The July 2026 Visa Bulletin has been released.
The U.S. Department of State has retrogressed EB-1 India for the second consecutive month, now back to October 15, 2022. Additionally, EB-2 India is unavailable for the remainder of the fiscal year as India’s pro-rated EB-2 limit has been reached. These changes reflect ongoing demand against per-country limits that are running low ahead of the October fiscal year reset.
The rest of the chart shows more stability:
- EB-1 China advances two months to June 1, 2023
- EB-3 China increases by about four and a half months to December 22, 2021
- EB-3 India moves forward roughly two weeks to January 1, 2014
- EB-2 China and EB-3 Philippines remain steady
- EB-1 and EB-2 are Current for all countries except China and India.
Two operational notes are particularly important:
- If you are affected by EB-2 India, please note that USCIS will accept employment-based adjustment-of-status filings in July under the Final Action Dates chart (Chart A), not the Dates for Filing.
- The Dates for Filing chart indicates EB-2 India at January 15, 2015, but this chart does not apply this month. Under Chart A, EB-2 India is Unavailable, meaning no EB-2 India adjustment applications can be submitted in July, regardless of priority date.
If your category is current under Chart A, the window is open now.
The Department of State has indicated that further retrogression or unavailability may occur for EB-1 India, EB-2 China, and EB-3 Philippines before September 30.
If you are eligible to file under Chart A, we encourage you to reach out to your USILAW team to initiate the process as soon as possible.
Action Items for Global Mobility & Immigration teams:
Reassure your EB-2 India employees. “Unavailable” is not a denial, and it does not cost anyone their place in line. It means the category has reached its annual limit and no further numbers will be issued until the new fiscal year begins in October. Pending I-140s and priority dates are unaffected. What pauses are final-action adjudication and new adjustment-of-status filings in the category. A short, proactive note now heads off a wave of anxious questions later.
Review your EB-3 portfolios. With EB-3 for the rest of the world now current to August 1, 2024, a number of your more recent filings have moved into the final stretch toward approval. Pull the report, flag anyone whose priority date is now current, and confirm their adjustment-of-status paperwork is ready to move.
To schedule a case review, contact your USILAW attorney directly or reach us at: