June 2026 Visa Bulletin: Family-Based Dates See Major Gains While India EB-1 and EB-2 Retrogress

The June 2026 Visa Bulletin brings significant forward movement across family-based preference categories, while applicants from India in the EB-1 and EB-2 categories face notable setbacks, as both categories have retrogressed under the Final Action Dates chart.

The State Department has released the June 2026 Visa Bulletin. USCIS has confirmed it will use the Final Action Dates chart to determine when employment-based applicants may file for adjustment of status, and the Dates for Filing chart for family-based petitioners.

Employment-based: Final Action Dates

Here are the key takeaways from the June 2026 Visa Bulletin for employment-based Final Action Date filers:

• India EB-1 moved backward in June. The final action date for India EB-1 retrogressed to December 15, 2022,  driven by high demand and heavy usage against the FY 2026 annual limit.
• India EB-2 experienced an even larger retrogression, moving back to September 1, 2013. The bulletin also warns that further retrogression, or even temporary unavailability, may become necessary before the fiscal year ends.
• China EB-1 and EB-2 Final Action Dates remained unchanged, with EB-1 holding on April 1, 2023, and EB-2 on September 1, 2021. However, the bulletin notes that China EB-2 could also face retrogression in the coming months.
• EB-1 and EB-2 remained current for All Other Areas, Mexico, and the Philippines. No cut-off date applies for these countries in both EB-1 and EB-2.
• Philippines EB-3 is also at risk. The bulletin flags that sufficient demand may require retrogression or unavailability for Philippines EB-3 in upcoming months.
• India EB-5 Unreserved faces a similar warning. Increased number use by India-chargeable applicants in the EB-5 unreserved category may require retrogression as early as next month.

Employment-based: Dates for Filing

USCIS is using the Final Action Dates chart this month for employment-based adjustment of status applicants. This chart, however, applies only to consular processing applicants:

Key takeaways for the employment-based Dates for Filing chart:

• The Dates for Filing chart remained unchanged for both EB-1 and EB-2. EB-1 stayed current for most countries, while China and India remained at December 1, 2023. 
• EB-2 also remained current for most countries, with China holding at January 1, 2022, and India at January 15, 2015.
• EB-3 is current for most countries and Mexico. China sits at January 1, 2022, India at January 15, 2015, and the Philippines at January 1, 2024.
• This chart cannot be used for adjustment of status filings this month. USCIS has confirmed that employment-based applicants filing adjustment of status applications must use the Final Action Dates chart for June 2026.

Family-based: Final Action Dates

Here are the key June 2026 Visa Bulletin takeaways for family-based Final Action Date filers:

• F2A saw the largest forward movement. Final Action Dates advanced by approximately five months for nearly all countries. Most countries, China, India, and the Philippines moved from August 1, 2024, to January 1, 2025, while Mexico moved from August 1, 2023, to January 1, 2024.
• F2B also advanced for most countries, China, and India, with the Final Action Date moving from May 22, 2017, to September 22, 2017. Mexico and the Philippines remained unchanged.
• F1 was largely unchanged. The only movement was for Mexico, which advanced from August 15, 2007, to November 8, 2007. All other F1 chargeability areas remained the same.
• F3 did not move, with Final Action Dates remaining unchanged across all chargeability areas.
• F4 advanced for most countries and China, moving from September 15, 2008, to November 8, 2008. However, India, Mexico, and the Philippines did not see any movement.

Family-based: Dates for Filing

USCIS has confirmed that family-based adjustment of status applicants may use the Dates for Filing chart this month.

Here are the key June 2026 Visa Bulletin takeaways for family-based Dates for Filing filers:

• F2A remained current across all countries, allowing spouses and children of permanent residents to file regardless of priority date.
• F2B advanced for most countries, China, and India to March 22, 2018. Mexico and the Philippines remained unchanged.
• F1 and F3 saw no movement under the Dates for Filing chart.
• F4 advanced for most countries and China to December 22, 2009, while India, Mexico, and the Philippines remained unchanged.

What this means for applicants

June 2026 is a month of contrasts. Family-based applicants, especially those in the F2A category, have a meaningful window to act, with dates advancing by roughly five months across nearly all countries. In addition, family-based petitioners can also take advantage of the Dates for Filing chart this month, allowing eligible applicants to get into the queue earlier.

For India-born employment-based applicants, however, June brings difficult news. The retrogression in EB-1 and EB-2 is substantial, and the bulletin’s warnings about further potential retrogression, or categories becoming unavailable before the end of FY 2026, make it essential to consult an immigration attorney about your options as soon as possible