The U.S. Department of State, in collaboration with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), has officially announced that the maximum number of visas in the Employment-Based First Preference (EB-1) category has been issued for the fiscal year 2024. This achievement is significant as it supports the lawful entry of individuals with extraordinary abilities, internationally recognized achievements, exceptional professors and researchers, and top-tier multinational executives and managers—people whose contributions have a profound impact on the U.S. economy across various sectors.
Under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), the number of employment-based immigrant visas is capped annually. Specifically, INA 203(b)(1) dictates that the EB-1 category is allocated 28.6 percent of the total worldwide employment-based visa limit.
With the issuance of all available EB-1 visas for FY 2024, U.S. embassies and consulates will no longer process visas in this category for the remainder of the fiscal year. The next opportunity for issuing EB-1 visas will begin on October 1, 2024, with the start of fiscal year 2025, when the annual visa limits reset and processing for eligible applicants resumes.
