June 2026 Visa Bulletin Big Changes: US Delays EB Green Cards for India, China & Philippines

The United States has announced further delays in the issuance of employment-based green cards for nationals of India, China, and the Philippines, as visa retrogression continues to push back priority dates across multiple preference categories. This development directly impacts hundreds of thousands of applicants who have been waiting years — and in some cases decades — for their immigrant visa numbers to become current. Visa retrogression occurs when demand for green cards in a given category and country of birth exceeds the annual supply set by Congress. When retrogression hits, USCIS and U.S. embassies cannot accept new adjustment of status applications or schedule immigrant visa interviews for affected applicants, halting the final stages of the green card process. For EB-3 applicants from India and China especially, retrogression is a persistent obstacle. Priority dates in these categories can lag behind the current date by a decade or more, meaning applicants must wait for their place in line to become eligible — a process that can extend travel restrictions and leave workers in prolonged immigration limbo. The Philippines, while facing shorter backlogs than India or China, is also experiencing retrogression pressure as employment-based demand increases. Filipino workers in the EB-3 unskilled and skilled categories may see their priority dates move backward or stall in upcoming visa bulletins. Applicants from affected countries are advised to monitor the monthly Visa Bulletin from the Department of State closely and consult with an immigration attorney before making any international travel plans, as travel abroad during pending adjustment of status cases carries additional risks under current retrogression conditions.