The U.S. Department of State has released the July 2026 Visa Bulletin, and it brings significant setbacks for employment-based green card applicants from India, alongside continued good news for spouses and children of permanent residents.
Employment-Based: India Bears the Brunt
The headline change is that EB-2 (Advanced Degree professionals) for India is now UNAVAILABLE for the remainder of fiscal year 2026. India’s pro-rated annual limit has been exhausted, closing the category until it is expected to recover in the October 2026 bulletin (the start of FY 2027).
EB-1 (Priority Workers) for India also retrogressed, with the Final Action Date moving back to June 1, 2023 and the Date for Filing at December 1, 2023. The State Department cited high demand and heavy number use by applicants chargeable to India as the reason for pulling the date back to stay within annual limits. EB-5 unreserved (Investment) for India is likewise unavailable for the rest of FY 2026.
EB-2 China holds at a September 1, 2021 Final Action Date but is flagged as at risk of retrogression due to increased demand, and EB-3 Philippines may also retrogress.
Family-Sponsored: F2A Stays Current
There is relief for families: the F2A category (spouses and minor children of green card holders) remains current (“C”) for all countries, meaning those applicants can file regardless of priority date. Longstanding backlogs persist elsewhere, including F1 Mexico (Nov 2007) and F4 Philippines (Aug 2007).
What It Means
For Indian-born advanced-degree professionals, the EB-2 closure underscores the value of exploring EB-1A (extraordinary ability) and EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) strategies, which are self-petitioned and not employer-dependent. Researchers with strong publication and citation records often qualify for these categories without realizing it. Always confirm your priority date against the official bulletin before acting.
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