business β³ US Green Card wait times could hit 179 years for Indians
A NFAP analysis shows Indian professionals face massive Green Card waits due to the 7% country cap. For those applying in January 2026 or later, EB-2 could mean a 179-year wait, while EB-3 is estimated at 38 years. Nearly one million Indian nationals are stuck in this employment-based backlog, representing about 79% of total applicants. An immigration lawyer noted H-1B extensions offer some relief post-I-140 approval. System 'blips' and employer change freedom offer slight hope for shorter timelines.