India Faces Sharp Visa Bulletin Retrogression as US Green Card Wait Times Surge in June 2026 Update

According to the bulletin, India’s Final Action Date in the EB-1 category has moved backward by three and a half months to December 15, 2022. In the EB-2 category, the cutoff has retrogressed by more than ten months, shifting to September 1, 2013. These changes directly impact when applicants can receive final approval for lawful permanent residence in the United States.

EB-1 and EB-2 remain the most commonly used employment-based immigration pathways for H-1B visa holders seeking Green Cards. EB-1 is reserved for individuals with extraordinary ability, outstanding researchers, and multinational managers and executives. EB-2 applies to professionals holding advanced degrees, including software engineers, data scientists, medical doctors, and researchers. EB-1 typically offers shorter processing timelines compared to EB-2 and EB-3 categories.

The Final Action Date serves as a critical benchmark in the Visa Bulletin, determining which applicants are eligible for Green Card issuance in a given month. In practical terms, only applicants with a Priority Date earlier than the Final Action Date qualify for final adjudication. Under the current bulletin, EB-1 applicants from India with Priority Dates before December 15, 2022 are eligible for Green Card approval this month, while EB-2 applicants must have Priority Dates before September 1, 2013.

For China, the EB-1 Final Action Date remains at April 1, 2023, while the category remains current for all other countries, indicating no backlog. In the EB-2 category, China’s cutoff stands at September 1, 2021, while all other countries also remain current.

In EB-3, India’s cutoff has moved forward marginally to December 15, 2023. China’s cutoff date is set at August 1, 2021, while for all other countries, the EB-3 cutoff stands at June 1, 2024.

In the EB-5 immigrant investor category, India’s unreserved cutoff remains at May 1, 2022, while China’s unreserved cutoff remains at September 22, 2016. All other countries remain current across EB-5, including the set-aside categories for rural, high unemployment, and infrastructure projects.

The Department of State attributes the retrogression to exceptionally high demand and visa number usage by applicants chargeable to India in the EB-1 and EB-2 categories. Officials noted that this imbalance has necessitated backward movement of Final Action Dates to ensure visa allocation remains within the fiscal year 2026 annual limits.

The bulletin further cautioned that additional retrogressions or potential category unavailability may occur if India’s per-country limits in EB-1 or EB-2 are reached before the end of the fiscal year. The situation, officials stated, will be continuously monitored and adjusted as required.

The latest update underscores mounting pressure on employment-based immigration channels, with India-specific backlogs widening further and signaling continued uncertainty for highly skilled professionals awaiting permanent residency in the United States.