The U.S. Department of State has released the July 2026 Visa Bulletin, and the employment-based numbers confirm a continued year-end slowdown as demand outpaces the remaining supply of immigrant visas for fiscal year 2026.
Employment-based highlights. In the EB-1 (priority worker) category, China advances two months to June 1, 2023, while EB-1 India retrogresses two months to October 15, 2022. All other countries remain current for EB-1. In the EB-2 (advanced degree / exceptional ability) category, China holds at September 1, 2021, all other countries stay current — but EB-2 India is now unavailable for the remainder of fiscal year 2026 after the country reached its pro-rated annual limit. EB-3 and the family-sponsored categories saw only minor movement.
Why the retrogression. The State Department explains that heavy demand and immigrant-visa usage forced the EB-1 India retrogression, and it cautions that further retrogression or unavailability may be necessary before the fiscal year ends on September 30, 2026. Numbers typically reset and move forward again when the new fiscal year begins on October 1.
Which chart controls. For July 2026, USCIS confirmed it will use the Final Action Dates chart (not the Dates for Filing chart) to determine when employment-based adjustment-of-status applications may be approved. Applicants should confirm their priority date is current under that chart before expecting final action.
What it means for applicants. If your priority date had been current and you are from India in EB-1 or EB-2, the July bulletin may temporarily halt approvals — but an unavailable or retrogressed date does not affect a pending I-485 already filed; it only delays final adjudication. Applicants from all other countries in EB-1, EB-2, and most EB-3 categories remain current and can continue to expect timely processing. As always, monitor each monthly bulletin closely, since dates can shift in either direction.
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Source: Reddit r/USCIS