By: Mary Campell

Washington, D.C. — In a development that is set to strain immigration timelines further, the U.S. Department of State has announced a temporary suspension in the issuance of EB‑2 employment‑based green cards through September 30, 2025. The moratorium, which takes effect immediately, is attributable to the exhaustion of the annual visa quota for fiscal year 2025.

Why This Matters

The EB‑2 category—designed for individuals with advanced degrees or exceptional abilities—is particularly popular among skilled professionals in technology, medicine, and academia. Due to per‑country visa limits, applicants from India already face significantly longer waits compared to those from many other countries. The sudden halt compounds existing delays, with the backlog expected to grow more severe.

According to immigration experts, once the fiscal year ends on September 30, the EB‑2 category will reopen on October 1, 2025. At that point, visa issuance can resume, contingent on availability of quotas and priority dates.

Impact on Indian Nationals

India, which often experiences some of the longest wait times in the EB‑2 and EB‑3 categories due to high demand and limited per‑country allocations, is among the hardest hit. The additional halt only delays applicants whose priority dates are finally approaching eligibility, exacerbating emotional and practical hardships for families and professionals awaiting green cards.

Broader Immigration Context

This halt is part of broader immigration bottlenecks affecting various visa categories. For instance, religious workers (EB‑4 category) continue to face backlogs after policy changes in 2023 added abused minors to the same visa queue, creating bottlenecks and sparking legislative efforts to alleviate the burden.

What’s Next

– Reopening Timeline: Visa processing for EB‑2 will restart on October 1, 2025, when the new fiscal year begins.
– No Increase in Quota: The halt reflects capacity limits, not policy changes—or expansions. Without additional visas or legislative reform, the EB‑2 backlog is likely to persist.
– Advocacy and Law: Immigration advocates may push for reforms like the Fairness for High‑Skilled Immigrants Act, which aims to eliminate per‑country limits in employment‑based visas. However, legislative progress remains uncertain.

In Summary

The EB‑2 green card freeze underscores the strain on America’s employment‑based immigration system, especially for applicants from visa‑backlogged countries like India. While the postponement is temporary, its ripple effects on professionals, families, and employers are likely to be profound—and reminders persist that deeper reforms remain vital to ease systemic delays.

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