Visa Bulletin July 2026: Most EB Categories Advance, India Final Action Dates Stall

The U.S. Department of State has released the July 2026 Visa Bulletin, bringing positive movement for most employment-based immigration categories. The bulletin, which governs when applicants can move forward with their green card applications, shows advancement across the majority of EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 preference categories for most countries of chargeability. However, India-born applicants face a notable exception to this trend. India's Final Action Dates — the more restrictive of the two cutoff date charts — remain stagnant or reflect retrogression in key employment-based preference categories. This is a recurring pattern driven by India's high demand relative to the per-country annual cap of approximately 7% of total employment-based visas. For EB-3 applicants specifically, the bulletin signals continued progress for most nationalities, which could allow more beneficiaries to file adjustment of status applications or proceed with consular processing. Applicants with priority dates that now fall before the new cutoffs should consult with their attorneys promptly to determine filing eligibility. Employers sponsoring workers under EB-3 Labor Certification (PERM) should note that Dates for Filing and Final Action Dates may differ, and USCIS guidance on which chart is accepted for adjustment filings remains critical for July planning. The State Department typically announces its chart preference guidance shortly after the bulletin is published. All applicants are encouraged to verify their specific priority date against their country of chargeability in the July 2026 bulletin, as movement varies significantly by category and nationality. India-born EB-2 and EB-3 applicants in particular should manage expectations and plan for continued long waits ahead.