The U.S. Department of State’s June 2026 Visa Bulletin delivers a significant setback for Indian employment-based applicants, with steep retrogressions in both the EB-1 and EB-2 categories as immigrant visa demand continues to surge.
- EB-2 India retrogresses by more than 10 months to September 1, 2013.
- EB-1 India retrogresses by more than three months to December 15, 2022.
- The State Department warns that additional retrogressions—or even categories becoming “unavailable”—may occur before the fiscal year ends on September 30, 2026.
- EB-3 India advances modestly by one month to December 15, 2013.
- EB-3 China advances by six weeks to August 1, 2021.
- EB-5 set-aside categories remain current for all countries, continuing to offer one of the few immediately available immigrant visa pathways for many applicants.
What Employers and Foreign Nationals Should Know
India EB-1 and EB-2 Face Severe Backlogs
The June Visa Bulletin reflects continued heavy demand in the India EB-1 and EB-2 categories. The sharp retrogression in EB-2 India—moving backward nearly a year—will impact thousands of adjustment applicants and may delay final green card approval for many already in the pipeline.
The retrogression in EB-1 India is also notable, particularly given the category’s historically faster movement and increased use.
The State Department specifically cautioned that these categories could retrogress further or become unavailable before the end of the fiscal year.
EB-3 Continues Incremental Movement
While EB-2 India retrogressed sharply, EB-3 India moved forward modestly to December 15, 2013, continuing the trend of narrower gaps between the two categories.
For some applicants, interfiling or downgrading strategies may again warrant review depending on priority date and case posture.
EB-5 Remains One of the Few “Current” Options
The EB-5 set-aside categories—Rural, High Unemployment Area, and Infrastructure—remain current for all countries, including India and China.
This continues to make EB-5 an attractive alternative for certain applicants facing prolonged EB-1 and EB-2 backlogs, particularly where concurrent filing benefits remain available. The State Department and WR’s Chatting with Charlie EB-5 had also warned that EB-5 India Unreserved could face future retrogression or unavailability in coming months due to having recently advanced India EB-5 Unreserved so aggressively
USCIS Filing Chart
The Department of State’s Dates for Filing chart remains unchanged in June. USCIS has announced that adjustment applicants must use the Final Action Dates chart for June filings.
June 2026 Employment-Based Final Action Dates
WR Immigration Observations
The June Visa Bulletin underscores the continuing volatility in employment-based immigrant visa availability as the government approaches the end of the third quarter and is approaching the end of the fiscal year in September.
Employers and foreign nationals should closely monitor upcoming Visa Bulletins, evaluate filing strategies proactively, and consider alternative pathways where appropriate, particularly in light of the State Department’s warning that additional retrogressions and category closures may occur in the coming months.
Subscribe to the WR Immigration Newsletters
Start the RFP Process
Join the Corporate Benchmarking Roundtable
