EB-1A approval rate and pending petitions
Form I-140, alien of extraordinary ability (class E11)
Data as of · Source: USCIS quarterly I-140 report · Sources checked
Approval rate, FY26 Q3
32.2%
Approved, FY26 Q3
1,348
Denied, FY26 Q3
2,832
Pending, FY26 Q3
28,874
How long does EB-1A take?
USCIS does not publish a national average time for EB-1A. With premium processing it must act within 15 business days; without it, the current time at your service center is in the USCIS Check Case Processing Times tool. The pending count below shows how many EB-1A petitions are waiting for a decision.
Premium processing for Form I-140
- EB-1A (E11): USCIS acts within 15 business days, fee $2,965 (on top of the filing fee)
- EB-1B (E12): USCIS acts within 15 business days, fee $2,965 (on top of the filing fee)
- EB-1C (E13): USCIS acts within 45 business days, fee $2,965 (on top of the filing fee)
"Acts" means an approval, a denial, or a request for evidence or notice of intent to deny; if USCIS misses the limit it refunds the premium fee. Sources: USCIS premium processing, Form G-1055 (Oct 7, 2026).
EB-1A is the extraordinary ability class of the first employment-based preference; applicants may file for themselves without an employer or a PERM labor certification. USCIS reports it as class E11 in its quarterly Form I-140 data. Decisions have shifted sharply: the approval rate went from 73.3% in FY2024 Q1 (Oct-Dec 2023) to 32.2% in FY2026 Q3 (Apr-Jun 2026), while pending EB-1A petitions grew from 8,088 to 28,874, the highest in our records.
New to priority dates? Read what a priority date is. For the regular (non-premium) time at your service center, use the USCIS Check Case Processing Times tool.
EB-1 sub-categories, FY2026 Q3 (Apr-Jun 2026)
| Class | Who | Received | Approved | Denied | Approval rate | Pending |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1A (E11) | Extraordinary ability (self-petition allowed) | 6,036 | 1,348 | 2,832 | 32.2% | 28,874 |
| EB-1B (E12) | Outstanding professor or researcher | 1,328 | 1,408 | 106 | 93.0% | 1,687 |
| EB-1C (E13) | Multinational executive or manager | 3,554 | 3,658 | 96 | 97.4% | 12,657 |
Approval rate by quarter
Approved ÷ (approved + denied) in each quarter.
Pending EB-1A petitions by quarter
After approval: EB-1 dates and backlog
Final action dates in the October 2026 Visa Bulletin and approved EB-1 petitions still waiting for a visa (June 2026).
| Country of birth | EB-1 final action date | Approved EB-1 petitions waiting |
|---|---|---|
| India | Feb 1, 2023 | 17,861 |
| China | Jul 1, 2023 | 14,101 |
| Mexico | Current | 0 (cutoff was current) |
| Philippines | Current | 0 (cutoff was current) |
| All other countries | Current | 0 (cutoff was current) |
Quarterly EB-1A data
| Quarter | Received | Approved | Denied | Approval rate | Pending |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 Q3 (Apr-Jun 2026) | 6,036 | 1,348 | 2,832 | 32.2% | 28,874 |
| FY2026 Q2 (Jan-Mar 2026) | 6,646 | 1,720 | 2,394 | 41.8% | 27,126 |
| FY2026 Q1 (Oct-Dec 2025) | 7,814 | 2,164 | 2,394 | 47.5% | 24,785 |
| FY2025 Q4 (Jul-Sep 2025) | 7,464 | 2,331 | 2,033 | 53.4% | 21,157 |
| FY2025 Q3 (Apr-Jun 2025) | 7,471 | 3,508 | 1,765 | 66.5% | 18,081 |
| FY2025 Q2 (Jan-Mar 2025) | 7,277 | 3,402 | 1,276 | 72.7% | 16,093 |
| FY2025 Q1 (Oct-Dec 2024) | 7,370 | 3,227 | 1,091 | 74.7% | 13,526 |
| FY2024 Q4 (Jul-Sep 2024) | 5,767 | 3,334 | 1,148 | 74.4% | 10,586 |
| FY2024 Q3 (Apr-Jun 2024) | 4,331 | 2,857 | 1,225 | 70.0% | 9,210 |
| FY2024 Q2 (Jan-Mar 2024) | 5,364 | 3,112 | 1,263 | 71.1% | 8,992 |
| FY2024 Q1 (Oct-Dec 2023) | 4,704 | 2,928 | 1,067 | 73.3% | 8,088 |
FAQ
What is the EB-1A approval rate?
In FY2026 Q3 (Apr-Jun 2026), USCIS approved 1,348 and denied 2,832 EB-1A (E11) I-140 petitions: 32.2% of decisions were approvals. In FY2024 Q1 (Oct-Dec 2023) it was 73.3%. These are shares of decisions in a quarter, not the chance for any single case.
How does EB-1A compare with EB-1B and EB-1C?
In the same quarter, outstanding professor and researcher (EB-1B) petitions had a 93.0% approval rate and multinational executive or manager (EB-1C) petitions 97.4%.
After EB-1A approval, how long is the wait for a green card?
After approval you need a visa number, which depends on your priority date (generally the date USCIS received your I-140) and your country of birth. In the October 2026 Visa Bulletin the EB-1 final action date was Feb 1, 2023, about 3.7 years before the bulletin month for India; Jul 1, 2023, about 3.3 years before the bulletin month for China; and current (no cutoff) for most other countries. Those gaps show how far behind the line is today; they do not predict future movement.
How long does an EB-1A I-140 take?
USCIS does not publish an average EB-1A processing time in its national reports; its Check Case Processing Times tool shows the time at the office handling your case. With premium processing, USCIS must act on an EB-1A petition within 15 business days for an extra $2,965.
Related
Source: USCIS, Form I-140 by Fiscal Year, Quarter and Case Status; U.S. Department of State, Visa Bulletin; USCIS approved EB petitions awaiting visa. Fiscal years start in October. USCIS revises earlier counts in later reports, so pending cases do not always equal last quarter's pending plus receipts minus decisions. Published counts only; not legal advice.