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 August: Employment-Based Categories (EB-1A and EB-2 NIW)
1/ Important Note:
For August 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 Jul 2023 (advanced by 1 month)
- India: 15 Oct 2022 (no change)
- 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 (no change)
- Mexico: Current (no change)
- Philippines: Current (no change)
What This Means for You
1/ There is not a lot of movement in August. The August Bulletin introduced only change for applicants from China in the EB-1 category.
- EB-1 China advanced by 1 month, from June 1, 2023, to July 1, 2023.
- EB-1 India remains unchanged at October 15, 2022, following the retrogression announced in July.
2/ EB-2 India remains unavailable after reaching India’s per-country limit for FY 2026. Applicants from India in the EB-2 category cannot currently receive immigrant visa numbers. New visa numbers will become available with the start of fiscal year 2027 on October 1, 2026, although future cut-off dates will depend on visa availability and demand.
3/ Meanwhile, EB-2 China remains unchanged at September 1, 2021, while EB-1 and EB-2 remain current for all other chargeability areas listed above.
4/ The Department of State has also warned that visa availability may change as fiscal year 2026 comes to an end. In particular, EB-1 India may become unavailable if the annual limit is reached, and further adjustments may be necessary in EB-2 depending on demand and visa number use.
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.
