July 2026 Visa Bulletin: EB-2 India and EB-5 India Go Unavailable for Rest of FY2026

The Department of State released the July 2026 Visa Bulletin — and the warning from last month has become reality. EB-2 India is now Unavailable for the remainder of fiscal year 2026. EB-5 unreserved India has also gone Unavailable. Meanwhile, EB-1 India retrogresses another 2 months to October 15, 2022, and EB-3 India inches forward by only half a month.

USCIS confirmed it will use the Final Action Dates chart for employment-based I-485 filings and the Dates for Filing chart for family-based filings in July 2026.

Employment-Based Final Action Dates (July 2026)

Category	Worldwide	India	China	Mexico	Philippines
EB-1	Current	Oct 15, 2022	Jun 1, 2023	Current	Current
EB-2	Current	Unavailable	Sep 1, 2021	Current	Current
EB-3 Skilled/Prof	Aug 1, 2024	Jan 1, 2014	Dec 22, 2021	Aug 1, 2024	Aug 1, 2023
EB-3 Other Workers	Mar 1, 2022	Jan 1, 2014	Apr 1, 2019	Mar 1, 2022	Dec 1, 2021
EB-5 Unreserved	Current	Unavailable	Dec 1, 2016	Current	Current
EB-5 Rural Set-Aside	Current	Current	Current	Current	Current

Always verify dates at travel.state.gov before filing — this table reflects the July 2026 bulletin as published.

Check the Visa Bulletin Priority Date Tracker to see if your priority date is current.

What changed from June to July 2026

EB-2 India: Unavailable

June final action date: September 1, 2013 July final action date: Unavailable

The State Department warned in June that EB-2 India could become unavailable — and it has. India’s pro-rated EB-2 limit for FY2026 has been exhausted. No EB-2 green cards will be issued to India-born applicants for the rest of this fiscal year (through September 30, 2026). Cases with pending I-485 applications will be paused until October 2026 when FY2027 numbers become available.

EB-5 Unreserved India: Unavailable

June final action date: May 1, 2022 July final action date: Unavailable

India’s pro-rated EB-5 unreserved limit has also been reached. EB-5 set-aside categories (Rural, High Unemployment, Infrastructure) remain Current for all countries, including India.

EB-1 India: Down 2 months

June final action date: December 15, 2022 July final action date: October 15, 2022

EB-1 India continues its retrogression trend. After falling 3.5 months in June, it drops another 2 months in July. Given the pattern, EB-1 India may also face unavailability before September 30 if demand continues.

EB-1 China: Forward 2 months

June final action date: April 1, 2023 July final action date: June 1, 2023

A modest but welcome advance for EB-1 China-born applicants.

EB-3 India: Forward half a month

June final action date: December 15, 2013 July final action date: January 1, 2014

Barely perceptible forward movement. With EB-2 India now unavailable, some applicants may consider EB-2 to EB-3 downgrade if their priority date is current for EB-3.

EB-3 China: Forward 4.7 months

June final action date: August 1, 2021 July final action date: December 22, 2021

Significant forward movement for EB-3 China — nearly 5 months. This benefits skilled workers and professionals born in mainland China.

EB-5 Unreserved China: Forward 2.3 months

June final action date: September 22, 2016 July final action date: December 1, 2016

Steady forward progress for Chinese EB-5 unreserved investors.

Family-Based Highlights

Category	Worldwide	India	Mexico	Philippines
F1	Feb 1, 2018 (+5 mo)	Feb 1, 2018 (+5 mo)	Nov 8, 2007 (no change)	May 1, 2013 (no change)
F2A	Jan 1, 2025 (no change)	Jan 1, 2025 (no change)	Jan 1, 2024 (no change)	Jan 1, 2025 (no change)
F2B	Nov 22, 2017 (+2 mo)	Nov 22, 2017 (+2 mo)	Feb 15, 2009 (no change)	May 15, 2013 (+1 mo)
F3	Apr 15, 2012 (+2 mo)	Apr 15, 2012 (+2 mo)	Jun 1, 2001 (+1 mo)	Feb 22, 2006 (+3 mo)
F4	Jan 1, 2009 (+1.8 mo)	Nov 1, 2006 (no change)	Apr 8, 2001 (no change)	Aug 1, 2007 (+0.5 mo)

Family categories saw healthy forward movement across the board, particularly F1 worldwide (+5 months) and F3 Philippines (+3 months). USCIS will use the Dates for Filing chart for family-based I-485 filings in July — applicants with earlier priority dates should check eligibility to file.

USCIS filing guidance for July 2026

• Employment-based: Use the Final Action Dates chart (Table A)
• Family-based: Use the Dates for Filing chart (Table B)

This means family-based applicants can file I-485 at the more permissive Dates for Filing cutoffs, while employment-based applicants must wait until their priority date is current under Final Action Dates.

What to do now

If you have a pending EB-2 or EB-5 India I-485: Your case remains pending but USCIS cannot approve it until FY2027 numbers become available in October 2026. Maintain valid status (H-1B, L-1, etc.) and keep your EAD and Advance Parole current.

If you’re considering an EB-2 to EB-3 downgrade: With EB-2 India unavailable and EB-3 India at January 1, 2014, applicants with EB-2 priority dates before January 2014 may benefit from filing a new I-140 under EB-3 while retaining their original priority date. Consult an immigration attorney to evaluate this option.

If your EB-1 India case is pending: Monitor the August bulletin closely — EB-1 India has retrogressed for three consecutive months and may also become unavailable before September 30, 2026.

If you’re a family-based applicant: Check whether your priority date is current under the Dates for Filing chart. If it is, you can file I-485 with USCIS in July.

For the complete employment-based and family-based tables, see the Visa Bulletin page and the Priority Date Tracker.

Visa Bulletin dates change monthly. Always verify current dates at travel.state.gov before filing or making immigration decisions based on priority date availability.