The July 2026 Visa Bulletin has brought disappointing news for many Indian applicants waiting for US green cards.
Several key employment-based visa categories have either slowed down significantly or become completely unavailable due to high demand.
The biggest impact is seen in the EB-2 and EB-5 categories, while only limited progress has been recorded in EB-3.
EB-2 Category Faces Complete Shutdown
The most severe change is in the EB-2 category, which includes professionals with advanced degrees and individuals with exceptional ability.
India has already reached its annual quota limit for this category.
As a result, the EB-2 India category is now marked as “Unavailable” for the rest of FY 2026.
In June 2026, the EB-2 final action date for India was still open at 1 September 2013.
However, the July bulletin shows a complete halt, meaning no further visas will be issued under this category until the new fiscal year begins.
EB-1 and EB-5 Also Under Pressure
The EB-1 category has also taken a step backward.
The final action date has retrogressed by two months, moving from 15 December 2022 to 15 October 2022.
Meanwhile, the EB-5 unreserved investor visa category has also reached its per-country limit. It is now unavailable for Indian applicants for the remainder of FY 2026.
Earlier in June, the US State Department had already indicated that all available EB-5 visas for India in this category had been issued.
Slight Relief in EB-3 Category
Unlike other categories, EB-3 offers a small positive update for Indian applicants.
The final action date in this category has moved slightly forward from 15 December 2013 to 1 January 2014.
Although the progress is minimal, it is the only employment-based category showing movement in a positive direction in this bulletin.
Why Are These Changes Happening?
Visa categories become “oversubscribed” when the number of applicants exceeds the annual limit set by the US government.
When this happens, cut-off dates are adjusted to control the flow of applications.
In some cases, if demand becomes too high, a category is marked as “unavailable,” meaning no new visas can be issued temporarily.
Retrogression occurs when visa demand forces the government to move cut-off dates backward instead of forward.
This ensures that the number of issued visas stays within the legal annual limit.
What Happens Next?
The EB-2 and EB-5 categories are expected to reopen in October, when the new fiscal year (FY 2027) begins. At that time, new visa numbers will become available.
However, the new cut-off dates will depend on future demand and annual allocation limits, which means conditions could change again.
What Applicants Should Know
For now, Indian applicants in EB-2 and EB-5 categories will need to wait for the next fiscal cycle.
Those in EB-3 may still see slow progress, but the category remains open.
The Visa Bulletin reflects high demand and strict annual caps, making planning and long waiting periods a normal part of the process for many applicants.
Disclaimer
This article is for general informational purposes only.
Immigration rules and visa policies are subject to change.
Applicants should always verify the latest updates through official US government sources or consult qualified immigration professionals before making decisions.
