Visa Bulletin Monthly Update Tracker: How to Follow EB-1, EB-2, EB-3 India Dates
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.
In a nutshell
The State Department publishes a new visa bulletin in the second week of each month (sometimes later — recent releases have landed as late as the third week) for the following month (e.g., the July bulletin is published in early June). For Indian H1B workers, monitoring this monthly update is essential — a single month can bring meaningful date movement, retrogression, or a new Dates for Filing authorization.
When is the visa bulletin published?
- Publication date: Usually the second week; recent releases have slipped to the third week (the October 2026 bulletin is expected in early-to-mid September — see the FY2027 reset analysis)
- Effective month: The following month (bulletin published in June is for July)
- Where: travel.state.gov → visa bulletin section
What to check every month
1. Table A — Final Action Dates for India
Check three rows:
- EB-1 India: Relevant if your I-140 is approved and you are waiting for approval
- EB-2 India: Relevant for most Indian H1B workers with advanced degrees
- EB-3 India: Relevant if you pursued EB-3 or did an EB-2 downgrade
Note both the date AND whether it moved forward, stayed the same, or retrogressed.
2. Table B — Dates for Filing for India
Check the same three rows. If your priority date falls in the Table B range (but not Table A), you may be able to file I-485 this month — if USCIS authorizes Table B use.
3. USCIS Visa Bulletin Acceptance memo
Check uscis.gov/visabulletininfo for the USCIS Adjustment of Status Filing Chart announcement. This is published after the State Department bulletin. It announces whether Table B (Dates for Filing) can be used for I-485 that month.
Common mistakes
- This step is critical and often missed. Even if Table B shows a favorable date for your priority date, USCIS must specifically authorize its use. Without USCIS authorization, Table A governs.
How to track changes month over month
Keep a simple log of the India EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 dates each month:
| Month | EB-1 India (Table A) | EB-2 India (Table A) | EB-3 India (Table A) | EB-2 India (Table B) | Using Table B? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 2026 | Dec 15, 2022 | Sep 1, 2013 | Dec 15, 2013 | Jan 15, 2015 | No (Final Action Dates) |
| July 2026 | Oct 15, 2022 | Unavailable | Jan 1, 2014 | Jan 15, 2015 | No (Final Action Dates) |
| August 2026 | Oct 15, 2022 | Unavailable | Jan 1, 2014 | Jan 15, 2015 | No (Final Action Dates) |
| September 2026 | Oct 15, 2022 | Unavailable | Jan 1, 2014 | Jan 15, 2015 | Pending USCIS determination |
This makes retrogression and forward movement immediately visible — note EB-1 India's June→July retrogression (Dec 15 → Oct 15, 2022) followed by no movement into August or September. The only employment-based Final Action movement in the September bulletin was EB-4, which advanced two months to December 15, 2022 for every country.
Setting up alerts
- Email alerts from State Department: Visit travel.state.gov and sign up for visa bulletin email notifications
- USCIS email updates: Subscribe at public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDHSUSCIS
- Immigration attorney: Ask your employer's attorney to send you a summary after each bulletin is published
What to do when you see your date become current
If your priority date becomes current under Table A:
- Contact your employer's immigration attorney immediately
- Begin assembling the I-485 package if not already prepared
- Schedule a civil surgeon for I-693 medical exam
- File I-485 as quickly as possible — do not wait until the end of the month
If your priority date becomes current under Table B (and USCIS authorizes it):
- Same steps as above
- Understand you are filing for work/travel authorization (EAD/AP) and a pending case — final approval waits for Table A
Frequently asked questions
#### The new bulletin is published the 8th but I see it earlier online. Is it official? The bulletin is sometimes leaked or pre-published on unofficial sites. Use the official travel.state.gov publication as the authoritative source.
#### I missed the filing window — the dates retrogressed before I could file. What now? Wait for your date to become current again. You cannot file I-485 while your priority date is not current (unless Table B is authorized and your date qualifies). Keep your I-140 approved and your H1B extended.
#### How far in advance should I prepare the I-485 package? Begin preparing 2–3 months before you expect your date to become current. Civil surgeon appointments fill up, and USCIS forms require gathering documents from your employer, birth country, and civil records. Do not wait until your date is current to start preparing.
Check your priority date against the visa bulletin
Use the Priority Date Checker to compare your EB category, country, and priority date against the current visa bulletin data.
Open Priority Date Checker →Deepak Middha, CA, Series 65Founder & Author
Deepak has experience in cross-border finance, tax-aware planning, and immigrant money decisions. View full profile →
Educational content, not personalized tax, legal, immigration, or financial advice. Rules, fees, and processing times change — always verify with the official source before acting. See our full disclaimer.