US green card approvals drop 35%, Indians hit hardest

US green card approvals have fallen 35%, with Indian applicants facing the steepest impact, according to Economic Times. Data from Boundless Immigration, based on USCIS filings, show the approval rate for EB-1A green cards for Indians dropped to 35% in the first two quarters of fiscal 2026, down from 49.1% in fiscal 2025. The decline is most pronounced among Indian technology workers, followed by Chinese applicants, who file the largest EB-1A volumes.

Immigration experts attribute the drop to tighter policies under the Trump administration. Joel Yanovich, Senior Attorney at Ganey Law Group, said adjudicators are demanding an "unreasonably high bar" despite no change in the law. Boundless CEO Xiao Wang noted that meeting three of the ten USCIS criteria is no longer sufficient, and strong evidence in categories such as leading roles and high salaries is now considered baseline. Immigration attorney Rajiv Khanna said adjudications have become "extremely difficult" despite courts questioning the methodology.

With backlogs for EB-2 and EB-3 visas stretching up to 15 years, Indian nationals are exploring alternatives including the EB-1C manager route, the EB-5 investment-based route, and relocation to Canada or the UK. Experts warn that unless policy shifts, extraordinary-skilled workers, especially Indians, will continue to face hurdles in securing permanent residence in the US.