Is there a backlog for EB-1A?

In most cases, the EB-1A does not face a significant backlog. As the first preference category in employment-based immigration, it typically appears as ‘current’ in the visa bulletin, indicating there is no meaningful wait line for those who qualify in the category.

A backlog occurs when demand for a category exceeds the available visas in a given period, slowing down the queue. Because the EB-1A is highly selective, it tends to have more availability headroom. That said, this is not fixed: petition volume and immigration policies shift over time, and the picture is reassessed periodically.

• The EB-1A typically remains ‘current,’ with no significant queue.
• Availability can vary depending on demand and policy.
• The current status is shown in the official visa bulletin.

To confirm the situation before planning your timeline, monitor the visa bulletin from the Department of State and USCIS guidance, or speak with a specialist about your case.

About the author

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

As a journalist and lead editor at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps ensure that immigration topics are covered in a clear, trustworthy, and easy-to-understand way. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.