The U.S. Department of State has released the July 2026 visa bulletin. The Visa Bulletin provides an update on the availability of immigrant visas for both consular processing and adjustment of status applications for the month of July 2026. The bulletin includes both the Final Action Dates and the Dates for Filing for employment-based and Family-Based immigrant visa categories. In addition, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announces each month which chart applicants should use to file their Adjustment of Status (AOS) applications.
The employment-based categories show decidedly mixed movement. EB-1 China and EB-3 (for both China and India) advance, while India sees retrogression in EB-1 and a hard stop in EB-2, which is now unavailable for the remainder of the fiscal year. Movement elsewhere is steady but cautious.
Importantly, USCIS has confirmed that it will accept employment-based adjustment of status applications under the Final Action Dates chart (Chart A) in July 2026. Foreign nationals must have a priority date earlier than the applicable Final Action Date for their preference category and country of chargeability to file. For more information, applicants can visit the USCIS Visa Bulletin page.
Below is a summary of the key developments in the July 2026 Visa Bulletin:
Employment-Based Categories
This month’s bulletin underscores a recurring theme demand for employment-based green cards remains exceptionally high, and India continues to bear the brunt of it.
EB-1 India retrogresses two months, moving back from December 15, 2022 to October 15, 2022. The State Department attributes this to heavy ongoing demand that has exhausted India’s pro-rated EB-1 limit. State has signaled that further retrogression or even temporary unavailability is possible before the fiscal year ends on September 30, 2026.
EB-2 India is now unavailable for the rest of FY 2026. With India’s pro-rated EB-2 limit reached, no new EB-2 India numbers will be authorized until the annual reset on October 1, 2026 (the start of FY 2027). Adjustment applications already on file may remain pending, but no final approvals can issue until numbers become available again.
EB-3 India inches forward by roughly two weeks (17 days), advancing from December 15, 2013 to January 1, 2014, modest relief against a backlog that still stretches well over a decade.
The State Department’s commentary (Section E) ties these developments to sustained high demand in EB-1 India, while noting that continued elevated visa number usage could prompt additional corrective action before the fiscal year closes.
In contrast to India, China posts the most notable forward movement of the month:
EB-1 China advances two months to June 1, 2023 (from April 1, 2023).
EB-3 China advances nearly five months (4 months, 21 days) to December 22, 2021 (from August 1, 2021).
EB-5 Unreserved China advances more than two months to December 1, 2016.
EB-2 China holds steady at September 1, 2021.
The State cautioned that demand could still require it to retrogress or pause EB-2 China and EB-3 Philippines in the coming months.
All Other Countries
For most other countries of chargeability, the picture is stable to improving:
EB-1, EB-2: Current for all countries except China and India.
EB-3 (Worldwide): Advances two months to August 1, 2024 (from June 1, 2024).
EB-3 Philippines: Holds at August 1, 2023.
A Closer Look at Two Notable Items
EB-4 and the religious worker program. EB-4 advances to September 15, 2022 for all countries. This date also governs the EB-4 program for certain religious workers, which has been renewed through midnight on September 30, 2026. If Congress does not renew the program after that date, this category would become unavailable.
EB-5 set-asides remain a viable path. Even with EB-5 Unreserved India unavailable, the three EB-5 set-aside categories, Rural, High Unemployment Area, and Infrastructure, remain current for all countries, including India and China. For eligible investors, these categories continue to offer one of the few avenues for concurrent filing and the associated adjustment of status, employment authorization, and advance parole benefits while immigrant visa numbers remain available.
Family-Based Categories
For the July 2026, USCIS has announced that applicants in the Family-Based immigrant visa categories should refer to the Dates for Filing chart when submitting adjustment of status applications. This month’s bulletin reflects forward movement across all categories.
In the F-1 category, which includes unmarried sons and daughters (21 years or older) of U.S. citizens, the dates for filing for Mexico and the Philippines won’t change from last month. The cutoff dates for all other countries will retrogress by three months to October 1, 2018. In the final action dates category, the cutoff dates for Mexico and the Philippines won’t change from last month. The cutoff dates for all other countries will advance by six months to February 1, 2018.
In the F-2A category, which encompasses spouses and unmarried children (under age 21) of U.S. green card holders, the dates for filing for all countries remain current. In the final action dates category, the cutoff for all countries won’t change from last month.
The F-2B category, which covers unmarried children (age 21 or older) of a U.S. green card holder, the dates for filing for Mexico and the Philippines won’t change from last month. The cutoff dates for all other countries will advance by ten weeks to June 8, 2018. In the final action dates category, the cutoff date for Mexico won’t change from last month. The cutoff date for the Philippines will advance by five weeks to May 15, 2013. The cutoff dates for all other countries will advance by two months to November 22, 2017.
In the F-3 category, which includes the married children of U.S. citizens, the dates for filing for all countries won’t change from last month. In the final action dates category, the cutoff for Mexico will advance one month to June 1, 2001. The cutoff for the Philippines will advance by three months to February 22, 2006. The cutoff dates for all other countries will advance by two months to April 15, 2012.
In the F-4 category, pertaining to brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens, the dates for filing for India, Mexico, and the Philippines won’t change from last month. The cutoff dates for all other countries will advance by nine weeks to March 1, 2010. In the final action dates category, the cutoff dates for Mexico and India won’t change from last month. The cutoff date for the Philippines will advance by two weeks to August 1, 2007. The cutoff dates for all other categories will advance by two months to January 1, 2009.
As always, ILBSG actively monitors ongoing U.S. immigration news. If you have questions about any U.S. immigration related issue, contact us. Working with an experienced attorney ensures you get the right advice based on the most recent laws. In an ever-evolving immigration policy landscape, it’s particularly critical you get the right advice.