The US Department of State recently published its June 2026 Visa Bulletin. However, the bulletin comes with a significant setback for Green Card visa applicants. The bulletin shows retrogression in the EB-1 and EB-2 final action dates for India. Reason? High demand and heavy visa usage. For those unaware, retrogression means the application line just got longer, and the “cutoff dates” for who can finish their application have actually moved backward in time. “High demand and number use by aliens chargeable to India in the EB-1 and EB-2 visa categories haves made it necessary to retrogress the final action dates to hold number use within the FY 2026 annual limit,” the State Department said.The department further warned that further retrogression or even temporary unavailability could follow in the coming months if annual limits are reached. “Further retrogressions, or making the categories ‘unavailable,’ may be necessary in the coming months if India’s pro-rated limits in the EB-1 or EB-2 categories are reached before the fiscal year ends,” it added. The bulletin also comes with a warning for EB-5 unreserved category stating: “Sufficient demand and increased number use by aliens chargeable to India in the EB-5 unreserved visa categories may make it necessary to retrogress the final action date or make the category ‘unavailable’ in the next month”.
Here’s what US State Department’s 2026 Bulletin says
RETROGRESSION IN THE EMPLOYMENT-BASED FIRST PREFERENCE (EB-1) AND EMPLOYMENT-BASED SECOND PREFERENCE (EB-2) FINAL ACTION DATES FOR INDIAHigh demand and number use by aliens chargeable to India in the EB-1 and EB-2 visa categories haves made it necessary to retrogress the final action dates to hold number use within the FY 2026 annual limit. Further retrogressions, or making the categories “unavailable,” may be necessary in the coming months if India’s pro-rated limits in the EB-1 or EB-2 categories are reached before the fiscal year ends. This situation will be continually monitored, and any necessary adjustments will be made accordingly.VISA AVAILABILITY IN THE EMPLOYMENT-BASED SECOND PREFERENCE (EB-2) CATEGORY FOR CHINASufficient demand and increased number use by aliens chargeable to China in the EB-2 visa category may make it necessary to retrogress the final action date or make the category “unavailable” in the coming months to hold number use within the maximum allowed under the FY 2026 annual limit. This situation will be continually monitored, and any necessary adjustments will be made accordingly.VISA AVAILABILITY IN THE EMPLOYMENT-BASED THIRD PREFERENCE (EB-3) CATEGORY FOR PHILIPPINESSufficient demand and increased number use by aliens chargeable to Philippines in the EB-3 visa category may make it necessary to retrogress the final action date or make the category “unavailable” in the coming months to hold number use within the maximum allowed under the FY 2026 annual limit. This situation will be continually monitored, and any necessary adjustments will be made accordingly.VISA AVAILABILITY IN THE EMPLOYMENT-BASED FIFTH PREFERENCE (EB-5) UNRESERVED CATEGORY FOR INDIASufficient demand and increased number use by aliens chargeable to India in the EB-5 unreserved visa categories may make it necessary to retrogress the final action date or make the category “unavailable” in the next month to hold number use within the maximum allowed under the FY 2026 annual limit. This situation will be continually monitored, and any necessary adjustments will be made accordingly.
