June 2026 Visa Bulletin: EB-2 India retrogresses sharply and filing rules change.
Editor’s note: The Visa Bulletin is published monthly by the U.S. Department of State. This guide explains the June 2026 bulletin; priority dates change every month, so always confirm the current month’s cut-off dates at travel.state.gov or with our office before acting.
The U.S. Department of State released the June 2026 Visa Bulletin with a change that directly affects thousands of employment-based green card applicants in South Florida — including many in Doral, Brickell, Kendall, and Hialeah. EB-2 India priority dates retrogressed sharply, EB-5 India faces a warning of possible unavailability, and USCIS has restricted employment-based filings to only one chart this month. If you or your employer are tracking an employment-based green card case, June 2026 requires your immediate attention.
As of June 2026, the EB-2 India Final Action Date has moved back approximately 10.5 months to September 1, 2013. The prior cutoff was July 15, 2014.
According to the Department of State, high demand and heavy visa-number use in the India EB-1 and EB-2 categories made it necessary to retrogress these final action dates to keep issuance within the FY 2026 annual limit. In practical terms, this means immigrant visas in EB-2 India are now limited to applicants with priority dates earlier than September 1, 2013 — and Fiscal Year 2026 ends September 30, 2026.
For Indian-born professionals living in South Florida — many working in healthcare, IT, and engineering in Aventura, Brickell, and Hialeah — this is a significant setback. Anyone whose EB-2 India priority date falls between September 1, 2013 and July 15, 2014 has, for this month, fallen behind the cutoff and cannot move forward in this category right now.
Further retrogressions in future months remain possible, according to DOS. India EB-1 was also retrogressed approximately 3.5 months to December 15, 2022 for the same reason.
For EB-2 applicants chargeable to all countries except India and China, the news is straightforward: the category remains Current as of June 2026. This includes Mexico and the Philippines.
For China-born EB-2 applicants, the cutoff is September 1, 2021. DOS has flagged the possibility of future retrogression — or even unavailability — for China EB-2 in the coming months, though the date held steady in June. South Florida's large Venezuelan, Colombian, Cuban, and Haitian immigrant communities who are pursuing EB-2 green cards through employer sponsorship are generally unaffected by these country-specific backlogs — their dates remain Current.
The June 2026 Visa Bulletin contains a specific caution for EB-5 unreserved applicants chargeable to India: sufficient demand and increased visa-number use may make it necessary to retrogress the final action date or make the category unavailable in a coming month to hold number use within the FY 2026 annual limit.
The current EB-5 India unreserved cutoff stands at May 1, 2022. While this date has not yet moved, the warning is a signal that investors from India — including those in South Florida's Hallandale Beach, Aventura, and Brickell investor communities — should not wait to evaluate their filing position.
If you are an Indian national with an EB-5 petition pending or a priority date approaching the cutoff, now is the time to consult counsel about your options before the window potentially closes.
EB-5 unreserved for all other chargeability areas except China remains Current.
Each month, USCIS determines which of the two Visa Bulletin charts applicants must use when filing an I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence). The two charts are:
For June 2026, USCIS has confirmed that the Dates for Filing chart is NOT available for employment-based adjustment of status. Applicants must use the Final Action Dates chart to determine eligibility to file an I-485 this month.
In practical terms: if your priority date is not current under the Final Action Dates chart, you cannot file your I-485 in June 2026 — even if it would have been permissible under a Dates for Filing chart. This restriction most severely affects EB-2 India applicants who had been tracking both charts.
Always verify the current USCIS chart requirement at USCIS.gov/visabulletininfo, as this determination changes monthly.
India EB-3 and China EB-3 both saw modest forward movement in June 2026: EB-3 India advanced to December 15, 2013 and EB-3 China advanced to August 1, 2021. The Philippines EB-3 category has been flagged by DOS for possible future retrogression — or unavailability — due to rising demand.
On the family-based side, the June 2026 bulletin advanced F2A (FB-2A, spouses and minor children of permanent residents), which became Current for all chargeability areas under the Final Action Dates chart. Other family-preference categories continue to move at their existing pace. South Florida families navigating spousal or family-preference petitions should check the bulletin's family-based tables directly and consult counsel about realistic timelines.
Given the volatility in the June 2026 bulletin, here is a practical action list:
Priority dates can shift again in July. The July 2026 Visa Bulletin is typically released in mid-June — monitor it closely.
Navigating the monthly Visa Bulletin is one of the most technically demanding aspects of employment-based immigration. A one-month error — filing when a date is not yet current, or missing the window when it is — can delay a green card case by months or years.
Ekaterina Fitenko, Esq., of Fitenko Law PLLC in Hallandale Beach, FL, regularly advises clients across Greater Miami — including Indian-born tech and healthcare professionals, international investors, and employer-sponsored workers throughout Doral, Kendall, and Brickell — on how to position their cases for the earliest possible filing date and how to respond strategically when retrogression strikes.
Whether you are tracking an EB-2, EB-5 investor green card, or an employer-sponsored petition through our employment-based immigration services, our team monitors bulletin changes month to month so you do not have to guess.
Schedule a consultation: Call (305) 315-3425 or visit us at Fitenko Law PLLC, 600 Three Islands Blvd, Hallandale Beach, FL 33009. We serve clients in English and Russian across all of South Florida.
As of June 2026, the EB-2 India Final Action Date is September 1, 2013 — a retrogression of approximately 10.5 months from the prior cutoff of July 15, 2014. The Department of State cited high demand and the need to hold visa issuance within the FY 2026 annual limit for India EB-2 as the reason.
No. For June 2026, USCIS has determined that the Dates for Filing chart is not available for employment-based adjustment of status. You must use the Final Action Dates chart to determine whether you are eligible to file an I-485 this month.
Yes. As of June 2026, EB-2 is Current for all countries not specifically listed (i.e., not India or China). Applicants from Venezuela, Colombia, Cuba, Haiti, Mexico, and most other countries face no backlog in the EB-2 category.
The Visa Bulletin notes that demand and visa-number use by India-chargeable EB-5 unreserved applicants may require a retrogression or make the category unavailable in a coming month, to hold number use within the FY 2026 annual limit (the fiscal year ends September 30, 2026). The current cutoff is May 1, 2022, but investors from India should not assume it will remain stable.
The Visa Bulletin is published monthly by the U.S. Department of State. The July 2026 bulletin is typically released in mid-June. Priority dates can move forward, hold, or retrogress from month to month based on visa demand and annual numerical limits.
Fitenko Law PLLC in Hallandale Beach, FL serves clients across Greater Miami in English and Russian. Call (305) 315-3425 to schedule a consultation about your employment-based green card case, EB-5 investment visa, or any other immigration matter.
This article is general information only, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Immigration law and USCIS policy change frequently — consult a qualified immigration attorney for guidance specific to your situation.
Fitenko Law PLLC, 600 Three Islands Blvd, Hallandale Beach, FL 33009. Phone: (305) 315-3425. Email: fitenkolaw@gmail.com