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Employment-based

Summary

EB-1 through EB-5 categories for workers and investors, tied to annual per-country numerical limits.

Latest updates and official context for Employment-based.

What this topic is

EB-1 through EB-5 categories for workers and investors, tied to annual per-country numerical limits.

Employment-based green cards are issued to priority workers (EB-1), advanced degree professionals (EB-2, including National Interest Waiver), skilled and other workers (EB-3), certain special immigrants (EB-4), and investors (EB-5). Most EB-2 and EB-3 cases require a PERM labor certification from the Department of Labor before USCIS will accept the I-140 immigrant petition.

The feed below lists dated items we have tagged for this topic. Informational only, not legal advice: confirm requirements on official government sites before you rely on anything here.

Activity · daily, last 90 days
3 indexed updates
Jan 19, 2026 → Apr 18, 2026 · 90 days
Policy climate · last 90 days
Tone of coverage
67% neutral33% favorable
Based on 3 indexed updates in the last 90 days

Last 90 days

What matters for Employment-based

Highest-signal items for Employment-based from roughly the last three months, when we have enough coverage (impact, open comments, fees, or processing shifts).

  • Published Fed. Register
    Open for commentsProposed rule
    Improving Wage Protections for the Temporary and Permanent Employment of Certain Foreign Nationals in the United States

    The Department of Labor is proposing new rules to strengthen wage protections for foreign workers on EB-2 and EB-3 employment-based green cards and certain temporary work visas obtained through the PERM labor certification process. The changes aim to ensure prevailing wages are…

    Public comments accepted through May 26, 2026.

  • Published State Dept
    Processing
    Annual Limit Reached in the EB-5 Unreserved Category

    The annual visa cap for the EB-5 immigrant investor green card category has been reached, meaning no additional EB-5 petitions can be approved under the unreserved visa allotment for the current fiscal year. Applicants who have not yet received approval should monitor future…

  • Published State Dept
    Annual Limit Reached in the EB-3 and EW Categories

    The EB-3 and EW (Employment-Based Third Preference and Exceptional Worker) green card categories have reached their annual numerical limits for the current fiscal year. This means no additional applicants can be approved under these categories until the next fiscal year begins.…

  • Published Fed. Register
    Open for comments
    Agency Information Collection Activities for Application for Prevailing Wage Determination; Comment Request

    The Department of Labor is seeking public comments on its information collection request for the Prevailing Wage Determination application (Forms ETA-9141), which is used in the PERM labor certification process for employment-based green cards. This administrative request covers…

    Public comments accepted through May 26, 2026.

  • Published Fed. Register
    Open for comments
    Agency Information Collection Activities; Revision of a Currently Approved Collection: Immigrant Petition for the Gold Card Program

    USCIS is seeking public feedback on changes to the paperwork and information collection process for the EB-5 Immigrant Investor (Gold Card) Program. The agency is updating how applicants submit and report information as part of the standard regulatory review process. Public…

    Public comments accepted through May 11, 2026.

  • Published State Dept
    Annual Limit Reached in the EB-1 Category

    The annual visa cap for the EB-1 category (employment-based first preference, covering individuals with extraordinary ability and certain researchers) has been reached for the current fiscal year. No further EB-1 petitions can be approved until the new fiscal year begins. This…

  • Published State Dept
    Annual Limit Reached in the EB-2 Category

    The annual visa cap for the EB-2 category (employment-based second preference, covering professionals with advanced degrees and skilled workers) has been exhausted for the current fiscal year. No further EB-2 petitions can be approved until the new fiscal year begins. This…

Updates

Latest updates

All items tagged for Employment-based, newest first. Open a row for the summary and source.

DATESUBTOPICTITLETONE
Apr 18EB-3Annual Limit Reached in the EB-3 and EW Categories
The EB-3 and EW (Employment-Based Third Preference and Exceptional Worker) green card categories have reached their annual numerical limits for the current fiscal year. This means no additional applicants can be approved under these…
High impact
State Dept
Neg
Apr 18EB-5Annual Limit Reached in the EB-5 Unreserved Category
The annual visa cap for the EB-5 immigrant investor green card category has been reached, meaning no additional EB-5 petitions can be approved under the unreserved visa allotment for the current fiscal year. Applicants who have not yet…
High impactProcessing
State Dept
Neg