In the first quarter of fiscal year 2025, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) approved 610 I-140 petitions for employment-based green cards for Nepali applicants. According to USCIS, the majority of these approvals fell under the Employment-Based Third Preference (EB-3) category, which caters to skilled workers, professionals, and unskilled workers.
Breaking down the approvals, 26 Nepali applicants secured EB-1 petitions, which are reserved for individuals with extraordinary abilities and do not require employer sponsorship. The EB-2 category, targeting those with advanced degrees or exceptional abilities, saw 107 approvals, including some under the National Interest Waiver, which similarly waives the need for a job offer.
The EB-3 category dominated with 477 approvals, comprising 194 skilled workers, 123 professionals with bachelor’s degrees, and 160 unskilled workers. During this period, 1,052 Nepali applicants submitted I-140 petitions, with 41 in EB-1, 257 in EB-2, and 754 in EB-3.
It’s important to note that the approval of an I-140 petition is only one step in the green card process and does not guarantee permanent residency. Applicants within the U.S. must file an I-485 Application to Adjust Status, while those abroad must submit a DS-260 form through the National Visa Center and attend an immigrant visa interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate. However, many Nepali applicants have faced challenges, with reports of visa denials during consular interviews due to rigorous scrutiny or documentation issues.
The U.S. Department of State’s May 2025 Visa Bulletin indicates stagnation in priority dates for EB-2 and EB-3 categories, as USCIS has opted to use the “Final Action Date” rather than the “Date for Filing” for green card applications. This decision has prolonged wait times for applicants.
For EB-1, the priority date remains “current,” allowing immediate I-485 filings or visa interviews, although consular backlogs delay interviews for those abroad. EB-2 applicants with priority dates before June 22, 2023, and EB-3 skilled/professional applicants with labor certifications filed before January 1, 2023, can file I-485 or attend visa interviews in May 2025. For EB-3 unskilled workers, those with labor certifications filed before May 22, 2021, are eligible for similar steps.
The Employment-Based Fourth Preference (EB-4) category, which includes special immigrants and religious workers, faces significant constraints. The U.S. Department of State announced that the annual EB-4 visa limit, approximately 9,940 visas (7.1% of the 140,000 total employment-based visas), was reached within the first five months of fiscal year 2025. As a result, no further EB-4 visas or green cards will be issued until the new fiscal year begins on October 1, 2025.
This early exhaustion, compared to the previous year’s limit being reached in August, underscores the high demand. Notably, foreign employees affected by the Trump administration’s dissolution of USAID have been advised to apply for EB-4 special immigrant visas, though the process can take up to six years, adding complexity to their immigration prospects.
Kishor Panthi
View More PostsKishor Panthi is the founder and editor-in-chief of Khasokhas and NepYork. He is the author of three books, “Kampan,” "UNTRANSLATABLE" and “Zero Mile.” He writes about social issues, immigration, and politics.
