US green-card approvals for Indian tech workers plunge under Trump-era restrictions
Approval rates for the EB-1A green-card category have fallen sharply for Indian applicants, dropping to 35% in the first half of FY26, amid tighter immigration scrutiny by the Trump administration.
US immigration officials have sharply reduced the approval rate for the EB-1A green-card category, which targets individuals with extraordinary ability, bringing the rate for Indian applicants down to 35% in the first half of FY26 from 49.1% the previous year. Boundless Immigration, using USCIS data, reported that Indian filings fell from 14,250 petitions in FY25 with 6,993 approvals to 7,316 petitions in the first two quarters of FY26 with only 2,571 approvals and 1,131 denials.
The downturn hits technology workers hardest, followed by Chinese applicants, who together dominate EB-1A submissions. Immigration experts say the Trump administration’s stricter policy stance has raised the evidentiary standards, especially for criteria like leading roles and high salaries, without any change in the law or applicant quality. Attorneys note that many affected Indians are considering alternative visas such as EB-5 or relocating to Canada’s Global Talent Stream, the UK’s Global Talent visa, or returning to India. The shift reflects broader pressure on skilled-worker immigration, extending beyond H-1B visas to permanent-residence pathways.
Why it matters
The drop limits a key immigration route for Indian tech talent, affecting US labor markets and prompting shifts to other countries.
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