August Visa Bulletin: Major EB-1 & EB-2 Updates
The August Visa Bulletin warns EB-1 India may become unavailable before September 30, while EB-2 India remains unavailable. See the latest Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing.
The U.S. Department of State has published the August Visa Bulletin, maintaining EB-2 India as unavailable while cautioning that EB-1 India could also become unavailable before the close of Fiscal Year (FY) 2026. With the fiscal year ending on September 30, 2026, the bulletin reflects continued pressure on employment-based immigrant visa numbers, particularly for Indian applicants.
EB-1 India May Run Out of Visa Numbers Before September 30
The August Visa Bulletin leaves most employment-based categories unchanged but introduces a more urgent warning for EB-1 India. The Final Action Date remains October 15, 2022, unchanged from July. However, the State Department now says the category may become unavailable in the coming weeks if demand continues to exceed the remaining FY2026 visa allocation.
The situation remains unchanged for EB-2 India, which continues to be listed as Unavailable (U) after exhausting its FY2026 annual allocation. As a result, no immigrant visas can be issued, nor can adjustment of status applications receive final approval under this category until the new fiscal year begins on October 1, 2026. Meanwhile, EB-3 India remains heavily backlogged, with its Final Action Date holding at January 1, 2014.
Filing Dates Hold Steady Despite Visa Pressure
The Dates for Filing chart also shows no movement for Indian applicants. EB-1 India remains at December 1, 2023, while both EB-2 India and EB-3 India continue at January 15, 2015. Although these dates do not guarantee visa availability, they determine when eligible applicants may submit adjustment of status applications if USCIS authorizes the use of the filing chart for the month.
Limited Movement Expected Until FY2027 Begins
The latest August Visa Bulletin underscores the continued impact of priority date retrogression on employment-based immigration, particularly for Indian professionals pursuing US permanent residency.
Applicants tracking their EB1 priority date for India, EB1 Green Card timeline, and overall Green Card processing time should closely monitor future bulletins, as any exhaustion of EB-1 India before September 30, 2026, could temporarily pause approvals until fresh immigrant visa numbers become available on October 1, 2026. Until then, both the Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing will remain critical indicators for those seeking a United States Green Card.
For more updates on the latest U.S. immigration developments, visit Smart Immigrant and stay informed.
Read full News here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin/2026/visa-bulletin-for-august-2026.html
