July 2026 Visa Bulletin: F1 Leaps 153 Days; EB-2 India Goes Unavailable
The July 2026 Visa Bulletin brings a landmark 153-day advance for F1 family immigrants, broad employment-based gains, and a stark warning for Indian nationals as EB-2 India becomes unavailable and EB-1 India retrogresses.
The State Department's July 2026 Visa Bulletin delivers a mixed picture: broad gains across family-based categories and most employment-based backlogs, offset by significant negative movement for Indian nationals in key employment preferences.
Family-Based: Strong Advances Across Most Categories
The standout family-based movement this month is F1 (unmarried adult children of U.S. citizens), which advances 153 days for most countries on the Final Action Dates chart (2017-09-01 → 2018-02-01). Mexico (frozen at 2007-11-08) and Philippines (frozen at 2013-05-01) remain unchanged, reflecting their chronically oversubscribed queues.
Other family categories also moved forward:
- F2B (unmarried adult children of LPRs): +61 days for most countries (2017-09-22 → 2017-11-22); Philippines gained a smaller +37 days (2013-04-08 → 2013-05-15); Mexico unchanged
- F3 (married children of U.S. citizens): +60 days for most (2012-02-15 → 2012-04-15); Mexico +31 days (2001-05-01 → 2001-06-01); Philippines +92 days (2005-11-22 → 2006-02-22)
- F4 (siblings of U.S. citizens): +54 days for most (2008-11-08 → 2009-01-01); Philippines +17 days; India and Mexico unchanged
- F2A (spouses and minor children of LPRs): unchanged for all countries
On the Dates for Filing chart, F1 (most countries) gained 92 days (2018-10-01 → 2019-01-01) and F4 gained 69 days for most countries.
Employment-Based: Broad Gains, But Sharp Hits for India
EB-3 Skilled Workers and Professionals advanced broadly:
- Most countries: +61 days (2024-06-01 → 2024-08-01)
- China: a significant +143 days (2021-08-01 → 2021-12-22)
- India: a modest +17 days (2013-12-15 → 2014-01-01)
- Philippines: unchanged at 2023-08-01
EB-4 (special immigrants, including religious workers) advanced approximately 62 days across all countries (2022-07-15 → 2022-09-15).
EB-3 Other Workers (unskilled): +28 days for most countries and Mexico (2022-02-01 → 2022-03-01); India +17 days; Philippines +30 days (2021-11-01 → 2021-12-01).
EB-5 Unreserved for China advanced ~70 days (2016-09-22 → 2016-12-01). India EB-5 is listed as Unavailable this month.
EB-1 China advanced ~61 days (2023-04-01 → 2023-06-01). However, EB-1 India retrogresses approximately 61 days (2022-12-15 → 2022-10-15), and EB-2 India becomes Unavailable, meaning no immigrant visas can be issued in that category for July regardless of priority date. These are the most consequential changes in this month's bulletin for Indian-born applicants with pending or planned employment-based cases.
For most other countries, EB-1, EB-2, and EB-5 remain Current (no backlog).
Note for I-485 Applicants
USCIS determines each month whether adjustment-of-status applicants may use the Final Action Dates or the Dates for Filing chart. Always check the USCIS website for its monthly designation before filing or planning your timeline. This article is general information only and does not constitute legal advice.
Final Action Datejulio de 2026 vs junio de 2026
Basado en familia All other China India Mexico Philippines F1 1 feb 2018 1 feb 2018 1 feb 2018 8 nov 2007 1 may 2013 F2A 1 ene 2025 1 ene 2025 1 ene 2025 1 ene 2024 1 ene 2025 F2B 22 nov 2017 22 nov 2017 22 nov 2017 15 feb 2009 15 may 2013 F3 15 abr 2012 15 abr 2012 15 abr 2012 1 jun 2001 22 feb 2006 F4 1 ene 2009 1 ene 2009 1 nov 2006 8 abr 2001 1 ago 2007
Basado en empleo All other China India Mexico Philippines EB-1 Vigente 1 jun 2023 15 oct 2022 Vigente Vigente EB-2 Vigente 1 sept 2021 No disponible Vigente Vigente EB-3 Skilled 1 ago 2024 22 dic 2021 1 ene 2014 1 ago 2024 1 ago 2023 EB-3 Other Workers 1 mar 2022 1 abr 2019 1 ene 2014 1 mar 2022 1 dic 2021 EB-4 15 sept 2022 15 sept 2022 15 sept 2022 15 sept 2022 15 sept 2022 EB-5 Vigente 1 dic 2016 No disponible Vigente Vigente Dates for Filingjulio de 2026 vs junio de 2026
Basado en familia All other China India Mexico Philippines F1 1 ene 2019 1 ene 2019 1 ene 2019 1 oct 2008 22 abr 2015 F2A Vigente Vigente Vigente Vigente Vigente F2B 8 jun 2018 8 jun 2018 8 jun 2018 15 may 2010 1 oct 2013 F3 8 dic 2012 8 dic 2012 8 dic 2012 15 jul 2001 8 ago 2006 F4 1 mar 2010 1 mar 2010 15 dic 2006 30 abr 2001 22 mar 2008
Basado en empleo All other China India Mexico Philippines EB-1 Vigente 1 dic 2023 1 dic 2023 Vigente Vigente EB-2 Vigente 1 ene 2022 15 ene 2015 Vigente Vigente EB-3 Skilled Vigente 1 ene 2022 15 ene 2015 Vigente 1 ene 2024 EB-3 Other Workers 1 ago 2022 1 oct 2019 15 ene 2015 1 ago 2022 1 ago 2022 EB-4 1 ene 2023 1 ene 2023 1 ene 2023 1 ene 2023 1 ene 2023 EB-5 Vigente 1 mar 2017 1 may 2024 Vigente Vigente Final Action Date — mes a mesjulio de 2026 vs junio de 2026
F1 · All other▲ +5 mesesF1 · China▲ +5 mesesF1 · India▲ +5 mesesEB-3 Skilled · China▲ +5 mesesF3 · Philippines▲ +3 mesesEB-5 · China▲ +2 mesesEB-4 · All other▲ +2 mesesEB-4 · China▲ +2 mesesEB-4 · India▲ +2 mesesEB-4 · Mexico▲ +2 mesesEB-4 · Philippines▲ +2 mesesF2B · All other▲ +2 mesesF2B · China▲ +2 mesesF2B · India▲ +2 mesesEB-1 · China▲ +2 mesesEB-3 Skilled · All other▲ +2 mesesEB-3 Skilled · Mexico▲ +2 mesesF3 · All other▲ +2 mesesF3 · China▲ +2 mesesF3 · India▲ +2 mesesF4 · All other▲ +2 mesesF4 · China▲ +2 mesesF2B · Philippines▲ +1 mesesF3 · Mexico▲ +1 mesesF4 · Philippines▲ +1 mesesEB-3 Skilled · India▲ +1 mesesEB-3 Other Workers · All other▲ +1 mesesEB-3 Other Workers · India▲ +1 mesesEB-3 Other Workers · Mexico▲ +1 mesesEB-3 Other Workers · Philippines▲ +1 mesesF1 · Mexico— sin cambiosF1 · Philippines— sin cambiosF2A · All other— sin cambiosF2A · China— sin cambiosF2A · India— sin cambiosF2A · Mexico— sin cambiosF2A · Philippines— sin cambiosF2B · Mexico— sin cambiosF4 · India— sin cambiosF4 · Mexico— sin cambiosEB-1 · All other— sin cambiosEB-1 · Mexico— sin cambiosEB-1 · Philippines— sin cambiosEB-2 · All other— sin cambiosEB-2 · China— sin cambiosEB-2 · Mexico— sin cambiosEB-2 · Philippines— sin cambiosEB-3 Skilled · Philippines— sin cambiosEB-3 Other Workers · China— sin cambiosEB-5 · All other— sin cambiosEB-5 · Mexico— sin cambiosEB-5 · Philippines— sin cambiosEB-1 · India▼ −2 mesesΔ desde el boletín anteriorDates for Filing — mes a mesjulio de 2026 vs junio de 2026
F1 · All other▲ +3 mesesF1 · China▲ +3 mesesF1 · India▲ +3 mesesF2B · All other▲ +3 mesesF2B · China▲ +3 mesesF2B · India▲ +3 mesesF4 · All other▲ +2 mesesF4 · China▲ +2 mesesF1 · Mexico— sin cambiosF1 · Philippines— sin cambiosF2A · All other— sin cambiosF2A · China— sin cambiosF2A · India— sin cambiosF2A · Mexico— sin cambiosF2A · Philippines— sin cambiosF2B · Mexico— sin cambiosF2B · Philippines— sin cambiosF3 · All other— sin cambiosF3 · China— sin cambiosF3 · India— sin cambiosF3 · Mexico— sin cambiosF3 · Philippines— sin cambiosF4 · India— sin cambiosF4 · Mexico— sin cambiosF4 · Philippines— sin cambiosEB-1 · All other— sin cambiosEB-1 · China— sin cambiosEB-1 · India— sin cambiosEB-1 · Mexico— sin cambiosEB-1 · Philippines— sin cambiosEB-2 · All other— sin cambiosEB-2 · China— sin cambiosEB-2 · India— sin cambiosEB-2 · Mexico— sin cambiosEB-2 · Philippines— sin cambiosEB-3 Skilled · All other— sin cambiosEB-3 Skilled · China— sin cambiosEB-3 Skilled · India— sin cambiosEB-3 Skilled · Mexico— sin cambiosEB-3 Skilled · Philippines— sin cambiosEB-3 Other Workers · All other— sin cambiosEB-3 Other Workers · China— sin cambiosEB-3 Other Workers · India— sin cambiosEB-3 Other Workers · Mexico— sin cambiosEB-3 Other Workers · Philippines— sin cambiosEB-4 · All other— sin cambiosEB-4 · China— sin cambiosEB-4 · India— sin cambiosEB-4 · Mexico— sin cambiosEB-4 · Philippines— sin cambiosEB-5 · All other— sin cambiosEB-5 · China— sin cambiosEB-5 · India— sin cambiosEB-5 · Mexico— sin cambiosEB-5 · Philippines— sin cambiosΔ desde el boletín anterior
Source
Department of State — July 2026 Visa Bulletin
This article is not legal advice. Always confirm details with the official source below.