The National Foundation for American Policy reports a 1.26 million person backlog as of December 2025, with Indians comprising 79% in the top employment categories. New filers in January 2026 face 179 years for EB-2 advanced degrees, 38 years for EB-3, and 4-5 years for EB-1 due to the 7% per-country cap on 140,000 annual visas.
Many wait on extended H-1B visas while online reactions divide between concerns over fraud and impacts on U.S. workers and calls for reform to match workforce needs. Lawmakers like Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi are also tackling rising anti-South Asian sentiment.