JuLY 2026🔹Visa Bulletin
The U.S. Dept. of State has released the July 2026 Visa Bulletin, the tenth bulletin of Fiscal Year 2026.
UNDERSTANDING TWO IMPORTANT CHARTS
- Chart A: Final Action Dates Chart: Governs when visas are available for approval or issuance.
- Chart B: Dates for Filing Chart: Controls when an applicant may submit an adjustment of status application, but only when USCIS authorizes use of that chart for the month and category.
FAMILY: For July 2026, use the Dates for Filing chart for family-sponsored filings.
- Eligible family-based applicants may be able to file adjustment of status now even if final green card approval remains unavailable under the Final Action Dates chart.
EMPLOYMENT: For July 2026, use the Final Action Dates chart for employment-based filings.
- Employment-based applicants may file only if their priority date is current under the applicable Final Action Date, unless the category is listed as current.
June 2026 Visa Bulletin Dates
🔹Employment-Based VISA CATEGORIES
The annual statutory minimum for employment-based immigrant visas is 140,000 visas, although the total available in a given fiscal year may be higher depending on visa number carryover and other statutory calculations. Always confirm eligibility before filing. "All Other Countries" refers to all chargeability areas except those specifically listed.
▌ EB-1 PRIORITY WORKERS
EB-1st Preference: 28.6% of the worldwide employment-based preference level, plus any numbers not required for fourth and fifth preferences.
- Dates for Filing (When You May File)
All Other Countries – Current
China – 01 Dec 2023
India – 01 Dec 2023 - Final Action Dates (Approval Stage)
All Other Countries – Current
China – 01 Jun 2023
India – 15 Oct 2022
▌ EB-2 ADVANCED DEGREE / EXCEPTIONAL ABILITY (INCLUDING NIW)
EB-2nd Preference: 28.6% of the worldwide employment-based preference level, plus any numbers not required by first preference.
- Dates for Filing (When You May File)
All Other Countries – Current
China – 01 Jan 2022
India –15 Jan 2015 - Final Action Dates (Approval Stage)
All Other Countries – Current
China – 01 Sep 2021
India – Unavailable
▌ EB-3 PROFESSIONALS & SKILLED WORKERSEB-
3rd Preference: 28.6% of the worldwide level, plus any numbers not required by first and second preferences, not more than 10,000 of which may be allocated to “Other Workers.”
- Dates for Filing (When You May File)
All Other Countries – Current
China – 01 Jan 2022
India – 15 Jan 2015
Philippines - 01 Jan 2024 - Final Action Dates (Approval Stage)
All Other Countries – 01 Aug 2024
China – 22 Dec 2021
India – 01 Jan 2014
Philippines – 01 Aug 2023
▌ EB-3 OTHER WORKERS
- Dates for Filing (When You May File)
All Other Countries –01 Aug 2022
China –01 Oct 2019
India – 15 Jan 2015 - Final Action Dates (Approval Stage)
All Other Countries – 01 Feb 2022
China – 01 Apr 2019
India – 15 Dec 2013
Philippines - 01 Aug 2023
▌ EB-4 SPECIAL IMMIGRANTS (INCLUDING SIJS)
EB-4th Preference: 7.1% of the worldwide level.
⚠ Congress periodically extends the non-minister religious worker program. Applicants should verify current authorization before filing. The minister category remains permanent.
- Dates for Filing (When You May File)
All Countries – 01 Feb 2023
Certain Religious Workers All Countries – 01 Feb 2023 - Final Action Dates (Approval Stage)
All Countries – 01 Aug 2022
Certain Religious Workers All Countries – 01 Aug 2022
▌ EB-5 INVESTORS
EB-5th Preference: 7.1% of the worldwide employment-based visa allocation. Of those visas, 32% are reserved for rural projects, high-unemployment projects, and infrastructure projects: 20% rural, 10% high-unemployment, and 2% infrastructure. The remaining 68% are unreserved.
♦ EB-5 Unreserved
- Dates for Filing (When You May File)
All Other Countries – Current
China – 01 Oct 2016
India – Unavailable - Final Action Dates (Approval Stage)
All Other Countries – Current
China – 15 Jan 2014
India – Unavailable
♦ EB-5 Set-Aside Categories (Rural, High Unemployment, Infrastructure)
- Dates for Filing: Current worldwide
- Final Action Dates: Current worldwide
🔹FAMILY-BASED categories
The statutory family-sponsored annual limit for FY 2026 is 226,000 visas, with per-country limits applying to oversubscribed nations such as India, Mexico, and the Philippines. China is no longer separately listed in the family-sponsored preference charts.
"All Other Countries"refers to all chargeability areas except those specifically listed.
Notes for Understanding:
- Immediate relatives are not subject to annual visa limits. For purposes of immigration law, "immediate relatives" are spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents of U.S. citizens 21 or older.
- A U.S. citizen aged 21 or older can file an I-130 for a parent as an “immediate relative.”
- A lawful permanent resident cannot petition for a parent at all.
- A minor U.S. citizen (under 21) also cannot file an I-130 for a parent.
▌ F1 – UNMARRIED ADULT CHILDREN OF U.S. CITIZENS
- Dates for Filing (When You May File)
All Other Countries – 01 Oct 2018
Mexico – 01 Oct 2008
Philippines – 22 Apr 2015 - Final Action Dates (Approval Stage)
All Other Countries – 15 Sep 2017
Mexico – 22 Nov 2007
Philippines: – 08 May 2013
▌ F2A – SPOUSES AND MINOR CHILDREN OF PERMANENT RESIDENTS
- Dates for Filing (When You May File)
All Countries – Current - Final Action Dates (Approval Stage)
All Other Countries – 15 Jul 2025
Mexico – 15 Jul 2025
▌ F2B – UNMARRIED ADULT CHILDREN OF PERMANENT RESIDENTS
- Dates for Filing (When You May File)
All Other Countries – 22 Mar 2018
Mexico – 15 May 2010
Philippines – 01 Oct 2013 - Final Action Dates (Approval Stage)
All Other Countries – 01 Oct 2017
Mexico – 01 Mar 2009
Philippines – 22 Apr 2013
▌ F3 – MARRIED SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF U.S. CITIZENS
- Dates for Filing (When You May File)
All Other Countries – 01 Jan 2013
Mexico – 01 Aug 2001
Philippines – 22 Aug 2006 - Final Action Dates (Approval Stage)
All Other Countries – 01 Mar 2012
Mexico – 08 May 2001
Philippines – 01 Dec 2005
▌ F4 – SIBLINGS OF ADULT U.S. CITIZENS
- Dates for Filing (When You May File)
All Other Countries – 22 Dec 2009
India – 15 Dec 2006
Mexico – 30 Apr 2001
Philippines – 22 Mar 2008 - Final Action Dates (Approval Stage)
All Other Countries – 15 Nov 2008
India – 08 Nov 2006
Mexico – 15 Apr 2001
Philippines – 01 Aug 2007
STRATEGIC FILING WINDOW - WHAT THIS MEANS
Family-Based Visas
- In July 2026, for family-sponsored adjustment filings, USCIS is honoring the Dates for Filing chart.
- July 2026 brought modest movement in some family-sponsored categories, but the overall picture remains one of persistent and substantial backlogs. Mexico and the Philippines remain heavily oversubscribed and continue to face some of the longest waiting times in the family preference system
- The Dates for Filing chart continues to matter because it can open earlier filing opportunities in preference categories that remain far from current for final approval. Still, final green card issuance remains subject to substantial waiting periods in many family-based categories. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens remain outside the annual quota system and are not controlled by the Visa Bulletin.
Employment-Based Visas
- In July 2026, for employment-based adjustment filings, USCIS is requiring applicants to use the Final Action Dates chart.
- Because USCIS is not using the Dates for Filing chart for employment-based adjustment filings this month, some applicants who may have been eligible to file under Chart B in earlier months were not eligible in May or June and remain unable to file adjustment of status in July.
- The July 2026 Visa Bulletin continues to show significant employment-based backlogs, especially for India and China in EB-2 and EB-3. The bulletin also warns that further retrogression, or even unavailability, may be necessary in coming months. EB-1 remains the strongest path for applicants with unusually strong records of achievement, while EB-2 National Interest Waiver remains a valuable self-petition option for advanced-degree professionals and others whose work has national importance. At the same time, the continued use of Final Action Dates for employment-based filings makes timing, category selection, and long-range status planning especially important.
Employment-Based Visas for India in July 2026--Major Developments:
- EB-2 India is unavailable for the remainder of FY 2026.
- EB-5 unreserved India is also unavailable for the remainder of FY 2026.
- EB-1 India retrogressed again, moving back to October 15, 2022, while EB-1 China advanced to June 1, 2023.
- EB-3 showed forward movement, with China advancing to December 22, 2021, India advancing to January 1, 2014, and all chargeability areas except those listed advancing to August 1, 2024.
- EB-2 China remains backlogged, and the bulletin warns that EB-2 China may retrogress or become unavailable in coming months.
- EB-3 Philippines remains at August 1, 2023, and the bulletin warns that EB-3 Philippines may retrogress or become unavailable in coming months.
The Key TakeAWAY
If you are eligible to file, delay is a risk. The Visa Bulletin determines when you can act, and filing windows can narrow quickly as visa demand changes.
For July 2026, family-based applicants may be able to use the Dates for Filing chart, while employment-based applicants must use the Final Action Dates chart. If your priority date may allow filing this month, your eligibility should be reviewed promptly before demand shifts, retrogression occurs, or USCIS changes the filing chart in a future month.
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