EB-1 Priority Dates for India: April 2026 Visa Bulletin Updates

USCIS has confirmed it will use filing dates rather than final action dates for the April 2026 Visa Bulletin, a decision that directly affects Indian nationals in employment-based preference categories. This determination governs when applicants may submit their adjustment of status applications. The EB-1 backlog for India is driven by the combination of high applicant volume from India and the statutory per-country annual visa limits. These limits cap the number of green cards any single country can receive each fiscal year, creating significant wait times for nationals of high-demand countries regardless of the overall visa category availability. Once an applicant's priority date becomes current under the applicable chart, filing Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence) unlocks several important interim benefits. These include Employment Authorization Documents (EAD), Advance Parole for international travel, and the ability to maintain lawful status while the application remains pending. While this update focuses on the EB-1 category, the same filing date determinations and per-country backlog dynamics apply to EB-3 applicants from India. EB-3 applicants should monitor both the Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing charts each month to determine their earliest eligible filing window.