Hi everyone, looking for advice from anyone who has been in a similar situation.

Here’s my timeline:

STEM OPT application filed: May 7
Biometrics completed: June 13
Premium processing upgrade: August 17
Current employer end date: August 31
New employer’s planned start date: September 8

My STEM OPT extension is still pending. I have a few questions:

1. Can I change employers while my STEM OPT application is still pending?

2. With premium processing, how long did it take you to receive a decision after upgrading?

3. Would it be okay to join the new employer on September 8 while the application is still pending, assuming all STEM OPT employer requirements are met?

4. Or would it be safer to ask the new employer to keep/move the start date until after the STEM OPT extension is approved?

Would really appreciate hearing about recent experiences, especially from anyone who upgraded a pending STEM OPT application to premium processing.

Hi everyone,

I’m from India, and my EB1B petition was approved in mid-2025. Given the current visa bulletin trends, I’m not very optimistic that my priority date will become current anytime in the next few years.

The challenge is that I feel stuck in my current job. There aren’t many opportunities for growth, and I’m considering changing employers. However, I’m worried about how that would affect my green card process.

Has anyone here changed jobs after getting an EB1B approval? If so:
Were you able to get another EB1B petition approved with your new employer?
How difficult was the process?
Did it significantly delay your green card timeline?
I’m also wondering if there are any other options I should consider in this situation.
I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has been through something similar or has experience with this. Thanks!

As of September 2025:

Approved EB-1 I-140s (Indian-born) awaiting I-485: 20,592

Assumed derivative ratio: 2.5 (Higher for India, EB1C effect)

Total estimated demand: 20,592 × 2.5 = 51,480 (~52K)

FY 2026

EB-1 supply: 53,196
ROW usage: ~32K (estimates)
China usage: ~6K (estimates)
Available to India: ~15K
Remaining inventory: ~38K

FY 2027

Assuming FY 2025-like spillover plus ~30K additional spillover from bans/pauses:

EB-1 supply: ~62K
ROW usage: ~32K
China usage: ~6K
Available to India: ~24K
Remaining inventory: ~12K

FY 2028

Assuming FY 2025-like spillover plus, all bans and pauses lifted.

EB-1 supply: ~53K
ROW usage: ~32K
China usage: ~6K
Available to India: ~15K
Remaining inventory: ~0

September 2025 inventory might be completed at the end of FY 2028 or October 2028.

Biggest Unknowns:

EB2/EB3 → EB1 porting
EB1C derivative ratios (often 3–5)
Future spillovers
ROW and China demand

Conclusion:

This is a rough FAD projection.
Based on these assumptions, EB-1 India September 2025 PDs could become current around FY 2028, plus or minus a year. I err on the side of plus.

Based on 46,000 family-based visas have spilled over to the employment-based visa categories for FY2026.

The ~46K spillover from Oct 2024–Sep 2025 led to ~323 days of EB1 India movement by Jan 2026. Since then (including small forwards and one retrogression), net FAD movement is ~303 days.

If we assume a similar ~46K spillover for 2026 and comparable demand, is it reasonable to expect ~300 days forward movement by Jan 2027 (bringing EB1 India FAD to ~Oct 2023)?

Now adding the impact of 2026 country restrictions (39-country ban + 75-country pause), average of most estimates is ~30K spillover (~200 days movement under similar assumptions).

If we combine both (~46K + ~30K), could EB1 India see ~500 days total forward movement (FAD reaching ~April 2024)?

Currently, EB1 India FAD is ~1264 days behind, and reaching “current” would require ~190K spillover.

What am I missing here? How flawed are these assumptions?