend Section 249 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, also known as the Registry provision, which currently only allows certain immigrants to apply for permanent residency if they entered the United States before January 1, 1972.
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At the news desk for 20 years, the story of her life has revolved around finding pun, facts while reporting, on radio, heading a daily newspaper desk, teaching mass media students to now editing speci…Read More
August 28, 2026, 6:15 PM IST
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