June 2026 Visa Bulletin: EB-2 India Retrogresses 10 Months, F2A Jumps Forward

The Department of State released the June 2026 Visa Bulletin — and it brings the largest single-month retrogression for EB-2 India in recent memory. The EB-2 India Final Action Date falls back more than 10 months, from July 15, 2014 to September 1, 2013. EB-1 India also retrogresses by 3.5 months. On the positive side, family-based F2A advances a remarkable 5 months across all countries.

Biggest changes: May vs. June at a glance

Category	May 2026	June 2026	Change
EB-1 India	Apr 1, 2023	Dec 15, 2022	-3.5 months
EB-2 India	Jul 15, 2014	Sep 1, 2013	-10.5 months
EB-3 India	Nov 15, 2013	Dec 15, 2013	+1 month
EB-3 China	Jun 15, 2021	Aug 1, 2021	+1.5 months
F2A Worldwide	Aug 1, 2024	Jan 1, 2025	+5 months
F2A Mexico	Aug 1, 2023	Jan 1, 2024	+5 months
F2B Worldwide	May 22, 2017	Sep 22, 2017	+4 months
F4 Worldwide	Sep 15, 2008	Nov 8, 2008	+2 months

Employment-Based Final Action Dates (June 2026)

Category	Worldwide	India	China	Mexico	Philippines
EB-1	Current	Dec 15, 2022	Apr 1, 2023	Current	Current
EB-2	Current	Sep 1, 2013	Sep 1, 2021	Current	Current
EB-3 Skilled/Prof	Jun 1, 2024	Dec 15, 2013	Aug 1, 2021	Jun 1, 2024	Aug 1, 2023
EB-3 Other Workers	Feb 1, 2022	Dec 15, 2013	Apr 1, 2019	Feb 1, 2022	Nov 1, 2021
EB-4	Jul 15, 2022	Jul 15, 2022	Jul 15, 2022	Jul 15, 2022	Jul 15, 2022
EB-5 Unreserved	Current	May 1, 2022	Sep 22, 2016	Current	Current
EB-5 Rural Set-Aside	Current	Current	Current	Current	Current

Check current published dates on the Visa Bulletin Priority Date Tracker.

Why EB-2 India retrogressed so sharply

In April 2026, the State Department had moved EB-2 India forward by over 300 days — the largest single advance in years. That aggressive move, combined with USCIS allowing the Dates for Filing chart in April, created a massive wave of I-485 filings. The result: the State Department is now correcting course.

This is exactly the retrogression pattern the May bulletin warned about. When too many applications flood in during a generous filing window, the State Department pulls back hard to avoid exceeding the annual per-country cap before the fiscal year ends in September.

EB-2 India is now at September 1, 2013 — meaning applicants need a priority date before that date for their green card to be adjudicated. That’s a 13-year backlog for new filers.

EB-1 India: no longer a safe haven

EB-1 India retrogressed from April 1, 2023 to December 15, 2022 — a 3.5-month pullback. While EB-1 has historically remained close to current for India, this retrogression signals growing demand in the EB-1 category, likely driven by:

• More EB-1A (Extraordinary Ability) petitions from tech and academic professionals
• EB-1C (Multinational Manager) filings increasing as companies use this path as an alternative to the EB-2/EB-3 backlog
• Spillover demand as EB-2 becomes increasingly backlogged

Family-Based: F2A surges 5 months

The bright spot in the June bulletin is the F2A category (spouses and minor children of lawful permanent residents). Final Action Dates advanced 5 months across all countries:

Category	Worldwide	India	Mexico	Philippines
F1	Sep 1, 2017	Sep 1, 2017	Nov 8, 2007	May 1, 2013
F2A	Jan 1, 2025	Jan 1, 2025	Jan 1, 2024	Jan 1, 2025
F2B	Sep 22, 2017	Sep 22, 2017	Feb 15, 2009	Apr 8, 2013
F3	Feb 15, 2012	Feb 15, 2012	May 1, 2001	Nov 22, 2005
F4	Nov 8, 2008	Nov 1, 2006	Apr 8, 2001	Jul 15, 2007

F2A Dates for Filing is now Current for all countries — meaning any F2A applicant can file their I-485 regardless of priority date, if USCIS authorizes the DFF chart.

USCIS chart selection: check before filing

In May 2026, USCIS switched to the Final Action Dates (FAD) chart for employment-based filings, which shut out thousands of applicants who had been eligible under the Dates for Filing chart in April. For June 2026, USCIS has not yet announced which chart will apply. Confirm at uscis.gov/visabulletininfo before filing.

Community FAQ: your biggest questions answered

What happens to my pending I-485 if my priority date retrogressed? Your case is placed in “held in abeyance” status — it is not denied. Your EAD (work permit) and Advance Parole remain valid and renewable. USCIS will adjudicate your I-485 when a visa number becomes available again.

Should I downgrade from EB-2 to EB-3? With EB-2 India at September 2013 and EB-3 India at December 2013, the gap is currently small (3 months). However, EB-3 has been moving forward while EB-2 is retrogressing. If your employer supports an EB-3 filing and you can port your original priority date, consult your attorney about whether this strategy makes sense for your specific situation. See the EB-2 vs. EB-3 comparison guide for details.

Why did EB-2 India retrogress while EB-3 India moved forward? EB-2 and EB-3 draw from separate pools of visa numbers. The April 2026 filing window triggered a disproportionate surge in EB-2 filings. EB-3 demand remained more stable, allowing the State Department to advance it modestly. The two categories often move in opposite directions.

Will dates go “Unavailable” before September? The State Department has warned that further retrogression or “Unavailable” status is possible for certain categories before fiscal year 2026 ends on September 30. EB-5 Unreserved India was specifically flagged in May’s bulletin. If you have a current priority date in any at-risk category, prioritize filing your I-485 as soon as possible.

Can I still file if I missed the April DFF window? Not unless your priority date is earlier than the current Final Action Date, or USCIS reinstates the Dates for Filing chart for June. The April window was a one-time opportunity for many applicants. Check each month’s USCIS announcement for chart selection.

Is the F2A movement sustainable? F2A has seen consistent forward movement in recent months, reflecting lower demand relative to available visa numbers. While 5 months in a single bulletin is unusually large, family-based categories tend to be more predictable than employment-based ones. However, past performance does not guarantee future movement.

What to watch in July 2026

• End-of-fiscal-year retrogression. With three months left in FY2026, the State Department may need to further retrogress or make EB categories “Unavailable” to avoid exceeding annual limits.
• USCIS chart selection for June. Whether USCIS reinstates the Dates for Filing chart could make or break filing eligibility for thousands of applicants.
• EB-5 India retrogression warning. The May bulletin’s explicit warning about EB-5 Unreserved India has not yet materialized but remains a real risk.
• Congressional action. Several proposals to modify per-country caps are in various stages. None are close to passage, but any movement could change the long-term outlook for India and China backlogs.

Next steps

• Check your priority date against the tables above using the Priority Date Tracker.
• Talk to your attorney if you are considering porting from EB-2 to EB-3, or if your priority date retrogressed after a pending I-485 filing.
• F2A applicants: your filing window may be wide open — confirm with USCIS’s chart selection and file promptly.
• EB-1 India applicants: monitor closely. If EB-1 India continues to retrogress, consider filing I-485 and EAD/AP concurrently if your priority date is still current under the applicable chart.

Visa Bulletin dates change monthly. This article reflects the June 2026 bulletin as published by the Department of State. Always verify current dates at travel.state.gov before filing.