US Visa Bulletin April 2026: Green Card Queue Eases Slightly for Indians

The April 2026 Visa Bulletin has been released, bringing modest but notable changes for employment-based green card applicants, particularly those from India. The bulletin indicates a slight easing in the backlog, with the filing window widening for Indian nationals across several employment-based preference categories. For EB-3 applicants from India, the expanded filing window represents an incremental improvement in what has historically been one of the longest backlogs in the employment-based immigration system. The filing window refers to the dates under which applicants may submit adjustment of status applications, even before a visa number becomes immediately available. The Visa Bulletin is published monthly by the U.S. Department of State and serves as a critical reference for both foreign nationals and immigration practitioners. It determines who can move forward in the green card process based on their priority date — the date their labor certification or immigrant petition was filed. Applicants from India in the EB-3 category should review their priority dates against the April 2026 chart to assess eligibility for filing. Those with priority dates that fall within the newly expanded window may be able to take advantage of concurrent filing benefits, including work authorization and advance parole. Immigration attorneys advise that applicants monitor each monthly bulletin closely, as movement can vary and dates may retrogress. Consulting with a qualified immigration professional is recommended to determine the best course of action based on individual circumstances.