EB-3 Visa Bulletin July 2026 Major Jump: I-485 Filing Now Open for Eligible Applicants

The U.S. Department of State released the July 2026 Visa Bulletin with notable updates across employment-based preference categories. For EB-3 applicants, the Rest of World final action date has moved to August 1, 2024, while the Philippines date advances to August 1, 2023. China EB-3 stands at December 22, 2021, and India EB-3 remains at January 1, 2014 — reflecting the persistent backlog for high-demand countries. USCIS has designated the Final Action Dates chart — not the Dates for Filing chart — as the operative chart for all employment-based adjustment of status filings in July 2026. This designation is critical: it controls both when Form I-485 can be filed and when a green card can be formally approved. Eligible applicants with a priority date before their category's cutoff may now file I-485 to adjust status inside the United States. For EB-2, the bulletin keeps the category Current for all countries except India and China. Applicants in valid nonimmigrant status such as H-1B, O-1, L-1, or F-1 with an approved or pending I-140 can concurrently file I-485, including EB-2 NIW self-sponsored cases. Upon filing, applicants become eligible to apply for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and Advance Parole while their green card case is pending. The bulletin carries significant warnings for Indian nationals. India EB-2 has been marked Unavailable for the remainder of fiscal year 2026 after reaching its pro-rated annual cap. Additionally, India EB-1 has retrogressed to October 15, 2022, with the bulletin cautioning that further retrogression or an unavailable designation is possible before the fiscal year closes on September 30, 2026. EB-3 applicants whose priority dates fall before their respective cutoff dates should act promptly, as fiscal year 2026 ends September 30 and visa number availability may shift in subsequent bulletins. Applicants processing through a U.S. consulate abroad should ensure their NVC documentation is complete to take advantage of the current window while numbers remain available.