The Times of India reported that the U.S. Department of State has declared the EB-5 unreserved category for India unavailable for the remainder of FY2026, after the annual allocation was fully utilized. The article, written by Amisha Rajani, notes that applications from Indian nationals nearly doubled year over year, rising from 879 in FY2024 to 1,903 in FY2025, the sharpest single-year increase on record.
The piece notes that India stands apart from other major EB-5 applicant countries, as the majority of Indian applicants are adjusting status from within the U.S. rather than applying from abroad. Immigration experts attribute the surge largely to Indian professionals frustrated by years, and in some cases decades, of waiting under employment-based green card backlogs.
The article features CanAm’s Piyush Gupta, Vice President, India and Middle East, who notes that while the unreserved EB-5 categories remain backlogged, the set-aside categories for rural and high-unemployment projects remain current. He highlights two timelines investors must navigate: the September 30, 2026 grandfathering deadline for application protection, and the January 1, 2027 inflation adjustment that will increase the investment minimum from $800,000.
At CanAm, we have worked with Indian investors for years and understand the frustration of an indefinite employment-based queue. The EB-5 program, particularly through reserved categories, remains one of the most reliable options available for U.S.-based professionals seeking a defined timeline to a green card.
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CanAm Enterprises has guided more than 8,000 investors through the EB-5 process over more than 20 years, including many who have taken advantage of concurrent filing to protect their status and gain work authorization during the immigration process. With more than 5,900 I-526 petition approvals and more than 3,000 I-829 approvals, and 11 regional centers covering more than 30 U.S. states, we bring a record of results to every investor relationship we manage.
To speak with a member of our team, contact us at (212) 668-0690 or info@canamenterprises.com. Visit www.canamenterprises.com to learn more about our current EB-5 offerings.
