Nearly one million Indian workers face decades-long green-card wait in US backlog
A new NFAP analysis shows that almost one million Indian nationals comprise about 79% of the US employment-based green-card backlog, with EB-2 waits potentially reaching 179 years.
According to a policy brief by the National Foundation for American Policy, Indians now represent about 79% of the US employment-based green-card backlog, amounting to nearly one million people in the EB-2 and EB-3 categories. The overall backlog grew from roughly 1.05 million in April 2020 to 1.26 million by December 2025, a rise of about 20.6%. The August 2026 Visa Bulletin shows EB-2 as unavailable for Indian applicants, projecting a potential wait of 179 years, while EB-3 could require 38 years.
The backlog persists despite the issuance of roughly 980,000 employment-based green cards between fiscal 2020 and 2024, exceeding the statutory annual ceiling of 140,000. Constraints stem from the per-country limit of 7% and the high demand from skilled professionals. NFAP’s executive director Stuart Anderson emphasizes that the delays harm both individuals and U.S. employers, urging congressional action to modify immigration law.
Why it matters
The prolonged green-card delays threaten the ability of U.S. companies to retain skilled Indian talent and affect families living in uncertain status.
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