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The Visa Bulletin publishes two charts each month for employment based green card categories: Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing Applications.
Final Action Dates determine when a visa can be issued or when an adjustment of status is approved. Dates for Filing determine when an applicant can submit documents to start that process. USCIS decides each month which chart applies for adjustment of status filings, so applicants should always check the U.S visa bulletin for the current dates.
Two other terms are important to know. "Current," shown as "C," means there is no cutoff date and all qualified applicants can move forward. "Unavailable," shown as "U," means no visa numbers remain in that category for that country for the rest of the fiscal year.
In June, the EB-2 Final Action Date for India was September 1, 2013. In July, the chart shows "U." India's pro rated EB-2 limit for FY2026 has been reached, and the category is closed to India chargeable applicants for the remainder of the fiscal year.
This affects every EB-2 category, including the EB-2 NIW. Anyone with an EB-2 NIW petition who is chargeable to India cannot reach final action or adjustment of status approval under this category right now.
The bulletin states that the date will likely advance again in October 2026 to at least the level set in the May 2026 bulletin, but confirms this depends on demand from India chargeable applicants and on the FY2027 annual limit.
Existing EB-2 petitions are still valid. Unavailability is a pause in visa number allocation for this fiscal year, not a denial of existing petition. Applicants should speak with their immigration counsel about timing and about whether other employment based categories, such as EB-1, may also fit their qualifications.
The same pattern applies to the EB-5 Unreserved category. In June, the Final Action Date for India was May 1, 2022. In July, it shows "U." India's pro rated EB-5 Unreserved limit has been reached for FY2026.
The EB-5 Set Aside categories, Rural, High Unemployment, and Infrastructure, are not affected. All three remain Current for India and every other country in both June and July.
The bulletin indicates the EB-5 Unreserved date will likely return in October 2026 to at least the level set in the June 2026 bulletin, again depending on demand and the FY2027 limit.
EB-1 covers extraordinary ability, outstanding researchers and professors, and multinational managers and executives. For India, the Final Action Date moved backward from December 15, 2022, in June to October 15, 2022, in July. Fewer pending petitions now qualify for final action this month.
EB-1 for China moved in the opposite direction, advancing from April 1, 2023, in June to June 1, 2023, in July. EB-1 remains “Current” for all other countries in both months.
The State Department also warned that future retrogressions may occur, as well as making the visa category unavailable if the demand continues to significantly exceed the number of available visas.
Other employment based categories advanced in July.
The Dates for Filing Applications chart for employment based categories is still the same in June and July, across every preference category and every chargeability area. Applicants using this chart for adjustment of status filing should continue using the same dates they used last month.
The EB-5 Set Aside categories remain Current across all chargeability areas in both months.
Visa Bulletin movement, especially a sudden unavailability like EB-2 or EB-5 Unreserved for India, often raises the question of whether another category fits better. Beyond Border specializes in O-1A, EB-1A, EB-2 NIW, L-1, and H-1B petitions, with a 98% approval rate across more than 4,000 petitions filed and a 30 day filing guarantee once all supporting documents are received.
If you are affected by this month's changes, you can speak with our team to review your options.
No. Unavailability pauses visa number allocation for the rest of the fiscal year. The underlying petition remains valid.
The Department of State expects a possible advance in October 2026, the start of FY2027, but this depends on demand and the new annual limit.
Yes. EB-2 NIW falls under the same EB-2 category and is subject to the same unavailability for India chargeable applicants.
No. Rural, High Unemployment, and Infrastructure set asides remain Current for India in both June and July.
No. The Dates for Filing Applications chart is unchanged from June to July across all employment based categories and countries.
