Visa Bulletin July 2026 EB-3 Update: CRS Data Brief on Immigrant Visa Categories Released

The Congressional Research Service (CRS), the nonpartisan research arm of the U.S. Congress, has published a new Data Brief examining nonimmigrant and immigrant visa categories. This type of report typically compiles authoritative statistics on visa issuances, application volumes, and category-level trends across the U.S. immigration system. For EB-3 employment-based immigrant visa applicants, CRS data briefs are a valuable resource. They often include figures on priority date movement, per-country demand, and annual usage of immigrant visa numbers — all of which directly influence how quickly applicants from oversubscribed countries like Vietnam, India, China, and the Philippines can expect to receive their green cards. The report's release coincides with the July 2026 Visa Bulletin period, making its findings particularly timely for those tracking EB-3 Vietnam priority date movement and other employment-based categories. Applicants monitoring Adjustment of Status (AOS) eligibility dates and Family preference categories (F1, F2A, F2B, F3, F4) may also find relevant data within the brief. Immigration practitioners and applicants are encouraged to review the full CRS report for detailed breakdowns by visa category and country of chargeability. Such data can help set realistic expectations around USCIS processing timelines and priority date advancement through the remainder of 2026.