IRVING, Texas -
July 10, 2026 -
PRLog -- GCEB1, a green card consultancy specializing in EB-1A extraordinary ability petitions, has released a new analysis to help applicants understand what is actually driving the widely reported drop in EB-1A approval rates in FY 2026, and why the national statistic tells only part of the story.
USCIS data shows the EB-1A approval rate (https://gceb1.com/
the-real-truth-
behind-the-declining-
eb-1a-approval-
rate-in-fy-2026)
fell to 47.5% in Q1 FY2026, the lowest figure recorded in the category's history. According to GCEB1's analysis, the decline is concentrated almost entirely in self-petitioned, merit-based categories, where officers independently judge an applicant's standing. Moreover, the decline appears to be occurring specifically at the discretionary "final merits determination"
stage of USCIS's two-step Kazarian framework, rather than at the threshold criteria stage. A sharp rise in filings and a growing case backlog have also contributed to the decline, the analysis suggests.
"A national approval percentage is a blended average of thousands of cases with very different quality and strategy behind them. It is not a prediction for any individual case," said a GCEB1 spokesperson. "What consistently separates approvals from denials right now is independent evidence, a cohesive narrative, and a small number of criteria backed by strong documentation."
GCEB1 encourages prospective applicants not to be discouraged by the headline figure and instead to focus on building a well-documented, strategically constructed petition well ahead of filing. Their EB-1A consultants also urge the candidates not to lose hope, based on the average nature of the statistics. Since there is no average Joe among the EB-1A green card profiles, each individual's case is unique.
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