Visa Bulletin for July 2026: What Moved
EB-2 worldwide advanced two weeks while EB-2 and EB-3 India held steady. Here's the category-by-category breakdown and what it means for filing.
Employment-based movement
EB-1 remains current for most of the world, with India at February 2022 and China at November 2022. EB-2 worldwide moved to April 2024; India remains deep in 2013 backlogs, a reminder of why many India-born applicants look at EB-1 or NIW strategies.
EB-3 continues to leapfrog EB-2 in some months — worldwide sits at January 2023. Downgrading from EB-2 to EB-3 is a real strategy in months where EB-3 is ahead, but it requires a new I-140.
Final Action vs. Dates for Filing
The Dates for Filing chart controls when you can submit your I-485 paperwork; the Final Action chart controls when it can be approved. USCIS announces each month which chart adjustment applicants may use — this month it's Dates for Filing, which lets more applicants file early and get EAD/AP benefits while they wait.
What to do now
Know your priority date (it's on your I-140 approval or PERM filing), check it against the chart for your category and country of chargeability, and set an alert so you don't miss the month your date comes current — retrogression can close the window again quickly.
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