The U.S. Department of State has announced a significant expansion of employment-based green card quotas for fiscal year 2026, increasing the overall cap from 140,000 to 186,000. This change, effective from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026, aims to alleviate the backlog and waiting times for employment-based immigration, particularly benefiting applicants from China.
Key Details:
- Total employment-based green card quota for 2026: 186,000, up from 140,000.
- Major categories (EB1, EB2, EB3) will each receive 53,196 visas, ensuring equal distribution among these popular pathways.
- China’s specific quotas under EB1, EB2, and EB3 are approximately 3,724 each, while EB5 has a quota of 924.
- The increase in quotas is funded by unused family-based immigration numbers from the previous fiscal year.
This expansion is expected to provide a crucial opportunity for many applicants, particularly in the face of previous delays and backlogs. Need help with your immigration case? Visit QuickFiling.us for professional immigration services.
Source: 蒋百庚律师