US June Visa Bulletin 2026: India's green card line just got longer, EB categories hit the hardest - check details

The June 2026 US Visa Bulletin has delivered a setback for Indian green card applicants, with major retrogression in key employment-based categories after months of gradual forward movement.

Released by the US Department of State, the bulletin shows that EB-1 and EB-2 India Final Action Dates have moved backwards sharply, signalling rising demand pressure and tighter visa availability in heavily backlogged categories.

While some family-sponsored categories continued to inch forward and EB-3 saw limited progress, the June bulletin largely marks a reversal of the momentum Indian professionals had seen earlier in 2026.

Employment-based green cards: EB-1 and EB-2 move backwards

For Indian professionals waiting in the employment-based green card queue, June brings one of the biggest setbacks in recent months.

Employment-based Final Action Dates – India (June 2026)

Preference	Category	May 2026	June 2026
EB-1	Priority workers	01Apr23	15Dec22
EB-2	Advanced degree/professionals	15Jul14	01Sep13
EB-3	Skilled workers & professionals	15Nov13	15Dec13
Other Workers	Unskilled workers	15Nov13	15Dec13
EB-4	Special immigrants	15Jul22	15Jul22
EB-5 Unreserved	EB-5 (unreserved)	01May22	01May22

 

According to the State Department, India’s EB-1 category retrogressed by nearly three and a half months, while EB-2 moved back by more than ten months.

The rollback comes after steady movement earlier this year had raised hopes among Indian applicants stuck in decade-long green card backlogs.

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At the same time, EB-3 and Other Workers categories moved ahead modestly by one month, offering limited relief for some applicants.

The State Department also noted that EB-5 Unreserved categories for India remained at May 1, 2022, but warned that the category could still face retrogression or become unavailable later because of rising demand.

Filing dates remain unchanged

Unlike the Final Action chart, the Dates for Filing chart remained unchanged across all employment-based categories for June.

Employment-based Dates for Filing – India (June 2026)

Preference	Category	May 2026	June 2026
EB-1	Priority workers	01Dec23	1Dec23
EB-2	Advanced degree/professionals	15Jan15	15Jan15
EB-3	Skilled workers & professionals	15Jan15	15Jan15
Other Workers	Unskilled workers	15Jan15	15Jan15
EB-4	Special immigrants	1Jan23	1Jan23
EB-5 Unreserved	EB-5 (unreserved)	01May24	01May24

 

The State Department said the filing chart would remain unchanged for all countries and categories.

USCIS is expected to separately announce whether adjustment-of-status applicants can use the Final Action Dates chart or the Dates for Filing chart for June filings.

For many applicants, filing eligibility remains important because it can provide access to benefits such as Employment Authorization Documents (EADs), Advance Parole and job flexibility while awaiting final green card approval.

Family-sponsored categories show selective movement

While employment-based applicants saw setbacks, some family-sponsored categories for India recorded limited forward movement.

Family-sponsored Final Action Dates – India (June 2026)

Preference	Category	May 2026	June 2026
F1	Unmarried sons/daughters of U.S. citizens	01Sep17	1Sep17
F2A	Spouses & children of LPRs	1Aug24	01Jan25
F2B	Unmarried sons/daughters (21+) of LPRs	22May17	22Sep17
F3	Married sons/daughters of U.S. citizens	15Feb12	15Feb12
F4	Brothers/sisters of adult U.S. citizens	1Nov06	1Nov06

 

Family-sponsored Dates for Filing – India (June 2026)

Preference	Category	May 2026	June 2026
F1	Unmarried sons/daughters of U.S. citizens	01Oct18	1Oct18
F2A	Spouses & children of LPRs	C (Current)	C
F2B	Unmarried sons/daughters (21+) of LPRs	1Jan18	22Mar18
F3	Married sons/daughters of U.S. citizens	8Dec12	8Dec12
F4	Brothers/sisters of adult U.S. citizens	15Dec06	15Dec06

The F2A category continued to remain current for filing purposes, allowing eligible applicants to continue submitting paperwork despite broader backlog pressures.

What June’s bulletin means for Indian applicants

The June Visa Bulletin highlights how fragile green card movement remains for India’s employment-based applicants.

Earlier bulletins in 2026 had shown notable gains in EB-2 and EB-3 categories, creating optimism that older applications were gradually being cleared. June’s retrogression, however, suggests visa demand has again outpaced available numbers.

For Indian professionals, particularly those in the EB-1 and EB-2 categories, the rollback means longer waits for final approvals despite already extensive queues.

At the same time, the unchanged filing dates preserve procedural flexibility for many applicants who may still be able to submit adjustment-of-status applications and secure interim immigration benefits.

The June bulletin therefore reflects a mixed picture: limited movement in family categories, small gains in EB-3, but a significant setback for highly skilled Indian professionals waiting in the employment-based green card line.