The U.S. Department of State has released the July 2026 Visa Bulletin, and for the third consecutive month USCIS confirmed it will accept employment-based adjustment-of-status applications using the more restrictive Final Action Dates chart. The bulletin brings a mix of modest forward movement and painful retrogression for the most oversubscribed categories.
The headline for Indian applicants is stark: EB-2 India is now Unavailable, and the State Department has stated that both EB-2 India and EB-5 India will remain unavailable for the remainder of fiscal year 2026. The category hit its pro-rated annual limit because of exceptionally high demand and number use, so no EB-2 India final action dates will be authorized until the new fiscal year begins in October 2026.
EB-1 (First Preference): China advanced two months to June 1, 2023, but India retrogressed two months, from December 15, 2022 back to October 15, 2022. EB-1 remains Current for the Rest of the World, Mexico, and the Philippines.
EB-2 (Second Preference): China held steady at September 1, 2021. India is Unavailable. All other countries, including the Rest of the World, remain Current.
EB-3 (Professionals and Skilled Workers): This category saw the most positive movement. China advanced roughly five months to December 22, 2021, India advanced two weeks to January 1, 2014, and the Rest of the World moved forward two months to August 1, 2024.
For NIW and EB-2 petitioners chargeable to India, the practical takeaway is to lock in your priority date now by ensuring your I-140 is on file, and to seriously evaluate a parallel EB-1A strategy where your record supports it. Because Rest-of-World EB-2 and EB-1 remain Current, applicants from most countries can continue to file adjustment of status without waiting on a cut-off date. Always confirm your exact priority date against the official bulletin before filing.
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