Hema KOn May 13, 2026, the State Department released the June 2026 Visa Bulletin. As such, the headline is sharp. Specifically, EB-1 India retrogressed by 107 days to December 15, 2022. Additionally, EB-2 India dropped by more than ten months to September 1, 2013 (State Department, June 2026 Visa Bulletin). Notably, the State Department warned in the bulletin text that further retrogressions in EB-1 and EB-2 India, or making the categories unavailable, may be necessary before the fiscal year ends on September 30, 2026.
In particular, this briefing covers three things. First, what changed versus the May 2026 baseline. Second, the implications for corporate immigration programs, attorneys, and beneficiaries. Third, the forward-looking scenario set for the final four months of FY 2026.
EB-1 India retrogressed 107 days to December 15, 2022, and EB-2 India dropped more than ten months to September 1, 2013. The State Department warned of further retrogressions, or “unavailable” designations, before FY 2026 ends on September 30, 2026. EB-3 advanced modestly.
- EB-1 India retrogressed 107 days to December 15, 2022. EB-1 China held at April 1, 2023; all other countries remain current.
- EB-2 India retrogressed by more than ten months to September 1, 2013, from July 15, 2014 in May 2026.
- EB-3 advanced modestly. India moved to December 15, 2013; China to August 1, 2021; Philippines at August 1, 2023; all other countries at June 1, 2024.
- State Department warning. Further retrogressions or “unavailable” designations in EB-1/EB-2 India may be necessary before FY 2026 ends September 30, 2026.
- USCIS chart. Final Action Dates chart applies to employment-based AOS filings, per the May 2026 mid-year correction.
Historical Context
The May 2026 bulletin held EB cutoff dates steady across the board. Specifically, both EB-1 India and EB-1 China sat at April 1, 2023. For EB-2, India was at July 15, 2014. On the EB-3 side, India held at November 15, 2013 (State Department, May 2026 Visa Bulletin). However, the May bulletin’s signature event was procedural rather than numeric. As a result, USCIS shifted employment-based AOS filings to the Final Action Dates chart for the first time in several months (USCIS, Adjustment of Status Filing Charts from the Visa Bulletin).
In contrast, the June 2026 bulletin’s signature event is numeric. Specifically, numbers moved sharply. Meanwhile, the procedural framework — Final Action Dates govern EB AOS filings — carried forward unchanged (USCIS, Adjustment of Status Filing Charts).
Current Situation
Notably, the bulletin distributes movement unevenly across categories.
EB-1: retrogression for India only
Specifically, for EB-1 India, the cutoff retrogressed by 107 days — from April 1, 2023 to December 15, 2022 (State Department, June 2026 Visa Bulletin). Meanwhile, EB-1 China held steady at April 1, 2023. Furthermore, all other chargeability areas remained current. As a result, the retrogression is country-specific, not category-wide.
EB-2: significant retrogression for India
For EB-2 India, the cutoff retrogressed by more than ten months. Specifically, it moved from July 15, 2014 in May to September 1, 2013 in June. Meanwhile, EB-2 China held at September 1, 2021. Furthermore, all other countries remain current.
EB-3: modest advancement
Additionally, for EB-3 India, the cutoff advanced to December 15, 2013. China advanced to August 1, 2021. In addition, EB-3 Philippines is at August 1, 2023, while all other countries are at June 1, 2024.
EB-5 holds; family-based moves forward
For EB-5 unreserved, India held at May 1, 2022. Similarly, China held at September 22, 2016. Furthermore, EB-5 remains current for all other chargeability areas and for the three set-aside categories (State Department, June 2026 Visa Bulletin). On the family side, FB-2A advanced to January 1, 2025 for all countries. Additionally, FB-2B advanced to September 22, 2017 for all countries except Mexico and the Philippines.
What Changed: May 2026 vs June 2026
| Category | May 2026 Final Action Date | June 2026 Final Action Date | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 India | April 1, 2023 | December 15, 2022 | Retrogressed 107 days |
| EB-1 China | April 1, 2023 | April 1, 2023 | No change |
| EB-2 India | July 15, 2014 | September 1, 2013 | Retrogressed >10 months |
| EB-2 China | September 1, 2021 | September 1, 2021 | No change |
| EB-3 India | November 15, 2013 | December 15, 2013 | Advanced ~30 days |
| EB-3 China | (prior) | August 1, 2021 | Modest advancement |
| EB-5 India (unreserved) | May 1, 2022 | May 1, 2022 | No change |
| EB-5 China (unreserved) | September 22, 2016 | September 22, 2016 | No change |
| FB-2A all countries | (prior) | January 1, 2025 | Advanced |
| FB-2B (most countries) | (prior) | September 22, 2017 | Advanced |
Implications by Audience
For Immigration Attorneys
Notably, the retrogression is concentrated, not diffuse. Specifically, EB-1 India and EB-2 India absorbed the movement. By contrast, every other EB category for every other country either held or advanced. Furthermore, practitioners advising India-born beneficiaries with priority dates between September 1, 2013 and July 15, 2014 in EB-2 should anticipate adjudication pauses on pending I-485 filings. Similarly, the same is true for EB-1 priority dates between December 15, 2022 and April 1, 2023. In practice, this means I-485 cases that became filable in April or May 2026 may stall mid-adjudication on June 1. Specifically, EAD and AP extensions tied to those I-485 filings remain unaffected. As such, the retrogression is on visa availability for final approval, not on AOS pendency benefits.
For Corporate Immigration Teams
In practice, program leaders should expect inbound questions from India-born employees tracking priority dates closely. The likely conversation runs: “My priority date became current in April. Has my case stalled?” The honest answer is yes for EB-1 India between December 15, 2022 and April 1, 2023. The same is true for EB-2 India between September 1, 2013 and July 15, 2014. As a result, sponsorship pipeline reporting should flag affected employees for status communication.
For Beneficiaries
Notably, the June retrogression does not invalidate an already-filed I-485. Instead, it pauses final approval until the priority date becomes current again. Meanwhile, EAD and AP remain valid through their face validity period. As a result, the most actionable step for beneficiaries with retrogressed cases is a quick check with their employer’s immigration counsel. Specifically, confirm whether pending EAD or AP renewal can proceed on its normal cadence regardless of the visa retrogression.
Priority Action Items
Scenario Planning for FY 2026 Close
The State Department’s own warning sets the range. Specifically, “further retrogressions in these categories, or making the categories unavailable, may be necessary before the fiscal year ends on September 30, 2026” (State Department, June 2026 Visa Bulletin, Section E). For this reason, three forward-looking scenarios bracket the realistic outcomes.
In contrast to the State Department’s warning, June dates could hold through July, August, and September. Specifically, EB-1 India stays at December 15, 2022 and EB-2 India stays at September 1, 2013. Furthermore, number-use discipline absorbs the FY’s residual demand. As a result, October 1, 2026 brings the FY 2027 reset and modest forward movement returns.
For the middle path, EB-1 India retrogresses further into 2022’s early or middle months. Similarly, EB-2 India retrogresses further into 2013, or briefly becomes “unavailable” for the FY’s final weeks. By contrast, EB-3 holds its modest advancement trajectory. October 1, 2026 then resets with FY 2027 allocations.
In the worst path, both EB-1 India and EB-2 India become “unavailable” before September 30, 2026. Consequently, I-485 adjudications in those categories pause across the program for the FY’s final weeks. The October 1 reset then restores availability at materially retrogressed dates.
Policy Analysis
Notably, the structural driver of the June retrogression is the same one that produced retrogressions across FY 2025 and most of FY 2026. Specifically, per-country limits on employment-based green cards, set in statute, combine with concentrated demand from India- and China-born beneficiaries. In that context, the State Department’s role is to allocate the available numbers within those constraints. As a result, when demand for visa numbers in a particular category and chargeability area exceeds the supply, the Final Action Date retrogresses to throttle final approval to the available number pool.
By contrast, the June retrogression is not a USCIS policy change. Rather, it is a Department of State number-management response to FY 2026 demand. Notably, the bulletin text acknowledges this directly: “High demand and number use by aliens chargeable to India in the EB-1 and EB-2 visa categories … made it necessary to retrogress the final action dates to hold number use within the FY 2026 annual limit” (State Department, June 2026 Visa Bulletin, Section E). Furthermore, the forward-looking warning of “unavailable” designations before September 30, 2026 signals that the demand-supply gap is wide enough for further throttling to be on the table.
In practice, the forward outlook hinges on three observable variables practitioners can track between now and October 1, 2026. First, the July and August bulletins (released in mid-June and mid-July). Second, USCIS reporting on I-485 inventory and adjudication pace in EB-1 and EB-2. Third, the State Department’s monthly forecast notes in each bulletin’s analysis section.
Frequently Asked Questions
Category-by-category cutoff dates
Practical effects and forward outlook
Disclaimer and attorney-client notice
This content is provided by ImmiOne for general informational purposes only and is not legal, HR, or business advice. Immigration, HR, workplace rules, policies, and processing timelines may change. Please consult ImmiOne or a qualified legal, HR, or business professional and verify information with official government sources before making decisions.
Scenario projections in this briefing are forward-looking analysis based on publicly available information as of publication. Outcomes depend on factors that may change without notice.
Use of this content does not create an attorney-client or advisory relationship.
References
- State Department — Visa Bulletin for June 2026 — Primary source for the June 2026 Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing charts, plus Section E (EB-1/EB-2 India retrogression notice) and Section D (general FY 2026 retrogression warning). Source date 2026-05-13 (CA/VO: May 4, 2026); consulted 2026-05-15.
- State Department — Visa Bulletin index — Primary source: monthly Visa Bulletin index. Consulted 2026-05-14 to confirm June 2026 is the most recent issue.
- State Department — May 2026 Visa Bulletin — Primary source for the May 2026 baseline used in the comparison table. Consulted 2026-05-14.
- USCIS — Adjustment of Status Filing Charts from the Visa Bulletin — Primary source for which chart (Final Action Dates vs. Dates for Filing) USCIS uses for AOS filings. Live-updated; consulted 2026-05-14.