Employment-Based Green Card Inventory Drops Significantly by October 2026

Employment-Based Green Card Inventory Sees Significant Drop

The number of pending employment-based Form I-485 applications has decreased substantially, according to recent analyses. By October 5, 2026, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) inventory showed approximately 225,000 pending applications. This represents a drop of about 41,000 cases in just over a month, compared to an earlier snapshot from September 3, 2026, which recorded around 266,000 pending applications.

These figures offer a glimpse into the processing of employment-based green cards, a critical pathway for foreign workers seeking permanent residency in the United States. While the exact number of applications is not precisely known due to withheld data for small cells, these estimates provide valuable insights for those navigating the immigration process.

Category Trends Show Mixed Movements

The overall decrease in the employment-based green card inventory does not tell the whole story, as different preference categories experienced varied changes between September and October 2026. While some categories saw an increase in pending applications, others, notably EB-3, experienced a decline.

EB-1 and EB-2 See Application Increases

The EB-1 category, which includes individuals with extraordinary ability, outstanding professors and researchers, and multinational managers or executives, saw its pending application count rise from 58,891 to 60,414. This amounts to an increase of 1,523 applications. Similarly, the EB-2 category, for professionals holding advanced degrees or those with exceptional ability, experienced a notable rise. Its pending applications grew from 78,452 to 83,380, an increase of 4,928 cases.

EB-3 Category Declines

In contrast, the EB-3 category, which is for skilled workers, professionals, and other workers, saw a decrease in its pending applications. The count dropped from 54,814 to 51,529, a reduction of 3,285 applications, representing an estimated 6% decline. This category is often a significant pathway for many workers, and its movement can impact a large number of applicants.

EB-5 Category Also Increases

The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, which provides green cards to foreign investors who invest in U.S. businesses, also saw an increase in its pending application numbers. The inventory for EB-5 rose from 23,341 to 24,906, an increase of 1,565 applications.

Factors Influencing Inventory Changes

Analysts suggest that several factors may have contributed to these shifts in the employment-based green card inventory. The end of the fiscal year in September and changes reflected in the first Visa Bulletin of fiscal year 2027 are cited as potential influences. The Visa Bulletin dictates when individuals can file their adjustment of status applications based on their priority dates.

USCIS utilized the Dates for Filing chart for employment-based cases in October 2026, a practice that continued into November 2026 with the allowance of Chart B. The distinction between Dates for Filing and Final Action Dates is important, as they serve different purposes in the green card application process. Applicants must verify which chart is applicable for the month they intend to submit their application.

Understanding the Inventory Data

The USCIS inventory report provides an estimate of pending employment-based adjustment applications broken down by preference category, country of chargeability, and priority date. It is important to note that each family member included in an application is counted separately. Therefore, a single household might account for multiple entries in the inventory.

This inventory count does not include individuals who are pursuing consular processing through the Department of State. It also excludes beneficiaries who have not yet filed an adjustment of status application, including those with approved I-140 petitions who are awaiting an available visa number. A separate USCIS count from June 2026 indicated that there were 856,662 approved employment-based petitions across all categories for which beneficiaries could not yet file.

The USCIS report replaces cells with a small number of applications (between 1 and 10) with the letter “D.” This practice means that the exact total number of applications cannot always be determined directly from the release. In the October snapshot, 367 applications were listed individually, while 51 cells were withheld.

Guidance for Applicants

The employment-based green card inventory can be a useful tool for applicants. It helps them estimate the number of pending applications with earlier priority dates within their specific category and country. However, it is not a definitive forecast for individual cases. Visa availability and personal case circumstances also play a significant role in determining when a case can proceed.

Before submitting an adjustment of status application, applicants should carefully compare their priority date with the applicable cutoff dates for their category and country as published in the USCIS Visa Bulletin. Checking the inventory for earlier-dated applications in the same category can provide further context. Understanding these dynamics is key to navigating the employment-based green card process effectively.

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