New USCIS data from Q2 of FY 2026 shows a challenging approval landscape for applicants pursuing EB-1A extraordinary ability and EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) green cards. In the second quarter of fiscal year 2026, the EB-1A approval rate fell to just 41.7%, down from 47.4% in the previous quarter. Meanwhile, the EB-2 NIW approval rate increased to 48.1%, but denials still slightly outnumbered approvals.
By comparison, O-1 petitions continued to see approval rates above 90% in both quarters.
USCIS Approval and Denial Rates: FY2026 Q1 vs. Q2
|
Category |
FY2026 Q1 Approval |
FY2026 Q2 Approval |
|
O-1 |
91.0% |
91.2% |
|
EB-1A |
47.4% |
41.7% |
|
EB-2 NIW |
42.5% |
48.1% |
Approval and denial rates are calculated based on approved and denied cases reported for each category during the quarter.
EB-1A Green Card Approval Rate Drops Below 42%
One of the most significant movements between quarters is in the EB-1A category. The EB-1A approval rate dropped from 47.4% in FY2026 Q1 to 41.7% in Q2. This is a decline of approximately 5.7 percentage points.
In Q2, USCIS approved 1,723 EB-1A petitions while denying 2,405. That means that, among cases with a reported approval or denial outcome during the quarter, more EB-1A petitions were denied than approved. This demonstrates the increased scrutiny of USCIS under the current administration for extraordinary ability green card cases, along with the importance of experienced representation for a favorable outcome.
EB-2 NIW Green Card Approval Rate Improves, But Denials Still Lead
The EB-2 NIW category showed some relief for applicants in Q2. The approval rate increased from 42.5% in Q1 to 48.1% in Q2, an improvement of 5.6 percentage points. That being said, the approval rate remained below 50%.
USCIS approved 3,042 EB-2 NIW petitions in Q2 and denied 3,283. Thus, denials continued to slightly outpace approvals.
For prospective NIW applicants, these numbers highlight the importance of presenting a well-supported case that addresses both EB-2 eligibility and the requirements for a national interest waiver.
O-1 Approval Rates Remain High
The O-1 numbers provide an interesting point of comparison. O-1 petitions had an approval rate of 91.0% in Q1 and 91.2% in Q2, meaning the approval rate remained remarkably steady from one quarter to the next. In Q2, USCIS approved 6,915 O-1 petitions and denied 668.
However, the O-1 is a nonimmigrant classification, while EB-1A and EB-2 NIW are immigrant classifications, which face increased scrutiny.
