The U.S. Department of State has released the July 2026 Visa Bulletin, outlining the availability of immigrant numbers across family-sponsored, employment-based, and diversity (DV) visa categories.
This month brings notable changes that directly affect applicants from India in particular.
Understanding the Visa Bulletin: Two Key Charts
The Visa Bulletin publishes two main charts each month:
Dates for Filing: Shows when an applicant can submit their Green Card application package.
Final Action Dates: The date on which a Green Card can actually be approved.
USCIS announces separately each month which chart applies. For June 2026, the decision is:
Family-based applications: Use Dates for Filing
Employment-based applications: Use Final Action Dates
This means it’s a more flexible month for family-based applicants, while employment-based applicants will need to look at the more restrictive chart.
There’s also the concept of a “priority date.” Your priority date is the date your relative or employer filed the petition (Form I-130 or I-140) with USCIS on your behalf. If the date listed for your country in the bulletin is later than your priority date, your turn has come.
Family-Sponsored Categories: July 2026
For family-based applications, the active USCIS chart this month is Dates for Filing. Both charts are provided below.
Dates for Filing — Active Chart This Month
Applicants with a priority date earlier than the dates below may begin opening their application file.
| Category | All Countries | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 (Unmarried Sons & Daughters of U.S. Citizens) | 01 Jan 2019 | 01 Jan 2019 | 01 Jan 2019 | 01 Oct 2008 | 22 Apr 2015 |
| F2A (Spouses & Minor Children of Permanent Residents) | Current (C) | Current (C) | Current (C) | Current (C) | Current (C) |
| F2B (Unmarried Adult Sons & Daughters of Permanent Residents) | 08 Jun 2018 | 08 Jun 2018 | 08 Jun 2018 | 15 May 2010 | 01 Oct 2013 |
| F3 (Married Sons & Daughters of U.S. Citizens) | 08 Dec 2012 | 08 Dec 2012 | 08 Dec 2012 | 15 Jul 2001 | 08 Aug 2006 |
| F4 (Brothers & Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens) | 01 Mar 2010 | 01 Mar 2010 | 15 Dec 2006 | 30 Apr 2001 | 22 Mar 2008 |
Final Action Dates
Your priority date must be earlier than the dates below for a Green Card to be approved.
| Category | All Countries | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 (Unmarried Sons & Daughters of U.S. Citizens) | 01 Feb 2018 | 01 Feb 2018 | 01 Feb 2018 | 08 Nov 2007 | 01 May 2013 |
| F2A (Spouses & Minor Children of Permanent Residents) | 01 Jan 2025 | 01 Jan 2025 | 01 Jan 2025 | 01 Jan 2024 | 01 Jan 2025 |
| F2B (Unmarried Adult Sons & Daughters of Permanent Residents) | 22 Nov 2017 | 22 Nov 2017 | 22 Nov 2017 | 15 Feb 2009 | 15 May 2013 |
| F3 (Married Sons & Daughters of U.S. Citizens) | 15 Apr 2012 | 15 Apr 2012 | 15 Apr 2012 | 01 Jun 2001 | 22 Feb 2006 |
| F4 (Brothers & Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens) | 01 Jan 2009 | 01 Jan 2009 | 01 Nov 2006 | 08 Apr 2001 | 01 Aug 2007 |
Comparing the two charts, Dates for Filing are anywhere from a few months to several years ahead of Final Action Dates. This gap reflects the waiting period between opening a file and actually receiving Green Card approval.
The F2A category is listed as “Current (C)” in the Dates for Filing chart for all countries, meaning applicants in this category can open their file regardless of their priority date. It is worth noting that for high-demand countries like Mexico and the Philippines, F3 and F4 dates remain far in the past.
Employment-Based Categories: July 2026
For employment-based applications, the active USCIS chart this month is Final Action Dates. Both charts are provided below.
Final Action Dates — Active Chart This Month
Your priority date must be earlier than the dates below for a visa number to be issued.
| Category | All Countries | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 (Priority Workers) | Current | 01 Jun 2023 | 15 Oct 2022 | Current | Current |
| EB-2 (Advanced Degree / Exceptional Ability) | Current | 01 Sep 2021 | Unavailable (U) | Current | Current |
| EB-3 (Skilled Workers / Professionals) | 01 Aug 2024 | 22 Dec 2021 | 01 Jan 2014 | 01 Aug 2024 | 01 Aug 2023 |
| EB-4 (Special Immigrants) | 15 Sep 2022 | 15 Sep 2022 | 15 Sep 2022 | 15 Sep 2022 | 15 Sep 2022 |
| EB-5 Unreserved | Current | 01 Dec 2016 | Unavailable (U) | Current | Current |
| EB-5 Rural (20%) | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| EB-5 High Unemployment (10%) | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
Dates for Filing
While this chart is not active for employment-based applications this month, it may come into effect in the coming months — so it is worth comparing your priority date against it as well.
| Category | All Countries | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 (Priority Workers) | Current | 01 Dec 2023 | 01 Dec 2023 | Current | Current |
| EB-2 (Advanced Degree / Exceptional Ability) | Current | 01 Jan 2022 | 15 Jan 2015 | Current | Current |
| EB-3 (Skilled Workers / Professionals) | Current | 01 Jan 2022 | 15 Jan 2015 | Current | 01 Jan 2024 |
| EB-4 (Special Immigrants) | 01 Jan 2023 | 01 Jan 2023 | 01 Jan 2023 | 01 Jan 2023 | 01 Jan 2023 |
| EB-5 Unreserved | Current | 01 Mar 2017 | 01 May 2024 | Current | Current |
| EB-5 Rural (20%) | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| EB-5 High Unemployment (10%) | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
Important Notices for Indian Nationals
This month’s bulletin includes three notable sections specifically affecting Indian nationals:
EB-1 Date Pulled Back: To stay within the FY 2026 annual cap, the EB-1 final action date for India was moved back this month. The category may close entirely in the coming months.
EB-2 Category Closed: India’s EB-2 quota for FY 2026 has been exhausted, and the category is currently listed as “Unavailable (U).” The date is expected to advance to at least the level published in the May 2026 Visa Bulletin starting in October; however, this is not guaranteed.
EB-5 Unreserved Category Closed: India’s unreserved EB-5 quota has also been exhausted for FY 2026. The date is expected to return to at least the level announced in the June 2026 Visa Bulletin in October.
Diversity Visa (DV) Category: July 2026
Regional cutoff numbers for the DV-2026 program in July are as follows:
| Region | Cutoff Number | Exceptions |
|---|---|---|
| Africa | 55,000 | Algeria: 40,000 / Egypt: 31,000 |
| Asia | 35,000 | Nepal: 13,000 |
| Europe | 23,000 | — |
| North America (Bahamas) | 50 | — |
| Oceania | 1,700 | — |
| South America & the Caribbean | 3,300 | — |
Important Reminder: Entitlement to immigrant status under DV-2026 expires on September 30, 2026. No visas can be issued after that date. Numbers may also run out before the end of the fiscal year, so keeping your interview appointment is critical.
Cutoff numbers for August have also been pre-announced in this bulletin: Africa at 60,000, Asia at 40,000, and Europe at 29,000. The increases from July to August suggest the program may become more accessible as the fiscal year draws to a close.
What Changed Since June 2026?
For family-based applicants, the overall picture is positive: priority dates advanced by a month or two across nearly every category. This means some applicants who were not yet eligible in June may now be able to open their file in July. The fact that the Dates for Filing chart is active this month also means those waiting for final Green Card approval can at least begin the filing process now.
For employment-based applicants, the warnings issued in June’s bulletin materialized into real restrictions this month for Indian nationals. In the EB-1 category, India’s final action date was pulled back — meaning some applicants whose turn had come in June found themselves pushed back again in July.
More significantly, both the EB-2 and EB-5 unreserved categories have now closed entirely for India, meaning no Indian-chargeability applicant can currently receive Green Card approval in these categories regardless of their priority date. The earliest this situation is expected to improve is October 2026, when the new fiscal year begins. For all other countries, employment-based dates moved slightly forward.
Warnings for the Months Ahead
The bulletin explicitly warns that dates in certain categories may be pulled back — or categories may close entirely — in the coming months. This means applicants whose turn appears to have come this month could find themselves back in the queue next month. The EB-2 category for China and the EB-3 category for the Philippines are both flagged as at risk. India’s EB-1 category also remains under pressure and could be pulled back further or closed before the fiscal year ends.
Conclusion and Advice
The Visa Bulletin changes every month, and a favorable picture one month can reverse the next. Checking your priority date regularly — especially at the start of each month when the new bulletin is released — is essential.
We recommend working with an immigration attorney to assess your situation, plan the timing of your filing, and stay prepared in case dates are pulled back.
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