The U.S. Department of State, in coordination with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), has announced that the EB-3 and EW (Other Workers) employment-based green card categories have reached their annual limits for fiscal year 2025. This development follows earlier notifications that EB-1 and EB-2 categories had also exhausted their allocations for the year.
As a result, U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide will not issue additional EB-3 or EW visas until the start of the next fiscal year on October 1, 2025, when the visa quota resets and new numbers are released.
Understanding EB-3 and EW Allocations
The EB-3 category is one of the five employment-based green card preference categories and accounts for 28.6% of the total annual employment-based visa allocation. It covers skilled workers, professionals, and other qualified workers, along with any visa numbers left unused by the EB-1 and EB-2 categories.
Within EB-3, the EW (Other Workers) subcategory is specifically designated for positions requiring less than two years of training or experience. The EW category is subject to a separate annual cap of 10,000 visas, making it one of the most competitive subcategories.
Impact on Indian Applicants
Indian nationals are expected to face additional delays due to this development. The September 2025 Visa Bulletin shows no advancement in final action dates for EB-3 India, which remain stalled at May 22, 2013. This means that only applicants with priority dates earlier than this can proceed with final processing.
The backlog for Indian applicants has been particularly severe due to sustained demand and per-country visa limits. While EB-5 investor-category applicants from India saw significant movement in recent months, employment-based categories like EB-3 and EW remain heavily retrogressed.
This latest pause underscores the ongoing challenges faced by Indian professionals seeking permanent residency in the United States. With EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 categories all having reached their caps this year, applicants are advised to closely monitor upcoming Visa Bulletins and prepare for renewed processing opportunities after October 1, 2025.
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