The U.S. Department of State has released the July 2026 Visa Bulletin, and for the third consecutive month all employment-based green card applicants must use the more conservative Final Action Dates chart when filing adjustment of status. The headline development is a hard stop for one of the largest applicant groups: India EB-2 is now listed as “Unavailable” for the remainder of fiscal year 2026, after India’s pro-rated annual limit in the category was reached.
Employment-based highlights (Final Action Dates):
- EB-2: India is Unavailable; China holds at September 1, 2021; and Rest of World, Mexico, and the Philippines remain Current.
- EB-3: India inches forward from December 15, 2013 to January 1, 2014; China advances from August 1, 2021 to December 22, 2021; Rest of World and Mexico move from June 1, 2024 to August 1, 2024; and the Philippines holds at August 1, 2023.
- EB-1: Remains current for most countries, with cutoff dates continuing to apply for China and India.
The practical takeaway is a tale of two trends. EB-3 applicants — including those from China and India — saw modest forward movement, while the EB-2 category experienced a significant setback for India-born applicants, who will be unable to obtain green numbers in the category until the new fiscal year begins on October 1, 2026. This kind of retrogression typically reflects high demand exhausting the per-country allotment late in the fiscal year.
For NIW and EB-2 petitioners from India, the unavailability is a reminder that an approved I-140 does not guarantee a current priority date. Applicants should confirm their priority date against the correct chart each month and prepare documentation in advance so they can file the moment a date becomes available. Always verify your category against the official bulletin, as Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing can differ.
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Source: Reddit r/USCIS