U.S. Visa Bulletin for July 2026: I-485 Filing Charts, Green Card Backlogs, EB India Limits, and DV Cut-Offs
The July 2026 Visa Bulletin affects applicants who are tracking priority dates, Form I-485 filing eligibility, consular processing, employment-based green card backlogs, and DV-2026 rank numbers. For applicants inside the United States, the first question is which chart USCIS allows for adjustment of status. In July 2026, family-sponsored preference applicants use Dates for Filing, while employment-based applicants use Final Action Dates.
Short answer: what changed in the July 2026 Visa Bulletin
Family-sponsored preference categories can use Dates for Filing for I-485 in July 2026. F2A is Current on the filing chart, but final approval is measured under Final Action Dates. Employment-based applicants must use Final Action Dates. The most important employment-based change is India: EB-2 India and EB-5 Unreserved India are Unavailable for the remainder of FY 2026, not only for July. DV-2026 Europe is 23,000 for July and 29,000 for August, and DV-2026 visas cannot be issued after September 30, 2026.
Official basis: USCIS identifies the July 2026 adjustment of status filing charts. The Department of State publishes the July 2026 Final Action Dates, Dates for Filing, DV cut-off numbers, and special notes on India EB-2 and India EB-5 Unreserved. See the official USCIS July 2026 Adjustment of Status Filing Charts and DOS Visa Bulletin For July 2026.
How this analysis was checked
The dates and warnings below were checked against the official Department of State July 2026 Visa Bulletin, the June 2026 bulletin used for month-to-month comparison, and the USCIS July 2026 chart selection page. The focus is practical: which applicants may file, which cases are blocked by unavailable numbers, how chargeability works for countries not listed separately, and what DV-2026 selectees should watch before the fiscal year closes.
July 2026 at a glance: Family, EB, and DV
Family-sponsored preference categories
USCIS allows Dates for Filing for family-sponsored I-485 cases in July 2026. This applies to F1, F2A, F2B, F3, and F4. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens are not part of these preference rows and do not use the family-sponsored Visa Bulletin backlog categories.
Employment-based preference categories
USCIS requires Final Action Dates for employment-based I-485 cases in July 2026. EB-1 India retrogressed to October 15, 2022. EB-2 India and EB-5 Unreserved India are Unavailable for the remainder of FY 2026. EB-1 India, EB-2 China-mainland born, and EB-3 Philippines remain watch-list categories because DOS warns that further retrogression or unavailability may become necessary.
Diversity Visa 2026
DV-2026 uses regional lottery rank numbers, not priority dates. Europe is 23,000 for July and 29,000 for August. Africa is 55,000 for July and 60,000 for August. Asia is 35,000 for July and 40,000 for August. No DV-2026 visa may be issued after September 30, 2026, and numbers may be exhausted earlier.
What changed compared with June 2026
July 2026 is not just a routine monthly update. Family-sponsored filing dates moved in several categories, employment-based India became materially more restrictive, and DV-2026 Europe advanced from the June cut-off. The key distinction is simple: some categories advanced, some retrogressed, and two India employment-based rows became unavailable through the end of the fiscal year.
Family-sponsored changes: selected forward movement
On the Dates for Filing chart, F1 for All Chargeability, China-mainland born, and India advanced from October 1, 2018 to January 1, 2019. F2B for the same columns advanced from March 22, 2018 to June 8, 2018. F4 for All Chargeability and China-mainland born advanced from December 22, 2009 to March 1, 2010. F2A remained Current on the filing chart.
Employment-based changes: forward movement, retrogression, and closed rows
EB-1 China-mainland born advanced from April 1, 2023 to June 1, 2023. EB-1 India retrogressed from December 15, 2022 to October 15, 2022. EB-3 All Chargeability and Mexico advanced from June 1, 2024 to August 1, 2024; EB-3 China advanced from August 1, 2021 to December 22, 2021; EB-3 India advanced from December 15, 2013 to January 1, 2014. EB-2 India and EB-5 Unreserved India moved to Unavailable for the remainder of FY 2026.
Already unavailable through the end of FY 2026
EB-2 India and EB-5 Unreserved India should not be treated as ordinary one-month delays. DOS states that India’s pro-rated EB-2 limit and India’s pro-rated EB-5 Unreserved limit were reached. October 2026 movement will depend on FY 2027 annual limits and demand from Indian applicants.
Critical source note: DOS July 2026 sections F and I address the unavailability of EB-2 India and EB-5 Unreserved India for the remainder of FY 2026. See Visa Bulletin For July 2026.
Still at risk of retrogression or unavailability
EB-1 India, EB-2 China-mainland born, and EB-3 Philippines are risk categories for the rest of FY 2026. DOS warns that further retrogression or Unavailable status may be required if demand exceeds the remaining number supply. These are watch-list categories, not the same as EB-2 India and EB-5 Unreserved India, which are already unavailable through the fiscal year.
DV-2026 changes: Europe and several regions advanced
DV Europe moved from 20,000 in June to 23,000 in July, with 29,000 listed for August. Oceania moved from 1,500 to 1,700 for July and 2,050 for August. South America and the Caribbean moved from 3,000 to 3,300 for July and 4,000 for August. Africa remains 55,000 in July and rises to 60,000 in August; Algeria and Egypt have separate lower numbers.
How to read the Visa Bulletin: priority date, C, U, and chart selection
The Visa Bulletin uses two main chart types. Final Action Dates show when a visa number may be used for final immigrant visa issuance or final adjustment of status approval. Dates for Filing show when an applicant may begin the National Visa Center document stage or file Form I-485 if USCIS authorizes that chart for the month.
How to compare your date with the bulletin
If the chart lists a specific cut-off date, the applicant’s priority date must be earlier than that date. A matching date is not enough. For example, if EB-3 All Chargeability lists August 1, 2024, a priority date of July 31, 2024 is earlier and qualifies under that chart, while August 1, 2024 does not. If the row is Current, there is no priority-date cut-off for that category and chargeability area on that chart.
- C / Current means numbers are authorized for all qualified applicants in that category and chargeability area under the relevant chart.
- U / Unavailable means numbers are not authorized for that category and chargeability area during the listed period.
- Priority date is usually the filing date of the I-130, I-140, or labor certification, depending on the case type.
- Chargeability area is usually the country of birth, not citizenship, passport, residence, or mailing address.
Chart selection source note: USCIS decides each month whether adjustment applicants may use Dates for Filing or must use Final Action Dates. For July 2026, USCIS designates Dates for Filing for family-sponsored preference cases and Final Action Dates for employment-based preference cases. See USCIS July 2026 Adjustment of Status Filing Charts.
If your country is not listed: Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Europe, and chargeability
The Visa Bulletin separately lists oversubscribed chargeability areas. In July 2026, the separately listed areas are China-mainland born, India, Mexico, and the Philippines. If the applicant was born in a country that is not listed separately, the correct column is All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed.
Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, and most European countries
Applicants born in Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Moldova, most European countries, the Caucasus, and most of Central Asia normally use the All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed column. Citizenship usually does not change that result. A person born in India who later becomes a citizen of Ukraine, Canada, Germany, or another country usually remains chargeable to India unless a specific cross-chargeability rule applies.
China-mainland born is not the same as Chinese citizenship
China-mainland born is a separate chargeability area because DOS tracks demand and statutory limits for that group. It does not automatically include all Chinese citizens and does not usually include people born outside mainland China. Even when the China-mainland born dates match All Chargeability, the column must still be checked separately.
Cross-chargeability should be analyzed carefully
Cross-chargeability may allow a principal applicant to use a spouse’s country of chargeability in limited situations. For example, if the principal applicant was born in India and the spouse was born in Ukraine, the couple may need to evaluate whether the spouse’s All Chargeability column can be used. This analysis depends on the immigration category, whether the spouse is immigrating with or following to join the principal, and whether the legal conditions for cross-chargeability are met.
I-485 in July 2026: filing eligibility is not the same as final approval
A current chart or a qualifying priority date only answers the visa-availability part of the adjustment analysis. Form I-485 also requires a lawful basis to adjust status, correct category classification, admissibility, and a complete record. July 2026 chart selection is therefore the first gate in the case, not the full eligibility review.
- Correct monthly chart. Family-sponsored preference applicants use Dates for Filing in July 2026. Employment-based applicants use Final Action Dates. Using the wrong chart can make the filing premature.
- Lawful admission or parole. Most adjustment applicants must have been inspected and admitted or paroled into the United States unless a specific statutory exception applies.
- Status and unauthorized employment review. Employment-based applicants should review status history, unauthorized employment, and possible 245(k) relevance. Section 245(k) can help some employment-based applicants with limited violations, but it does not cure every status problem.
- Underlying petition and category match. The approved or pending petition must support the category used for adjustment. EB-2 NIW, EB-2 PERM, EB-3, EB-1, EB-5, and family-sponsored cases each require category-specific evidence.
- Admissibility. Medical, immigration, criminal, security, misrepresentation, public charge where applicable, and other inadmissibility grounds may affect approval even when the chart is favorable.
- Complete filing record. Typical problem areas include Form I-485, I-693 medical exam, passport pages, I-94, birth certificate, certified translations, marriage documents for derivatives, affidavit of support where required, and fee/payment issues.
Filing now does not mean approval now
Dates for Filing may allow submission of the I-485 package. Final approval requires a usable Final Action Date when USCIS is ready to approve. This distinction matters for F2A family cases and for any employment-based category affected by retrogression or Unavailable status.
Family-sponsored categories in July 2026: Dates for Filing and Final Action Dates
In July 2026, USCIS allows family-sponsored preference applicants to use Dates for Filing for Form I-485. For consular processing, Dates for Filing may open the National Visa Center document stage. Final immigrant visa issuance or final adjustment approval is tied to Final Action Dates.
Source note: Family tables below are based on the Department of State Visa Bulletin For July 2026 and the USCIS July 2026 chart selection. “All except listed” means All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed.
| Category | All except listed | China-mainland born | India |
|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | January 1, 2019 | January 1, 2019 | January 1, 2019 |
| F2A | Current | Current | Current |
| F2B | June 8, 2018 | June 8, 2018 | June 8, 2018 |
| F3 | December 8, 2012 | December 8, 2012 | December 8, 2012 |
| F4 | March 1, 2010 | March 1, 2010 | December 15, 2006 |
| Category | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|
| F1 | October 1, 2008 | April 22, 2015 |
| F2A | Current | Current |
| F2B | May 15, 2010 | October 1, 2013 |
| F3 | July 15, 2001 | August 8, 2006 |
| F4 | April 30, 2001 | March 22, 2008 |
F2A Current on Dates for Filing is not the final approval chart
F2A is Current on the July 2026 Dates for Filing chart. The July 2026 Final Action Dates are different: January 1, 2025 for All Chargeability, China-mainland born, India, and the Philippines; January 1, 2024 for Mexico. This is the practical reason to separate the filing stage from final action.
| Category | All except listed | China-mainland born | India |
|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | February 1, 2018 | February 1, 2018 | February 1, 2018 |
| F2A | January 1, 2025 | January 1, 2025 | January 1, 2025 |
| F2B | November 22, 2017 | November 22, 2017 | November 22, 2017 |
| F3 | April 15, 2012 | April 15, 2012 | April 15, 2012 |
| F4 | January 1, 2009 | January 1, 2009 | November 1, 2006 |
| Category | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|
| F1 | November 8, 2007 | May 1, 2013 |
| F2A | January 1, 2024 | January 1, 2025 |
| F2B | February 15, 2009 | May 15, 2013 |
| F3 | June 1, 2001 | February 22, 2006 |
| F4 | April 8, 2001 | August 1, 2007 |
Employment-based categories in July 2026: EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, EB-4, and EB-5
Employment-based I-485 applicants use Final Action Dates in July 2026. This makes the employment-based table more restrictive than the Dates for Filing table for many applicants. It is especially important for EB-2 NIW, EB-2 PERM, EB-3, EB-1, and EB-5 cases because an approved petition and a usable final action row answer different legal questions.
Source note: Employment-based tables below use the DOS July 2026 Final Action Dates because USCIS designates Final Action Dates for employment-based adjustment filings in July 2026. See DOS July 2026 Visa Bulletin and USCIS July 2026 filing charts.
| Category | All except listed | China-mainland born | India |
|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | Current | June 1, 2023 | October 15, 2022 |
| EB-2 | Current | September 1, 2021 | Unavailable |
| EB-3 | August 1, 2024 | December 22, 2021 | January 1, 2014 |
| Other Workers | March 1, 2022 | April 1, 2019 | January 1, 2014 |
| EB-4 | September 15, 2022 | September 15, 2022 | September 15, 2022 |
| EB-5 Unreserved | Current | December 1, 2016 | Unavailable |
| EB-5 Set Aside | Current | Current | Current |
| Category | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | Current | Current |
| EB-2 | Current | Current |
| EB-3 | August 1, 2024 | August 1, 2023 |
| Other Workers | March 1, 2022 | December 1, 2021 |
| EB-4 | September 15, 2022 | September 15, 2022 |
| EB-5 Unreserved | Current | Current |
| EB-5 Set Aside | Current | Current |
EB-2 India: unavailable for the remainder of FY 2026
EB-2 India is listed as Unavailable because India’s pro-rated EB-2 limit was reached. This affects EB-2 NIW and EB-2 PERM applicants chargeable to India. DOS indicates that October movement is likely to advance at least to the May 2026 final action date, but the actual FY 2027 date will depend on demand and the new annual limit.
Critical source note: DOS July 2026 section F states that India EB-2 is unavailable for the remainder of FY 2026. See DOS Visa Bulletin For July 2026.
EB-5 Unreserved India: unavailable for the remainder of FY 2026
EB-5 Unreserved India is also unavailable for the remainder of FY 2026. This does not erase an approved or pending I-526 or I-526E petition, but it prevents final action under the Unreserved India row while the category remains unavailable. EB-5 Set Aside categories remain Current in July 2026, but eligibility depends on the specific investment category and petition facts.
Critical source note: DOS July 2026 section I states that India EB-5 Unreserved is unavailable for the remainder of FY 2026. See DOS Visa Bulletin For July 2026.
Watch-list categories through the end of FY 2026
EB-1 India is not unavailable in July, but it retrogressed and DOS warns that further retrogression or unavailability may be necessary. EB-2 China-mainland born and EB-3 Philippines are also flagged for possible retrogression or Unavailable status if demand and number use require additional controls before the fiscal year closes.
What this means for EB-1 and EB-2 NIW strategy
Category strength and visa availability must be evaluated together. A strong EB-2 NIW case may still be slowed by the applicant’s country of chargeability. EB-1 can be faster for some applicants, but the evidence threshold is higher and India is also under pressure in EB-1. Applicants should compare eligibility, country of birth, priority-date retention, derivative family needs, and I-485 timing before deciding whether to file, upgrade, or maintain multiple strategies.
- EB-1 visa USA — extraordinary ability, outstanding professors/researchers, and multinational executives or managers.
- EB-2 NIW visa USA — a national interest pathway that may avoid employer sponsorship and PERM when the legal standard is met.
DV Lottery 2026: July and August 2026 cut-off numbers
Diversity Visa cases use a regional lottery rank number. If the bulletin lists a cut-off number, only applicants with regional rank numbers below that cut-off are within the announced range. A number within range still requires case readiness: DS-260 accuracy, civil documents, medical exam, interview scheduling, security checks, and visa number availability before the DV year closes.
DV source note: DOS lists DV-2026 July cut-offs and the August cut-offs that will apply next. DOS also states that DV-2026 entitlement ends on September 30, 2026, and that numbers may be exhausted before that date. See DOS Visa Bulletin For July 2026.
| Region | July 2026 | August 2026 | Separate limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Africa | 55,000 | 60,000 | July: Algeria 40,000; Egypt 31,000. August: Algeria 51,250; Egypt 36,000. |
| Asia | 35,000 | 40,000 | July: Nepal 13,000. August: Nepal 13,500. |
| Europe | 23,000 | 29,000 | No country-specific exception listed. |
| North America | 50 | Current | Bahamas only. |
| Oceania | 1,700 | 2,050 | No country-specific exception listed. |
| South America and Caribbean | 3,300 | 4,000 | No country-specific exception listed. |
DV-2026 deadline: September 30, 2026
DV-2026 does not carry over into FY 2027. Principal applicants and derivative family members must receive the DV visa or adjustment approval within the DV-2026 fiscal-year window. After September 30, 2026, DV-2026 visas cannot be issued, and DOS warns that visa availability through the end of the year cannot be taken for granted.
Practical examples: comparing dates, chargeability, and DV rank numbers
Example 1: EB-3, born in Ukraine, priority date July 20, 2024
Ukraine is not separately listed, so the All except listed column applies. EB-3 Final Action Dates show August 1, 2024. A July 20, 2024 priority date is earlier than August 1, 2024, so it is within the July 2026 employment-based final action chart. The applicant must also qualify for adjustment of status or complete consular processing.
Example 2: EB-3, born in Ukraine, priority date August 1, 2024
A date equal to the cut-off date is not earlier than the cut-off date. If EB-3 All except listed shows August 1, 2024, a priority date of August 1, 2024 is not within the row for July 2026. The applicant would need later bulletin movement or another valid immigration strategy.
Example 3: EB-2 India with an approved I-140
EB-2 India is Unavailable for the remainder of FY 2026. An approved I-140 remains important, but it cannot produce final action while the applicable final action row is unavailable. Planning should focus on October 2026 movement, possible priority-date retention, and whether another employment-based category is legally realistic.
Example 4: DV Europe rank number 24,500
Europe is 23,000 for July 2026, so rank number 24,500 is outside the July range. Europe is 29,000 for August 2026, so the same number falls within the August range if the case is otherwise ready. Timing remains critical because DV-2026 ends on September 30, 2026.
What applicants should do after the July 2026 Visa Bulletin
If you are in a family-sponsored preference category
- Confirm the category. F1, F2A, F2B, F3, and F4 have different legal relationships and different dates. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens do not use these preference rows.
- Use the July 2026 USCIS family chart correctly. Dates for Filing applies for family-sponsored I-485 cases in July 2026.
- Separate filing from approval. If you file under Dates for Filing, track Final Action Dates later because final approval requires final action availability.
- Prepare relationship and financial evidence. Review birth, marriage, divorce, adoption where applicable, I-864 documents, translations, passport pages, I-94, and medical exam requirements.
If you are in EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, or EB-5
- Use Final Action Dates. Employment-based adjustment applicants must rely on the July 2026 final action chart.
- Do not treat EB-2 India or EB-5 Unreserved India as a one-month delay. DOS says both are unavailable for the remainder of FY 2026.
- Review status history before filing. A favorable date does not solve unlawful presence issues, status violations, unauthorized employment, or inadmissibility questions. For some employment-based applicants, 245(k) may be relevant, but it must be analyzed case by case.
- Build a complete AOS package early. Typical evidence includes I-485, I-693, identity documents, lawful entry proof, I-94, passport pages, birth and marriage records, derivative documents, photos, and category-specific petition evidence.
If you are going through consular processing
- Document stage and interview stage are different. Dates for Filing may allow NVC document collection, but interview scheduling and visa issuance depend on final action availability, consular capacity, and completed processing.
- Check documentarily qualified status. Being documentarily qualified means NVC accepted the package; it is not the same as having an interview date.
- Keep civil documents current. Police certificates, passports, translations, marriage records, and financial documents can expire or become outdated before the interview.
If you are a DV-2026 selectee
- Compare rank number by region. Europe is 23,000 for July and 29,000 for August. Africa, Asia, Oceania, and South America/Caribbean have separate regional numbers.
- Fix inconsistencies before the interview. DS-260 errors, education/work evidence issues, family composition errors, and missing documents are more dangerous near the end of the DV year.
- Plan around September 30, 2026. DV-2026 visas cannot be issued after that date, even if a person was selected and even if a case number later appears favorable.
FAQ: July 2026 Visa Bulletin questions applicants actually search for
Can I file I-485 in July 2026 using Dates for Filing?
Is EB-2 India current in July 2026?
Is EB-5 India unavailable only for July 2026?
What if my country is Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, or another country not listed in the Visa Bulletin?
Can I file if my priority date is the same as the listed cut-off date?
What is the DV Europe cut-off for July and August 2026?
Does a Current row mean USCIS must approve my green card?
Does an approved I-140 let me file I-485 immediately?
Which categories should applicants watch after July 2026?
Official sources
The dates, chart-selection rules, DV cut-off numbers, and employment-based unavailability notes in this article are based on official U.S. government sources.
- U.S. Department of State — Visa Bulletin For July 2026. Official DOS page with July 2026 Final Action Dates, Dates for Filing, DV cut-off numbers, India EB-2 unavailability, India EB-5 Unreserved unavailability, and DV-2026 deadline language: travel.state.gov — Visa Bulletin For July 2026
- U.S. Department of State — Visa Bulletin For June 2026. Official DOS page used to compare June 2026 and July 2026 movement in family-sponsored, employment-based, and DV categories: travel.state.gov — Visa Bulletin For June 2026
- USCIS — July 2026 Adjustment of Status Filing Charts. USCIS page identifying which charts apply to Form I-485 in July 2026: uscis.gov — July 2026 Adjustment of Status Filing Charts
- USCIS — Adjustment of Status Filing Charts from the Visa Bulletin. General USCIS page explaining how USCIS selects Dates for Filing or Final Action Dates for adjustment of status applicants: uscis.gov — Adjustment of Status Filing Charts
Related immigration pathways
These pages help compare the legal options connected with this topic and continue research on the most relevant U.S. immigration routes.
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U.S. work-based immigration routes
Compare EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, NIW, PERM, I-140 and final green card planning in one employment-based framework.
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Form I-140
Review the petition stage before final green card processing.
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EB-1 talent visa
For extraordinary ability, outstanding researchers and multinational managers where PERM is not required.
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Form I-485
For final green card filing inside the United States after a visa number is available.
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EB-2 visa
For advanced degree and exceptional ability cases, usually with employer sponsorship unless NIW applies.
