Visa Bulletin June 2026 Breakdown: EB-1, EB-2 Dates Retrogress for Indian Applicants

The U.S. Department of State's June 2026 Visa Bulletin has delivered unwelcome news for Indian-born applicants in the employment-based first and second preference categories. Both EB-1 and EB-2 cutoff dates have retrogressed — meaning they have moved to earlier priority dates — effectively making more applicants temporarily ineligible to file for adjustment of status or receive an immigrant visa. Retrogression occurs when demand for visa numbers in a given category and country exceeds the available supply within a fiscal year. For Indian nationals, who face some of the longest backlogs due to per-country caps, retrogression in EB-1 and EB-2 is a recurring and significant concern. A backwards movement in these dates can stall cases that were previously current and delay final green card approval by months or even years. For EB-3 applicants from India, the bulletin's movement in higher preference categories can have indirect implications. When EB-1 and EB-2 dates retrogress, some applicants who had downgraded their petitions from EB-2 to EB-3 to take advantage of more favorable EB-3 dates may reassess their strategy. Demand patterns across all employment-based categories are interconnected within the overall annual cap. Applicants are advised to review the June 2026 Visa Bulletin's Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing charts carefully with their immigration attorneys to determine how this retrogression affects their specific timeline. Those with pending I-485 applications should confirm their eligibility to continue advancing through the adjustment process. Immigration practitioners recommend monitoring the Visa Bulletin monthly, as dates can shift significantly from one month to the next based on USCIS and NVC demand reporting. Proactive planning and maintaining updated documentation remains critical for all employment-based green card applicants navigating the current backlog environment.