DX Brief:
- India’s EB-2 green card category is now closed for the rest of 2026 due to high demand — no new cases can move forward until October.
- EB-1 for India moved backward (retrogressed), slowing waits for many highly skilled applicants.
- EB-3 categories saw good forward movement for India, China, and most other countries.
- EB-5 (investor visas) for India also shut down for the rest of the year.
- Most other employment-based categories remain current or advanced slightly.
- Family-based categories had only minor changes.
These dates determine when green card applicants can file paperwork or receive visas. Backlogs remain heavy for applicants from India and China.
EB-2 India Now Unavailable for Rest of 2026 as Backlogs Shift
The U.S. Department of State issued the July 2026 Visa Bulletin, announcing significant changes to immigrant visa availability that affect thousands of applicants seeking employment-based green cards.
India’s EB-2 category became unavailable for the remainder of fiscal year 2026 due to high demand, while other categories saw movement forward or backward. The bulletin sets final action dates and filing dates for family-sponsored and employment-based preference cases for the month.
The monthly Visa Bulletin summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers during July. It provides “Final Action Dates” for when visas can be issued and “Dates for Filing Applications” for when applicants may submit documentation.
Key Changes in Employment-Based Categories
In the EB-1 category, India’s final action date retrogressed to October 15, 2022, from a prior date, due to high demand. China’s EB-1 cutoff advanced to June 1, 2023. The category remains current for all other countries.
India’s EB-2 category is now “U” (unavailable) for the rest of fiscal year 2026. China’s EB-2 cutoff stands at September 1, 2021, while the category remains current for other countries.
EB-3 saw advances in several areas. India’s cutoff moved to January 1, 2014. China’s advanced to December 22, 2021. The category for all other countries advanced to August 1, 2024. EB-3 Other Workers also saw movement, with India advancing to January 1, 2014.
The EB-5 unreserved category for India became unavailable. China’s unreserved cutoff advanced to December 1, 2016. The category remains current for other areas and set-asides.
USCIS announced it will use the Final Action Dates chart for employment-based adjustment of status filings in July.
Family-Sponsored Updates
Family-sponsored categories showed limited movement. F2A remains current for most, with specific dates for Mexico. F2B advanced in several chargeability areas.
The bulletin notes that per-country limits and annual caps continue to drive backlogs, particularly for applicants from India and China in employment categories.
The Department of State noted potential further retrogressions in the coming months for categories such as China EB-2 and the Philippines EB-3 if demand continues.
Immigration attorneys and applicants monitor the bulletin closely each month, as dates determine when petitions can advance to visa issuance or adjustment of status.
The full Visa Bulletin is available on the State Department’s website, with charts detailing dates by preference category and country.
