Annual Limit Hit for Green Card Seekers With Exceptional Ability

An employment-based green card category for immigrants with advanced degrees or exceptional ability in their field has been exhausted for the current fiscal year, the State Department announced.

The EB-2 visa category is commonly used for occupations like software engineers, medical professionals, or university professors. It’s limited to 28.6% of total employment-based green cards available in a given year—typically 140,000 visas. That annual limit will reset beginning Oct. 1.

Employers must clear the permanent employment certification process through the US Department of Labor before petitioning for a worker. Immigrants who secure a national interest waiver based on abilities of ...