Visa Bulletin Explained for Indians:
EB-1, EB-2, EB-3 Priority Dates
The visa bulletin is the monthly publication that controls when Indian H1B workers can file or receive approval of their green card. This guide explains every part — priority date, Final Action Date, Dates for Filing, retrogression, and what to do when your date becomes current.
Quick answer
The visa bulletin sets monthly cutoff dates for green card approval by category (EB-1/EB-2/EB-3) and country. Your priority date (PERM filing date) must be on or before the published cutoff to file or receive I-485 approval. For Indian workers, EB-2 and EB-3 India cutoffs are currently in the early 2010s — creating a multi-year or multi-decade wait.
What is the visa bulletin?
The US Department of State publishes the visa bulletin around the 8th–10th of each month. It sets the priority date cutoffs for employment-based and family-based immigration for each country.
Published by
US Department of State (travel.state.gov)
Published when
Around the 8th–10th of each month, effective the following month
What it controls
Whether your priority date is current for I-485 filing or approval
Country-specific
India has different (usually slower) dates than the Rest of World due to per-country caps
Why Indians should care about the visa bulletin
The per-country 7% cap creates massive India backlogs
- • US immigration law limits each country to 7% of annual employment-based green cards
- • India accounts for far more than 7% of EB-2 and EB-3 applicants — creating a severe backlog
- • India EB-2 Final Action Date is currently in the early 2010s — applicants filing in 2024 face multi-decade waits
- • The visa bulletin determines whether you can file I-485 this month — or must wait years longer
- • Retrogression (dates moving backward) can delay green card approval even after I-485 is filed
Priority date explained
| Category | Priority date = ? | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| EB-2 / EB-3 | Date PERM was filed with DOL | PERM receipt or I-140 approval notice (I-797) |
| EB-1 / EB-2 NIW | Date I-140 was filed with USCIS | I-140 receipt notice or approval notice |
Final Action Date (Table A) explained
The Final Action Date is the most important cutoff. Your priority date must be on or before this date for USCIS to approve your green card. This date is always published — it is never optional.
Current Final Action Dates (June 2026)
| Category | India | Other countries |
|---|---|---|
| EB1 | Current (C) | Current (C) |
| EB2 | 2012-08-01 | Current (C) |
| EB3 | 2012-11-01 | Current (C) |
Data from June 2026 bulletin. Always verify at travel.state.gov.
Dates for Filing (Table B) explained
Table B shows earlier cutoff dates that sometimes allow you to file I-485 before Final Action Date is current — but only when USCIS authorizes it each month.
Dates for Filing (June 2026)
USCIS authorized this month| Category | India | Other countries |
|---|---|---|
| EB1 | Current (C) | Current (C) |
| EB2 | 2013-04-01 | Current (C) |
| EB3 | 2013-01-01 | Current (C) |
Which chart matters for filing I-485?
Table A (Final Action Date)
- • Always controls I-485 approval
- • Required every month — no exception
- • If current: USCIS can file AND approve
Table B (Dates for Filing)
- • Only valid when USCIS authorizes it monthly
- • If authorized + current: can file I-485, get EAD/AP
- • Green card approval still waits for Table A
EB-1 India: the fastest employment green card path
EB-1 skips PERM entirely and has a much shorter India backlog than EB-2 or EB-3. Three sub-categories:
EB-1A
Extraordinary ability
No — self-petition
EB-1B
Outstanding researcher/professor
No — employer petition
EB-1C
Multinational manager/exec
No — employer petition
EB-2 India: advanced degree workers and NIW
EB-2 requires a master's degree (or bachelor's + 5 years progressive experience). EB-2 NIW allows self-petition if work benefits the US national interest — no PERM needed. For India, the EB-2 Final Action Date is in the early 2010s.
EB-3 India: bachelor's degree holders and skilled workers
EB-3 covers professionals (bachelor's degree) and skilled workers (2+ years experience). Like EB-2 India, the wait is long — but EB-2 and EB-3 India move independently, creating the EB-2/EB-3 downgrade strategy.
Retrogression: when dates move backward
Retrogression means the bulletin moved a cutoff date to an earlier date than the prior month — reducing the number of qualifying priority dates. It happens when visa demand is high and the per-country cap is consumed.
If I-485 is already filed
Retrogression does NOT cause denial or abandonment. USCIS holds the case until your date is current again. EAD and AP remain renewable.
If I-485 is not yet filed
You cannot file I-485 during retrogression (unless Table B is still authorized). Wait for your date to become current again.
What happens when your priority date becomes current?
Check Table A and USCIS Table B authorization immediately
Contact your employer's immigration attorney the same day
Schedule a USCIS civil surgeon for I-693 medical exam (books up fast)
Prepare I-485 package: I-485 + Supp J + I-131 + I-765 + I-864 + I-693
File I-485 as fast as possible — do not wait until end of month
Do NOT travel internationally after filing until Advance Parole is approved
Common mistakes Indians make with the visa bulletin
✗ Assuming Table B is always available
✓ USCIS must authorize Table B each month — check uscis.gov/visabulletininfo every month
✗ Confusing PERM certification date with PERM filing date
✓ Your priority date is the PERM filing date (when ETA-9089 was submitted to DOL), not when DOL certified it
✗ Waiting until the last week of the month to file I-485
✓ File in the first 2 weeks of the month — dates can retrogress and windows close fast
✗ Traveling internationally after filing I-485 without AP
✓ Never travel without an approved Advance Parole — it can cause your I-485 to be considered abandoned
✗ Not tracking the bulletin monthly
✓ Set a recurring calendar reminder for the 9th of each month to check the new bulletin
✗ Assuming EB-3 is always faster than EB-2 for India
✓ EB-2 and EB-3 India move independently — check the actual current bulletin, not assumptions
Check your priority date against the June 2026 bulletin
Priority Date Checker
Where does your priority date stand?
Compare your priority date against the June 2026 visa bulletin data.
Bulletin data last updated: 2026-06-01 · Source: official visa bulletin
Monthly bulletin update
June 2026 Visa Bulletin Summary for India
Bulletin data in this tool is updated monthly. For the official current bulletin, check travel.state.gov.
For USCIS filing authorization (Table B), check uscis.gov/visabulletininfo.
How to track the monthly bulletin →Explore this visa bulletin guide
Visa bulletin
Priority Date
Your priority date is the most important number in your green card process — it sets your place in the queue.
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Visa bulletin
Final Action Date vs Dates for Filing
The visa bulletin has two charts — Final Action Date and Dates for Filing — and which one matters depends on what USCIS announces each month.
4 min read
Visa bulletin
EB-1 India
EB-1 skips PERM entirely and has a much shorter India backlog than EB-2 or EB-3 — making it the fastest employment green card path for qualifying Indians.
4 min read
Visa bulletin
EB-2 India
EB-2 India has one of the longest green card backlogs in the US system — but knowing the current cutoff, NIW option, and EB-3 strategy can help you plan.
4 min read
Visa bulletin
EB-3 India
EB-3 India covers bachelor's-degree holders and skilled workers — and while the backlog is similar to EB-2, the relative cutoff movement can make EB-3 strategically useful.
3 min read
Visa bulletin
Retrogression Explained
Retrogression happens when the visa bulletin moves backward — and for Indian applicants with pending I-485, it can feel alarming. Here is exactly what it means.
4 min read
Visa bulletin
Priority Date Current — What Next
When your priority date becomes current in the visa bulletin, you have a window to file I-485. Here is exactly what to do — and how not to miss it.
4 min read
Visa bulletin
EB-2 to EB-3 Downgrade
An EB-2 to EB-3 downgrade can let Indian applicants file I-485 sooner if EB-3 India is more current — but it requires a new PERM and carries real costs and risks.
3 min read
Visa bulletin
EB-3 to EB-2 Interfiling
If your I-485 was filed under EB-3 and EB-2 India becomes more current, you can request USCIS to adjudicate under your EB-2 I-140 without refiling — this is interfiling.
3 min read
Visa bulletin
Monthly Update Guide
The visa bulletin is updated every month — here is exactly how to track it, what changes to watch for, and how to set up alerts for your EB category.
4 min read
Frequently asked questions
What is the visa bulletin?
The visa bulletin is a monthly publication from the US Department of State that shows priority date cutoffs for each employment-based (EB) and family-based immigration category by country. For Indian H1B workers pursuing green cards, it determines when their priority date is current — which triggers eligibility to file or receive approval of Form I-485 (adjustment of status).
What is a priority date and where do I find it?
Your priority date is the date your PERM labor certification was filed with the Department of Labor (for EB-2 and EB-3). For EB-1 and EB-2 NIW, it is the I-140 filing date. It is found on your PERM filing receipt or I-140 approval notice. Your priority date establishes your place in the visa queue — earlier is better.
What is the Final Action Date?
The Final Action Date (Table A in the visa bulletin) is the cutoff date for green card approval. Your priority date must be on or before this date for USCIS to approve your I-485. This is the most important date to monitor.
What is the Dates for Filing chart?
The Dates for Filing (Table B) is an earlier cutoff that sometimes allows you to file I-485 before your Final Action Date is current. Filing under Table B lets you get an EAD and Advance Parole while waiting for your Final Action Date to advance. Table B is only usable when USCIS specifically authorizes it each month — check uscis.gov/visabulletininfo.
Why is EB-2 India so far behind?
US immigration law limits each country to 7% of annual employment-based green cards. India accounts for a much larger share of EB-2 and EB-3 applicants than 7%, creating a massive backlog. The EB-2 India Final Action Date is currently in the early 2010s — meaning applicants who filed PERM in 2012–2013 are only now being approved.
What is retrogression?
Retrogression means the visa bulletin moved a cutoff date backward — to an earlier date than the previous month. If your priority date was current last month but is not current this month due to retrogression, your I-485 (if pending) stays open but cannot be approved until your date is current again. If I-485 was not yet filed, you must wait for the date to advance again.
Should I file under EB-2 or EB-3 for India?
Both EB-2 and EB-3 India have significant backlogs, and neither is consistently faster. In some months EB-3 India is more current; in others EB-2 is ahead. Many Indian applicants pursue both categories simultaneously — filing PERM in EB-2 for their primary path and EB-3 for potential downgrade flexibility. Consult your attorney on the current relative cutoff movement.
What does 'C' (Current) mean for India EB-1?
If the visa bulletin shows 'C' (Current) for EB-1 India, it means all priority dates in EB-1 qualify for that month — there is no backlog for that category. This is much better than EB-2 or EB-3 India, and is one reason why qualifying for EB-1 (extraordinary ability, outstanding researcher, or multinational executive) is strategically valuable for Indians.
Can I file I-485 before my priority date is current?
Only if USCIS has authorized the Dates for Filing (Table B) chart for that month AND your priority date qualifies under Table B. Check uscis.gov/visabulletininfo each month for the USCIS Adjustment of Status Filing Chart announcement. Filing under Table B gives you EAD and AP but your case won't be approved until your Final Action Date is also current.
My priority date just became current. What do I do?
Act promptly. Contact your employer's immigration attorney immediately. Begin assembling the I-485 package: Form I-485, Supplement J, I-131 (Advance Parole), I-765 (EAD), I-864 (Affidavit of Support), and I-693 medical exam from a USCIS civil surgeon. File as quickly as possible — dates can retrogress the following month.