Imagine waiting patiently for years to secure your U.S. green card under the EB-4 visa category.

You’ve meticulously filed all required paperwork, followed every regulation, and maintained hope throughout the process only to receive the devastating news that the U.S. government has suspended all EB-4 visa processing for the entire 2025 fiscal year.

If you were planning to immigrate under the Employment-Based Fourth Preference (EB-4) category this year, the recent announcement from the U.S. Department of State may have upset your plans.

But this is also a crucial moment to explore better, faster, and more strategic options. At VeriPass, we help high-achieving Indian professionals shift course and find the immigration pathway best aligned with their long-term goals.

Understanding the EB-4 Visa Suspension

On March 22, 2025, the U.S. Department of State officially declared that the EB-4 visa cap had been reached for fiscal year 2025. This means that:

• No additional EB-4 green cards will be issued until October 1, 2025.
• Consular processing for EB-4 cases is paused.
• Adjustment of status (Form I-485) for EB-4 applicants is suspended for the remainder of the fiscal year.
• Applicants from India and other high-demand countries must wait until FY 2026 to continue with their applications.

The EB-4 visa category is primarily intended for special immigrants, including religious workers, certain international employees of the U.S. government, juveniles granted court protection, and a few other niche groups.

For Indian applicants, this news further complicates an already existing US immigration challenges.

Why the EB-4 Suspension Matters for Indian Nationals

The employment-based green card system allots a fixed percentage of visas to each preference category.

The EB-4 category receives only 7.1% of the total annual employment-based green card quota.

Demand has now exceeded availability, especially from countries like India, where the backlog in other categories (EB-2 and EB-3) is already severe.

In past years, the EB-4 visa served as a workaround for certain qualified Indian applicants who didn’t meet the more stringent EB-1A or EB-2 NIW requirements.

Now, with EB-4 access temporarily closed, it’s time to explore superior alternatives, especially for professionals with advanced degrees, a history of innovation, or demonstrated national interest impact.

Who Qualifies for the EB-4 Visa?

To clarify, the EB-4 green card is not intended for the general population of skilled workers or professionals. Eligibility is limited to:

• Religious workers
• Broadcasters working for international U.S. media
• Special Immigrant Juveniles (SIJs)
• Certain current or former employees of the U.S. government abroad
• Armed forces members
• Panama Canal Zone employees
• Physicians licensed in the U.S. before 1978
• Retired NATO or G-4 international organization employees
• S non-immigrants (criminal/terrorist informants)

For most Indian professionals—especially those in tech, academia, medicine, or entrepreneurship—the EB-4 pathway is either inapplicable or no longer viable due to the current suspension.

Consequences of EB-4 Suspension for Indian Applicants

This suspension creates several immediate challenges:

1. No new EB-4 green cards will be issued until at least October 1, 2025, when the 2026 fiscal year begins and new visa numbers become available.
2. U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide have been instructed to cease all EB-4 visa processing immediately. This means even applicants who had already scheduled interviews or were mid-process will see their applications put on hold indefinitely.
3. The suspension will inevitably lead to increased processing backlogs. When the EB-4 category reopens in October 2025, the accumulated demand from the suspension period will likely result in longer wait times for all applicants.

This development is particularly distressing for Indian religious workers, many of whom have built their lives and careers in the U.S. while waiting for EB-4 visa approval. The sudden suspension leaves them in legal limbo regarding their work authorization and residency status.

What Does the EB-4 Suspension Mean for Processing Times?

The current suspension means that EB-4 processing times for India are effectively frozen until the start of FY 2026. The green card EB-4 timelines will now extend even further, as no adjudications or visa interviews will move forward during the cap closure.

This directly affects:

• Individuals applying for EB-4 through consular processing
• EB-4 I-140 petitioners awaiting I-485 adjustment of status
• H1B visa holders nearing max-out looking for green card solutions
• In effect, this puts a full stop on EB-4 options until October 1, 2025.
• EB-1, EB-2, and the India Green Card Backlog

The green card backlog for India continues to grow across all categories. As of April 2025, the EB-2 India prediction remains highly retrogressed.

Similarly, EB-3 India predictions for 2024 and 2025 reflect significant wait times and minimal forward movement. Even the once-favored EB-1 India category is no longer a guaranteed fast track, though it’s still considerably faster than EB-2 or EB-3.

These trends highlight the growing need for high-impact, self-petitionable green card strategies, such as the EB-1A Extraordinary Ability Visa and the EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW).

Rather than wait for the EB-4 category to reopen, high-achieving professionals from India should consider these strategic alternatives:

EB-1A Extraordinary Ability Visa

The EB-1A green card is ideal for individuals with a proven record of extraordinary ability in fields like science, technology, medicine, arts, or business. No employer sponsorship is required.

Key EB-1A criteria include:

• Original contributions of major significance
• Published scholarly articles
• High salary (EB1A high salary criteria)
• Media coverage (EB1A media coverage requirement)
• Awards or recognition
• Recommendation letters (EB1A reference letters)
• Citations of your work (EB1A citation requirement)

With EB1A concurrent filing available for some applicants, you may be able to file your I-140 and I-485 together, accelerating your path to a green card.

EB-2 NIW: National Interest Waiver

The EB-2 NIW green card allows individuals with advanced degrees or exceptional abilities to self-petition if their work is in the U.S. national interest. This is an excellent option for:

• Scientists and researchers
• Entrepreneurs and startup founders
• Physicians and public health professionals
• Engineers and technologists
• You do not need an employer, job offer, or PERM labor certification.

Key benefits:

• Fast processing for eligible candidates
• Flexible transition from H-1B to EB-2 NIW
• Highly favorable for those in critical sectors

At Veripass, we help clients assess H1B to EB2 NIW transitions, particularly if you are approaching H1B max out or managing complex family immigration timelines (e.g., H4 dependents aging out).

Transitioning from H1B to EB-1A or EB-2 NIW

Many Indian professionals currently on H1B visas face long-term uncertainty. If you are close to your six-year maximum stay, or if your priority date is stalled in EB-2 or EB-3, now is the time to assess your eligibility for EB-1A or EB-2 NIW.

Use tools like the H1B max out calculator and work with our team to structure a case that supports EB-1A I-140 premium processing, or EB2 NIW concurrent filing where applicable.

Why Work with VeriPass?

VeriPass offers a unique, expert-led immigration strategy service that stands apart from template-based providers and generic consultants. Here’s how we help:

• Credential-based eligibility reviews (no guesswork)
• Customized O-1 and EB-2 NIW profile building
• Transparent cost breakdowns (EB-2 filing fee, EB-2 cost, attorney fees, USCIS premium processing)
• Guidance aligned with the USCIS EB1A policy manual

The EB-4 green card suspension has removed a key immigration option for FY 2025. But for qualified Indian professionals, better options are still available—and many of them are faster, more reliable, and better suited to long-term goals.

If you want to explore O-1 or EB2 NIW visa or you want to understand your H1B to green card transition, or even build a high-impact immigration strategy that aligns with your career, VeriPass is here to help.

Schedule a one-on-one consultation with VeriPass and get a clear, actionable roadmap for your U.S. green card—starting today.