Monthly Update · Visa Bulletin
Visa Bulletin for June 2026
The U.S. Department of State has released the Visa Bulletin for June 2026. The bulletin shows the priority dates that determine which family-based and employment-based green card applicants can move forward, and the country-specific backlogs that continue to define wait times across categories.
Below: the key changes this month, the full tables by category, and a brief explanation of the terms for readers who are new to the bulletin.
Key changes in June 2026
Family-based: Mixed movement. F-2B advanced moderately across most chargeability areas. F-4 cut-off dates moved slightly backward for some countries. All other family categories were largely unchanged.
Employment-based: Continued volatility for India. EB-1 India retrogressed by roughly three and a half months to December 15, 2022. EB-2 India retrogressed by approximately ten and a half months to September 1, 2013. EB-3 inched forward modestly for India and China; other countries remained largely current or held steady.
Visa Bulletin terms in plain language
The Visa Bulletin has its own vocabulary. If you are new to it, this short reference covers what you actually need to know to read the tables below.
Quick reference
- Priority date
- The date the underlying petition was filed (or for some employment cases, the date the labor certification was filed). This is the date that determines where you sit in line.
- Cut-off date
- The date shown in the bulletin for your category and country of chargeability. If your priority date is earlier than the cut-off, your case can move forward this month.
- Current
- When a category shows "Current" instead of a date, there is no backlog — applications can move forward without waiting for a visa number.
- Retrogression
- When the cut-off date moves backward rather than forward — typically because more applicants became eligible than visa numbers available. Cases that were ready to file may have to wait again.
- Final Action Dates vs Dates for Filing
- The bulletin publishes two charts. The Final Action Dates chart governs when USCIS or the consulate can actually approve a case. The Dates for Filing chart is more permissive and may allow applicants to submit their adjustment of status earlier. Each month, USCIS announces which chart adjustment applicants must use — see the box at the top of this page.
If you are uncertain which category applies to you or what your priority date is, the documents from your underlying petition (I-130 approval notice, I-140 approval notice, PERM certification, etc.) will show it.
Family-based categories
Cut-off dates and movement for the family preference categories. "All Other Areas" covers all countries of birth not separately listed.
F-1 Unmarried sons and daughters (21+) of U.S. citizens
| Country | New Cut-Off Date | Previous | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Other Areas | Oct 1, 2018 | Mar 1, 2018 | Forward 7 mo |
| China | Oct 1, 2018 | Mar 1, 2018 | Forward 7 mo |
| India | Oct 1, 2018 | Mar 1, 2018 | Forward 7 mo |
| Mexico | Oct 1, 2008 | Apr 15, 2008 | Forward 5.5 mo |
| Philippines | Apr 22, 2015 | Apr 22, 2015 | No change |
F-2A Spouses and unmarried children (under 21) of LPRs
| Country | New Cut-Off Date | Previous | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Other Areas | Current | Current | No change |
| China | Current | Current | No change |
| India | Current | Current | No change |
| Mexico | Current | Current | No change |
| Philippines | Current | Current | No change |
F-2B Unmarried sons and daughters (21+) of LPRs
| Country | New Cut-Off Date | Previous | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Other Areas | Mar 22, 2018 | Jan 1, 2018 | Forward 2.5 mo |
| China | Mar 22, 2018 | Jan 1, 2018 | Forward 2.5 mo |
| India | Mar 22, 2018 | Jan 1, 2018 | Forward 2.5 mo |
| Mexico | May 15, 2010 | May 15, 2010 | No change |
| Philippines | Oct 1, 2013 | Oct 1, 2013 | No change |
F-3 Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens
| Country | New Cut-Off Date | Previous | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Other Areas | Dec 8, 2012 | Nov 22, 2012 | Forward 16 days |
| China | Dec 8, 2012 | Nov 22, 2012 | Forward 16 days |
| India | Dec 8, 2012 | Nov 22, 2012 | Forward 16 days |
| Mexico | Jul 15, 2001 | Jul 1, 2001 | Forward 14 days |
| Philippines | Aug 8, 2006 | Jul 15, 2006 | Forward 24 days |
F-4 Siblings of U.S. citizens (citizen 21+)
| Country | New Cut-Off Date | Previous | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Other Areas | Dec 22, 2009 | Sep 1, 2009 | Forward 3.5 mo |
| China | Dec 22, 2009 | Sep 1, 2009 | Forward 3.5 mo |
| India | Dec 15, 2006 | Dec 15, 2006 | No change |
| Mexico | Apr 30, 2001 | Apr 30, 2001 | No change |
| Philippines | Mar 22, 2008 | Mar 22, 2008 | No change |
Employment-based categories
Cut-off dates and movement for the EB preference categories. India and China continue to face the deepest backlogs across most employment categories.
EB-1 Priority workers — extraordinary ability, outstanding researchers/professors, multinational executives
| Country | New Cut-Off Date | Previous | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Other Areas | Current | Current | No change |
| China | Apr 1, 2023 | Apr 1, 2023 | No change |
| India | Dec 15, 2022 | Apr 1, 2023 | Retrogressed 3.5 mo |
| Mexico | Current | Current | No change |
| Philippines | Current | Current | No change |
EB-2 Advanced-degree professionals, exceptional ability, National Interest Waiver
| Country | New Cut-Off Date | Previous | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Other Areas | Current | Current | No change |
| China | Sep 1, 2021 | Sep 1, 2021 | No change |
| India | Sep 1, 2013 | Jul 15, 2014 | Retrogressed 10.5 mo |
| Mexico | Current | Current | No change |
| Philippines | Current | Current | No change |
EB-3 Skilled workers and professionals
| Country | New Cut-Off Date | Previous | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Other Areas | Jun 1, 2024 | Jun 1, 2024 | No change |
| China | Aug 1, 2021 | Jun 15, 2021 | Forward 1.5 mo |
| India | Dec 15, 2013 | Nov 15, 2013 | Forward 1 mo |
| Mexico | Jun 1, 2024 | Jun 1, 2024 | No change |
| Philippines | Aug 1, 2023 | Aug 1, 2023 | No change |
EB-3 Other Other workers (unskilled)
| Country | New Cut-Off Date | Previous | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Other Areas | Feb 1, 2022 | Feb 1, 2022 | No change |
| China | Apr 1, 2019 | Feb 1, 2019 | Forward 2 mo |
| India | Dec 15, 2013 | Nov 15, 2013 | Forward 1 mo |
| Mexico | Feb 1, 2022 | Feb 1, 2022 | No change |
| Philippines | Nov 1, 2021 | Nov 1, 2021 | No change |
EB-4 Special immigrants
| Country | New Cut-Off Date | Previous | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Other Areas | Jul 15, 2022 | Jul 15, 2022 | No change |
| China | Jul 15, 2022 | Jul 15, 2022 | No change |
| India | Jul 15, 2022 | Jul 15, 2022 | No change |
| Mexico | Jul 15, 2022 | Jul 15, 2022 | No change |
| Philippines | Jul 15, 2022 | Jul 15, 2022 | No change |
EB-5 Immigrant investors
| Country | New Cut-Off Date | Previous | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Other Areas | Current | Current | No change |
| China | Sep 22, 2016 | Sep 1, 2016 | Forward 21 days |
| India | May 1, 2022 | May 1, 2022 | No change |
| Mexico | Current | Current | No change |
| Philippines | Current | Current | No change |
What this month's bulletin means in practice
EB-1 India retrogression
The continued retrogression in EB-1 India is the most consequential employment-based movement this month. India-chargeable petitioners whose EB-1 cases would have been ready to file in May may now have to wait again. For those with strong records, this is also a moment to evaluate whether a parallel EB-2 NIW filing makes sense as a backup — though EB-2 India has retrogressed even more sharply, so the calculus is not straightforward. See our companion article on choosing between EB-2 NIW and EB-1A.
EB-2 India ten-and-a-half-month retrogression
EB-2 India moving from July 2014 back to September 2013 is a substantial step backward. For India-chargeable petitioners with priority dates between September 2013 and July 2014, this means cases that may have been ready to file last month are no longer current. Those waiting on EB-2 NIW approvals from earlier filings will continue to wait for the priority date to become current again.
F-2A continuing as current
F-2A — spouses and unmarried minor children of LPRs — remains current across all countries. This is the most accessible family preference category for green card holders' immediate families, and applicants in this category can generally file adjustment of status or move through consular processing without waiting on a priority date.
EB-3 modest forward movement for India and China
EB-3 for India advanced one month; EB-3 for China advanced one and a half months in the Skilled/Professional category and two months in Other Workers. Modest but positive — the kind of small step-forward that keeps a backlog inching down rather than freezing.
Filing windows can close quickly when the bulletin moves. If your case is ready, do not wait — and if there is any documentation gap, address it immediately. For applicants with already-approved underlying petitions whose priority dates are current, the next step is filing the green card application itself (Form I-485 for adjustment of status, or proceeding through the National Visa Center for consular processing). Counsel can help confirm whether your specific case is ready to proceed and what to file when.
Common questions
What is my priority date?
For family-based cases, it is the date your I-130 (or other underlying petition) was received by USCIS. For employment-based cases, it is generally the date the labor certification (PERM) was filed, or — for categories that do not require labor certification, like EB-1 and EB-2 NIW — the date the I-140 petition was filed. Your priority date appears on the I-797 receipt or approval notice for the underlying petition.
What does it mean if my category shows "Current"?
"Current" means there is no backlog in that category for that country of chargeability — cases can move forward without waiting on a visa number. You still need an approved underlying petition and to meet all other eligibility requirements, but you are not waiting for the bulletin to move.
Why did my category retrogress?
Retrogression typically happens when the number of applicants with eligible priority dates exceeds the number of visa numbers available in that category for that fiscal year. The cut-off date moves backward to manage demand against the annual cap. Retrogression is usually temporary — categories often advance again in the following fiscal year — but it can lengthen wait times in the short term.
How do I know whether to use the Final Action Dates or Dates for Filing chart?
For adjustment of status applicants in the United States, USCIS announces each month which chart applicants must use — see the box at the top of this page. For consular processing applicants abroad, the National Visa Center generally uses the Final Action Dates chart.
How long until my priority date becomes current?
The bulletin does not predict wait times directly. Tracking your category's movement over several months gives a rough sense, but movement is not linear — categories can advance steadily, jump forward, freeze, or retrogress depending on demand and visa number availability. Country of chargeability matters enormously: applicants from India and China face significantly longer waits in most employment-based categories than applicants from other countries.
Need help figuring out where your case stands?
A free evaluation walks through your specific situation — your priority date, your category, your country of chargeability, and what the current bulletin means for your timeline. We can also discuss whether parallel filings or alternative categories make sense given recent retrogression patterns.
Official sources
- U.S. Department of State — Visa Bulletin (current month)
- U.S. Department of State — Visa Bulletin for June 2026
- USCIS — Adjustment of Status Filing Charts (which chart to use)
- Form I-485 — Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status
This article summarizes the Visa Bulletin for June 2026 and is for general informational purposes. The Visa Bulletin changes monthly and individual cases turn on specific priority dates, categories, and chargeability. Always confirm current dates against the official Department of State bulletin linked above, and consult with a qualified immigration attorney about your specific situation.