By Country / Country guides
Born in China: a long but moving queue
Chinese-born applicants face multi-year waits in EB-2 and EB-3, shorter than India's but far longer than the rest of the world. Categories, EB-5 and dual nationality.
Applicants born in mainland China face the second-longest employment queues after India.
The numbers
NFAP’s analysis of December 2025 data puts about 128,000 Chinese-born people in the employment-based backlog. Projected waits for a new 2026 filer:
| Category | Projected wait |
|---|---|
| EB-1 | about 5 years |
| EB-2 | up to 25 years |
| EB-3 | up to 7 years |
In the September 2026 Visa Bulletin, EB-2 China’s final action date was September 1, 2021 and EB-3 China’s was January 1, 2022.
Note: the per-country limit is by country of birth. People born in Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan are charged to those places, not to mainland China.
Strategies people use
- EB-3 downgrade when EB-3 China is ahead. See upgrading and downgrading.
- EB-5 investment, especially set-aside categories. See EB-5.
- EB-1 for researchers and managers.
- Cross-chargeability through a spouse born elsewhere.
Citizenship later
China does not recognize dual nationality: naturalizing as a US citizen means losing Chinese nationality. Think through property, family and travel implications before you file the N-400. See becoming a citizen.
The good
- Queues move measurably each year
- EB-3 China has at times been ahead of EB-2 China
- EB-5 is a real option for many families
The hard
- NFAP projects up to 25 years for a new EB-2 filer
- China does not recognize dual nationality
- Consular processing and travel rules add uncertainty
Recent from immigration lawyers
From independent law firms, newest first. Not reviewed by h1b-life, not legal advice and not an endorsement.
- Can an Approved I-140 Still Help After the Employer Withdraws It?Murthy Law Firm · Nov 11, 2026
- My Child Aged Out of Our Employment-Based Green Card Case: What Now?Reddy Neumann Brown · Nov 11, 2026
- MurthyAudio: Tips for Proactive I-485 FilingsMurthy Law Firm · Nov 6, 2026
- Green Card Options: Does Your Company Do Research? The Green Card Option Most Employers OverlookReddy Neumann Brown · Nov 2, 2026
Sources
- Cato Institute: Employment-based immigration backlog exceeds 1.2 million people
- Badmus & Associates: September 2026 EB-2/EB-3 China dates
- USCIS: EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program
Rules change often. If something here looks out of date, it probably is; check the official source and talk to an immigration attorney about your own case.