USCIS Employment-Based Adjustment of Status Inventory Reaches 210,835 Cases as of March 2026
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released its March 2026 employment-based adjustment of status inventory report, providing an updated snapshot of pending Form I-485 applications in the employment-based (EB) green card categories. As reflected in the official agency data, there are 210,835 pending employment-based adjustment applications across all preference categories and countries of chargeability as of early March 2026.
The inventory offers employers, foreign nationals, and legal practitioners a data-driven look at the size and composition of the green card pipeline and serves as a reference point for monitoring priority date movement and visa number demand throughout the fiscal year.
Overall Pending Inventory and Distribution
The total pending figure of 210,835 cases includes applicants from all countries and preference categories. The “Rest of the World” grouping accounts for 104,686 of those cases, representing countries not separately listed in the report.
When reviewing individual country backlogs, India represents the largest country-specific share of pending employment-based adjustment cases. India accounts for approximately 34 percent of the total global pending inventory. China has the second-largest country-specific backlog, with 26,124 pending applications reflected in the March 2026 data.
These figures underscore the continued concentration of employment-based green card demand among high-volume countries that are subject to per-country numerical limits under U.S. immigration law.
EB-2 Holds the Largest Share of Pending Cases
The March 2026 inventory indicates that the Employment-Based Second Preference (EB-2) category represents the largest portion of the pending caseload. EB-2 accounts for roughly one-third of all pending employment-based adjustment applications.
The EB-1 category follows closely, with 62,178 pending cases, while EB-3 reflects 34,021 pending applications. Together, EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 comprise the vast majority of the employment-based adjustment inventory.
Because each preference category is subject to annual numerical limits and per-country caps under the Immigration and Nationality Act, the distribution across these categories directly impacts visa availability and the movement of priority dates in the Department of State’s monthly Visa Bulletin.
Practical Implications for Applicants and Employers
The size of the pending inventory plays a significant role in shaping green card timelines. A high concentration of demand in certain categories or from specific countries can contribute to retrogression or slower priority date advancement when visa numbers are limited.
For Indian nationals in EB-2 and EB-3 in particular, the data reflects sustained demand and continued pressure on available immigrant visa numbers. Employers sponsoring foreign national workers may use this information to better understand potential adjustment timelines, workforce planning considerations, and long-term retention strategies.
Similarly, applicants tracking priority dates may view the inventory as an indicator of overall case volume within their category and country. While the inventory report does not determine future Visa Bulletin movement, it provides a reference for assessing how many cases remain in the pipeline awaiting visa number availability.
Relationship to Visa Bulletin and Future Updates
The inventory figures represent pending cases at a specific point in time and should be reviewed in conjunction with future Visa Bulletin releases and any operational updates from USCIS. Inventory levels may fluctuate due to approvals, denials, visa number availability, interfiling between categories, or newly filed cases.
Because employment-based immigrant visas are allocated on an annual basis and governed by statutory caps, shifts in demand across categories and countries can influence how quickly visa numbers are used during the fiscal year.
Immigration Professional Association will continue monitoring USCIS inventory reports and related operational developments to assess their impact on employers, foreign nationals, and the broader employment-based immigration system.
