The U.S. Department of State released the July 2026 Visa Bulletin, with forward movement in several employment-based categories, retrogression or unavailability in others, and limited movement in selected family-based categories. The cutoff dates below refer to the final action chart, or Chart A.
Employment-based categories
EB1
China’s EB1 cutoff date moves forward to 1 June 2023.
India’s EB1 cutoff date retrogresses to 15 October 2022.
EB1 remains current for all other countries of chargeability.
EB2
India’s EB2 category becomes unavailable, meaning no applications in this category can be filed after June 2026 until the category reopens.
China’s EB2 cutoff date remains 1 September 2021.
EB2 remains current for all other countries.
EB3
India’s EB3 cutoff date advances to 1 January 2014.
China’s EB3 cutoff date advances to 22 December 2021.
For all other countries of chargeability, EB3 advances to 1 August 2024.
EB3 Other Workers
India’s EB3 Other Workers cutoff date advances to 1 January 2014.
China remains at 1 April 2019.
For all other countries of chargeability, the category advances to 1 March 2022.
EB4
The EB4 cutoff date advances to 15 September 2022.
This cutoff date also applies to the EB4 program for certain religious workers. That program has been renewed through midnight on 30 September 2026. If Congress does not renew it again, the program will become unavailable after that date.
EB5
The EB5 unreserved category for India becomes unavailable, meaning no applications in this category can be filed after June 2026 until the category reopens.
China’s EB5 unreserved cutoff date advances to 1 December 2016.
EB5 remains current for all other chargeability areas.
The three EB5 set-aside categories remain current for all countries:
- Rural
- High unemployment
- Infrastructure
Family-based categories
FB2A
The FB2A cutoff date remains 1 January 2025 for all countries except Mexico.
Mexico remains at 1 January 2024.
FB2B
The FB2B cutoff date advances to 22 November 2017 for all countries except Mexico and the Philippines.
Practical implications
The July 2026 Visa Bulletin creates mixed outcomes. Some EB3 categories advance, while India faces unavailability in EB2 and EB5 unreserved. EB1 India retrogresses, while EB1 China moves forward slightly. EB4 advances, but the certain religious workers program remains dependent on renewal after 30 September 2026.
Applicants should check their category, country of chargeability, and whether the relevant category is current, cutoff, retrogressed, or unavailable before filing or planning next steps.
Source article: www.murthy.com
