Key Facts

• The U.S. government will only use the more restrictive "Final Action Dates" chart in June to decide who can apply for employment-based green cards.
• This change means fewer people can submit applications now compared to previous months when a more flexible chart was used.
• Some immigrants who previously could apply from inside the U.S. may now need to leave and apply from abroad.
• The process called "adjustment of status" (applying for a green card while staying in the U.S.) is now considered an "extraordinary" step, not routine.
• Visa demand surpasses supply, causing stricter limits and longer wait times, especially for people from countries with many applicants.
• Earlier this year, some categories briefly had no delays, but the system moved back to stricter limits in June.
• Indian applicants in certain employment categories face tighter restrictions due to yearly visa caps being reached quickly.
• Family-based green card timelines are moving faster compared to employment-based categories, which are slowing down.