US EB-1 Visa Cap Reached for FY 2025: Approvals Paused Until October

The U.S. State Department has confirmed that the annual cap for the EB-1 immigrant visa category has already been reached for fiscal year 2025. Effective immediately, no new EB-1 immigrant visas can be issued, and pending adjustment of status cases cannot be approved until the next fiscal year starts on October 1, 2025.

This pause will remain in effect until September 30, when the 2025 fiscal year officially comes to a close. After that, a new allocation of EB-1 visas will be available for FY 2026.

What Is an EB-1 Visa?

The EB-1 visa is a U.S. green card option for highly skilled individuals, including top professionals, researchers, multinational executives, and those with exceptional talent in areas such as science, arts, business, or sports. It offers permanent residency.

U.S. EB-1 Visa Category Runs Out

The demand for employment-based immigrant visas has been increasing steadily for months. In its September Visa Bulletin, the State Department noted that limits in most categories would likely run out before the fiscal year ended. The EB-2 visa cap, for instance, was reached just last week.

With backlogs increasing, the EB-1 visa category, which is often used by multinational executives, outstanding professors, researchers, and individuals with extraordinary ability, has now also reached its limit.

What Applicants Should Expect

If you have filed an adjustment of status application under the EB-1 visa category and your case is current in the September Visa Bulletin, USCIS will accept your filing. However, your case cannot be approved until October, when new visa numbers are released.

Applicants scheduled for adjustment of status interviews should still attend. However, officers may decide to postpone some interviews or continue with the interview, but put the case on hold until the visa numbers reset. Either way, no EB-1 approvals can proceed until October 1, 2025.

Guidance for Employers and Foreign Nationals

• Continue Filing: Adjustment applications that remain current in the September Visa Bulletin should still be submitted.
• Expect Delays: Even if interviews are completed, final approval is not possible until visa numbers are replenished.
• Plan Ahead: Employers sponsoring EB-1 candidates should anticipate that processing will resume in October, but with continued heavy demand.

EB-2 Visa Also Hits Its Limit

Along with the EB-1 category, the EB-2 immigrant visa quota for FY 2025 is also exhausted. Applicants can still send in their filings, but no EB-2 approvals will be processed until October 1, when the new fiscal year starts.

Looking Ahead to FY 2026

The new fiscal year starts on October 1, 2025, when EB-1 visa numbers reset. At that point, USCIS and U.S. consulates abroad will start approving cases again.

However, the State Department has made it clear that high demand will not diminish any time soon. Applicants and employers should be ready for potential cutoffs or the early exhaustion of visa numbers in the coming year.