Definition
The per-country cap is the annual ceiling on family and employment-based preference immigration visas (green cards) allocated to nationals of any single nation. These limits are recalculated each year, based on the on the total visa inventory across both family and employment preference categories.
- Independent nations are subject to a 7% cap of available visas.
- Territories and dependencies are restricted to 2% of the total allocation.
These quotas represent upper boundaries rather than guaranteed entitlements. No nation has a right to receive the full allowable amount, only assurance it won’t exceed that threshold. Due to how preference categories interact with nationality-based restrictions, most countries are issued fewer visas than their theoretical cap would allow.
How the Per-Country Cap Impacts Professional and Investor Visas
The per-country cap impacts wait times and availability for employment-based immigrant categories such as the EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver), EB-1A (Extraordinary Ability), and EB-5 (Investor Program).
Applicants from high-demand countries may experience longer backlogs, even if they qualify in a high-preference classification like the EB-1A or EB-2 NIW. In contrast, nonimmigrant (temporary) work visas and are not subject to per-country immigrant visa caps and can be a stepping stone to an employment-based green card later.
