Understanding EB-1 Timing 2025-2026 Across Countries

EB-1 timing 2025-2026 varies significantly depending on your country of birth. This is the single most important factor affecting your wait.

For professionals born in countries outside India and China, USCIS classifies you as Rest of World. This category remained current throughout the 2025 fiscal year. It continues current into 2026.

Current means no wait. File your I-140 petition. Get approval. Immediately file for adjustment of status or consular processing. No priority date backlog exists.

India faces severe retrogression. As of December 2025, the EB-1 India priority date sits at March 1, 2022. Anyone who filed their I-140 after that date must wait.

China shows similar but slightly better conditions. The EB-1 China priority date is November 1, 2022. Still a substantial wait, but approximately 8 months ahead of India.

These dates represent a cutoff. Only individuals with priority dates earlier than the published date can proceed with their green card applications.

EB-1 visa bulletin movement determines when your priority date becomes current. The Department of State publishes a new visa bulletin monthly, typically around the 8th to 15th of each month.

Movement is unpredictable. Some months advance several months. Other months show no movement at all. October bulletins, which start the new fiscal year, typically show the largest jumps.

Between October 2024 and December 2025, India moved from January 2022 to March 2022. That's only 2 months of advancement over 14 calendar months. The pace is slow.

Confused about your priority date timeline? Beyond Border can analyze visa bulletin trends and project your realistic wait time.

EB-1 Priority Date Wait Time Reality Check

EB-1 priority date wait time requires honest assessment. Many professionals underestimate how long they'll actually wait.

For Rest of World applicants, the wait is zero. Your priority date is established when USCIS receives your I-140. Since the category remains current, you can file your I-485 immediately after I-140 approval.

The total timeline from I-140 filing to green card for Rest of World is typically 12 to 18 months. This includes I-140 processing at 4 to 8 months and I-485 processing at 8 to 14 months.

India applicants face a 34 to 46 month priority date wait based on current December 2025 visa bulletin showing March 2022 dates. If you filed in January 2025, you're looking at a 3 to 4 year wait before even filing the I-485.

Add the I-140 processing time of 4 to 8 months and the I-485 processing of 8 to 14 months. Total timeline from starting your EB-1 petition to receiving your green card stretches to 4.5 to 6 years for India.

China applicants wait approximately 26 to 38 months for their priority date based on the November 2022 cutoff. Total timeline including I-140 and I-485 processing is around 3.5 to 5 years.

EB-1 India China backlog 2025 shows no signs of clearing quickly. Demand from both countries significantly exceeds the annual visa allocation of approximately 2,800 visas per country.

Historical patterns suggest India moves 10 to 15 months per year in EB-1. China moves slightly faster at 15 to 20 months annually. But these are rough estimates. Actual movement depends on demand and overall visa usage.

Planning matters. If you're considering EB-1 from India or China, file as early as possible. Priority date is everything. A few months earlier filing can translate to a year less waiting.

Need help establishing an early priority date? Beyond Border can evaluate your EB-1 eligibility and file quickly.

EB-1 vs PERM Timeline Comparison

EB-1 vs PERM timeline comparison reveals why EB-1 is strongly preferred when you qualify.

PERM labor certification is the first step for EB-2 and EB-3 employment-based green cards. This process requires the employer to prove no qualified US workers are available for the position.

The PERM process takes 12 to 24 months before you can even file the I-140. This includes 6 to 8 months for recruitment, advertising, and documentation, then another 6 to 8 months for the Department of Labor to adjudicate the application.

Only after PERM approval can the employer file your I-140. Then the priority date wait begins. For EB-2 India, this wait currently exceeds 12 years. For EB-2 China, it's 4 to 5 years. Even EB-2 Rest of World shows a 18 to 24 month wait as of late 2025.

Total PERM-based timeline for India applicants is 13 to 15 years. For China, it's 6 to 8 years. For Rest of World, it's 3 to 4 years.

EB-1 eliminates the PERM requirement entirely. You file directly with the I-140. No labor certification. No recruitment. No Department of Labor involvement.

For Rest of World EB-1 applicants, the timeline is just 12 to 18 months total. This represents a 2 to 3 year savings compared to PERM routes.

Even for India and China where EB-1 faces retrogression, the timeline of 4 to 6 years dramatically beats the PERM route at 13 to 15 years for India and 6 to 8 years for China.

The math is clear. If you qualify for EB-1, pursue it aggressively. The time savings are substantial regardless of your country of birth.

Exploring whether EB-1 or PERM is right for your situation? Beyond Border provides detailed timeline comparisons.

When Will EB-1 Priority Date Become Current

When will EB-1 priority date become current is the question every retrogressed applicant asks. Unfortunately, prediction is difficult.

Visa bulletin movement depends on visa usage. If fewer people use their allocated visas in a given month, the dates can jump forward. If demand surges, movement slows or stops.

October bulletins typically show the largest advancement. The new fiscal year brings fresh visa allocations. Unused visas from the previous year roll forward. This creates the momentum for bigger jumps.

Between October and December, movement usually continues at a moderate pace. January through September show smaller, more incremental advances.

For India, current movement suggests priority dates advance approximately 1 month per visa bulletin. At this pace, a January 2025 priority date won't become current until late 2028 or early 2029.

China moves slightly faster at roughly 1.5 months per bulletin. A January 2025 China priority date might become current in mid to late 2027.

These projections assume steady movement. Actual results vary. Surges in demand can stall movement for months. Unexpected drops in usage can create rapid advancement.

The only certainty is your priority date. Once established, it never changes unless you file a new petition. Earlier filing means earlier priority dates, which means earlier green cards.

Want to monitor your priority date status with expert guidance? Beyond Border tracks visa bulletins and provides monthly updates.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the EB-1 wait for Rest of World in 2025? EB-1 timing 2025-2026 for Rest of World shows zero priority date wait as the category remains current, allowing immediate I-485 filing after I-140 approval with a total timeline of 12 to 18 months to green card.

What is the current EB-1 priority date for India and China? EB-1 India China backlog 2025 shows India at March 1, 2022 and China at November 1, 2022 as of December 2025, creating approximately 34 to 46 month waits for India and 26 to 38 month waits for China.

How does EB-1 compare to PERM processing time? EB-1 vs PERM timeline shows EB-1 taking 12 to 18 months for Rest of World versus 3 to 4 years for PERM routes, with EB-1 bypassing the 12 to 24 month labor certification process entirely.

How fast do EB-1 priority dates move monthly? EB-1 visa bulletin movement shows India advancing approximately 1 month per bulletin and China moving 1.5 months per bulletin, with October fiscal year starts bringing the largest forward jumps of 3 to 6 months.