Annual H-1B and EB-2 Visa Numbers Highlight Intense Competition for U.S. Skilled Immigration

The United States continues to attract skilled professionals from around the world, but official visa numbers show that access to employment-based immigration remains highly limited despite growing global demand.

Each year, the U.S. government issues a maximum of 85,000 new H-1B visas, including 65,000 under the general category and an additional 20,000 reserved for applicants with advanced U.S. degrees. These visas allow employers to hire foreign professionals in specialty occupations such as technology, engineering, biotechnology, and finance.

Demand for the H-1B program far exceeds supply. In recent years, registrations have crossed 300,000 annually, forcing authorities to use a lottery system to select applicants. While the cap applies only to new visas, hundreds of thousands of workers remain in the U.S. through renewals and job transfers, which are not subject to the annual limit.

For permanent residency, the EB-2 green card category serves professionals with advanced degrees or exceptional ability. Employment-based green cards are capped at approximately 140,000 per year, with the EB-2 category receiving around 40,000 to 43,000 approvals annually. Due to high demand, especially from countries like India and China, long backlogs have formed, delaying permanent residency for many applicants.

Immigration experts say these figures underline the growing competition for legal work and residency pathways in the U.S. Employers and professionals are advised to plan applications early, understand the differences between temporary and permanent visa options, and prepare for lengthy waiting periods.

As debates around skilled immigration reform continue in 2026, these visa limits remain a key factor shaping the U.S. labor market and innovation landscape.