What changed in the July 2026 bulletin
Of the 50 employment-based cells, 27 match last month; 20 advanced and 3 went backward. The biggest advances: EB-3 China (+5 months to 22 Dec 2021), EB-5 Unreserved China (+2 months to 01 Dec 2016), EB-4 for most countries (+2 months to 15 Sep 2022) and EB-4 China (+2 months to 15 Sep 2022). Retrogression: EB-1 India (back 2 months to 15 Oct 2022), EB-2 India (became unavailable) and EB-5 Unreserved India (became unavailable).[1]
Compared with last month, 8 of 25 family-sponsored cut-off dates moved forward, 0 moved back and 17 stayed put. The biggest advances: F1 for most countries (+3 months to 01 Jan 2019), F1 China (+3 months to 01 Jan 2019), F1 India (+3 months to 01 Jan 2019) and F2B for most countries (+3 months to 08 Jun 2018).
| Category | Country | Before | July | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-2 | India | 01 Sep 2013 | U | ▼ became unavailable |
| EB-5 Unreserved | India | 01 May 2022 | U | ▼ became unavailable |
| EB-3 | China | 01 Aug 2021 | 22 Dec 2021 | ▲ 5 months |
| F1 | Rest of world | 01 Oct 2018 | 01 Jan 2019 | ▲ 3 months |
| F1 | China | 01 Oct 2018 | 01 Jan 2019 | ▲ 3 months |
| F1 | India | 01 Oct 2018 | 01 Jan 2019 | ▲ 3 months |
| F2B | Rest of world | 22 Mar 2018 | 08 Jun 2018 | ▲ 3 months |
| F2B | China | 22 Mar 2018 | 08 Jun 2018 | ▲ 3 months |
| F2B | India | 22 Mar 2018 | 08 Jun 2018 | ▲ 3 months |
| EB-5 Unreserved | China | 22 Sep 2016 | 01 Dec 2016 | ▲ 2 months |
July 2026 employment-based dates
Arrows compare each date with June 2026, the month before. EB-2 India became unavailable. Category history: EB-2, EB-3, EB-2 India.
| Category | Rest of world | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | C■ | 01 Jun 2023▲ advanced 2 months | 15 Oct 2022▼ retrogressed 2 months | C■ | C■ |
| EB-2 | C■ | 01 Sep 2021■ | U▼ became unavailable | C■ | C■ |
| EB-3 | 01 Aug 2024▲ advanced 2 months | 22 Dec 2021▲ advanced 5 months | 01 Jan 2014▲ advanced 17 days | 01 Aug 2024▲ advanced 2 months | 01 Aug 2023■ |
| EB-3 Other Workers | 01 Mar 2022▲ advanced 28 days | 01 Apr 2019■ | 01 Jan 2014▲ advanced 17 days | 01 Mar 2022▲ advanced 28 days | 01 Dec 2021▲ advanced 30 days |
| EB-4 | 15 Sep 2022▲ advanced 2 months | 15 Sep 2022▲ advanced 2 months | 15 Sep 2022▲ advanced 2 months | 15 Sep 2022▲ advanced 2 months | 15 Sep 2022▲ advanced 2 months |
| Certain Religious Workers | 15 Sep 2022▲ advanced 2 months | 15 Sep 2022▲ advanced 2 months | 15 Sep 2022▲ advanced 2 months | 15 Sep 2022▲ advanced 2 months | 15 Sep 2022▲ advanced 2 months |
| EB-5 Unreserved | C■ | 01 Dec 2016▲ advanced 2 months | U▼ became unavailable | C■ | C■ |
The three EB-5 set-aside rows (rural, high unemployment, infrastructure) were current for every country in July 2026.
July 2026 family-sponsored dates
Family dates are compared with June 2026. F2A for most countries was current, unchanged. 29 cells were current (C). History: F2A; backlog in years: wait-time table.
| Category | Rest of world | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | 01 Jan 2019▲ advanced 3 months | 01 Jan 2019▲ advanced 3 months | 01 Jan 2019▲ advanced 3 months | 01 Oct 2008■ | 22 Apr 2015■ |
| F2A | C■ | C■ | C■ | C■ | C■ |
| F2B | 08 Jun 2018▲ advanced 3 months | 08 Jun 2018▲ advanced 3 months | 08 Jun 2018▲ advanced 3 months | 15 May 2010■ | 01 Oct 2013■ |
| F3 | 08 Dec 2012■ | 08 Dec 2012■ | 08 Dec 2012■ | 15 Jul 2001■ | 08 Aug 2006■ |
| F4 | 01 Mar 2010▲ advanced 2 months | 01 Mar 2010▲ advanced 2 months | 15 Dec 2006■ | 30 Apr 2001■ | 22 Mar 2008■ |
Fiscal year 2026 context
July 2026 falls in the last quarter of fiscal year 2026. This is when categories that have used their annual limit can be marked U (unavailable) until October. USCIS used a different employment chart in October 2025, so the year-to-date comparison is not like for like. In July 2026, 2 cells were marked U: EB-2 India, EB-5 Unreserved India.
USCIS's choice of chart matters as much as the dates: in July 2026 it accepted Final Action Dates for employment-based I-485s.[3] The chart history page lists every month's choice since 2015.
- Previous month: visa bulletin June 2026
- Next month: visa bulletin August 2026
- Check your own date: priority date calculator
Frequently asked questions
Did EB-2 India move in the July 2026 visa bulletin?
Yes. EB-2 India became unavailable on the Final Action Dates chart: it read 01 Sep 2013 in June 2026 and Unavailable in July 2026.
Which chart did USCIS accept for July 2026?
For employment-based adjustment of status, USCIS accepted Final Action Dates; for family-sponsored cases, Dates for Filing. Applicants whose category is current on the Final Action Dates chart may also file under it.
Was any category unavailable in July 2026?
Yes: EB-2 (India), EB-5 Unreserved (India) showed U, meaning no visa numbers could be used that month.
When was the July 2026 visa bulletin in effect?
From July 1 to July 31, 2026. The State Department publishes each bulletin in the middle of the previous month.
Sources
- When to File Your Adjustment of Status Application for Family-Sponsored or Employment-Based Preference Visas: July 2026
- When to File Your Adjustment of Status Application for Family-Sponsored or Employment-Based Preference Visas: June 2026
- Adjustment of Status Filing Charts from the Visa Bulletin
- The Visa Bulletin (monthly publication and archive)