Every month, the U.S. Department of State releases the Visa Bulletin, a key update for anyone navigating the Green Card process. It outlines which priority dates are eligible to move forward and when applicants can file for Adjustment of Status.
We strongly recommend monitoring the Visa Bulletin and Adjustment of Status charts regularly, as even small monthly changes can significantly affect your immigration timeline and overall strategy.
Key Updates for July: Employment-Based Categories (EB-1A and EB-2 NIW)
1/ Important Note:
For July 2026, USCIS has confirmed that applicants in employment-based categories must use the Final Action Dates chart for Adjustment of Status filings.
2/ First Preference: EB-1 (Aliens of Extraordinary Ability, Outstanding Professors and Researchers, Certain Multinational Managers or Executives)
- All Chargeability: Current (no change)
- China: 01 Jun 2023 (advanced by 2 months)
- India: 15 Oct 2022 (retrogression)
- Mexico: Current (no change)
- Philippines: Current (no change)
3/ Second Preference: EB-2 (including NIW) Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Aliens of Exceptional Ability
- All Chargeability: Current (no change)
- China: 01 Sep 2021 (no change)
- India: Unavailable (became unavailable)
- Mexico: Current (no change)
- Philippines: Current (no change)
What This Means for You
The biggest changes in July affect applicants from India.
- EB-1 India retrogressed by approximately 2 months.
- EB-2 India became unavailable after reaching its FY 2026 visa allocation limit.
Applicants from India in the EB-2 category can no longer receive immigrant visa numbers for the remainder of fiscal year 2026. The Department of State has indicated that the category will likely advance again in October 2026, when new visa numbers become available under fiscal year 2027.
Meanwhile, China saw positive movement in the EB-1 category, advancing by approximately 2 months, while EB-2 China remained unchanged.
If you have a pending or upcoming I-140 approval, this is a good time to review your priority date and immigration strategy with your attorney.
Not sure how the July Visa Bulletin affects your case? Our team can help review your situation and connect you with an immigration attorney if needed. Schedule a free consultation.
The information contained in this post is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter. Please consult an immigration attorney for your personal situation.
