Visa Lawyer Blog
We are pleased to report that the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs has published the July 2026 Visa Bulletin.
In this blog post, we breakdown the movement of the employment-based and family-sponsored categories in the coming month.
Adjustment of Status Chart
For adjustment of status filings to permanent residence in the month of July, USCIS will continue using the Dates for Filing Chart for family-sponsored categories only.
For employment-based categories, USCIS will also continue using the Final Action Dates Chart.
Highlights of the July 2026 Visa Bulletin
At a Glance
What can we expect to see in the month of July?
Employment-Based Categories
Final Action Advancements
EB-1 Aliens of extraordinary ability, Outstanding Professors and Researchers, and Certain Multinational Managers or Executives
- EB-1 China will advance 2 months to July 1, 2023
- EB-1 India will retrogress 2 months to October 15, 2022
EB-2 Members of the Professions and Aliens of Exceptional Ability
- EB-2 India will be unavailable
EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers
- EB-3 India will advance 2.4 weeks to January 1, 2014
- EB-3 China will advance 4.7 months to December 22, 2021
- (Worldwide and Mexico) will advance 2 months to August 1, 2024
EB-3 Other Workers
- EB-3 India will advance 2.4 weeks to January 1, 2014
- EB-3 Philippines will advance 1 month to December 1, 2021
- (Worldwide, Mexico) will advance 1 month to March 1, 2022
EB-4 Special Immigrants and Religious Workers
- All countries will advance 2 months to September 15, 2022
EB-5 Unreserved Categories (C5, T5, I5, and R5)
- EB-5 India is unavailable
- EB-5 China will advance 2.3 months to December 1, 2016
Dates for Filing Advancements
- No movement since May
Family-Sponsored Categories
Final Action Advancements
F-1 Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
- F1 (Worldwide, China, and India) will advance 5 months to February 1, 2018
F-2B Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents
- F2B Philippines will advance by 1.2 months to May 15, 2013
- (Worldwide, China, India) will advance 2 months to November 22, 2017
F3 Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
- F3 Mexico will advance 1 month to June 1, 2001
- F3 Philippines will advance 3 months to February 22, 2006
- (Worldwide, China, India) will advance 2 months to April 15, 2012
F-4 Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens
- F4 Philippines will advance 2.4 weeks to August 1, 2007
- (Worldwide and China) will advance 1.8 months to January 1, 2009
Dates for Filing Advancements
F-1 Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
- F1 (Worldwide, China, India) will advance 3 months to January 1, 2019
F-2B Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents
- F2B (Worldwide, China, India) will advance 2.6 months to June 8, 2018
F-4 Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens
- F4 (Worldwide and China) will advance 2.3 months to March 1, 2010
Now let’s dive into our analysis.
Employment-Based Categories
FINAL ACTION DATES FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES
The following Final Action cutoff dates will apply for employment-based categories in the month of July.
EB-1 Aliens of extraordinary ability, Outstanding Professors and Researchers, and Certain Multinational Managers or Executives
- EB-1 China will advance 2 months to July 1, 2023
- EB-1 India will retrogress 2 months to October 15, 2022
- All other countries will remain current
EB-2 Members of the Professions and Aliens of Exceptional Ability
- EB-2 India will be unavailable
- EB-2 China will remain at September 1, 2021
- All other countries (Worldwide, Mexico, Philippines) will remain current
EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers
- EB-3 India will advance 2.4 weeks to January 1, 2014
- EB-3 China will advance 4.7 months to December 22, 2021
- EB-3 Philippines will remain at August 1, 2023
- All other countries (Worldwide and Mexico) will advance 2 months to August 1, 2024
EB-3 Other Workers
- EB-3 India will advance 2.4 weeks to January 1, 2014
- EB-3 China will remain at April 1, 2019
- EB-3 Philippines will advance 1 month to December 1, 2021
- All other countries (Worldwide, Mexico) will advance 1 month to March 1, 2022
EB-4 Special Immigrants and Religious Workers
- All countries will advance 2 months to September 15, 2022
EB-5 Unreserved Categories (C5, T5, I5, and R5)
- EB-5 India is unavailable
- EB-5 China will advance 2.3 months to December 1, 2016
- All other countries will remain current
EB-5 Set-Aside Categories (Rural, High Unemployment, and Infrastructure) will remain current
*The bold represents the Visa Bulletin advancements
| Employment- based |
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed |
CHINA- mainland born |
INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| 1st | C | 01JUN23 | 15OCT22 | C | C |
| 2nd | C | 01SEP21 | U | C | C |
| 3rd | 01AUG24 | 22DEC21 | 01JAN14 | 01AUG24 | 01AUG23 |
| Other Workers | 01MAR22 | 01APR19 | 01JAN14 | 01MAR22 | 01DEC21 |
| 4th | 15SEP22 | 15SEP22 | 15SEP22 | 15SEP22 | 15SEP22 |
| Certain Religious Workers | 15SEP22 | 15SEP22 | 15SEP22 | 15SEP22 | 15SEP22 |
| 5th Unreserved (including C5, T5, I5, R5, NU, RU) |
C | 01DEC16 | U | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: Rural (20%, including NR, RR) |
C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: High Unemployment (10%, including NH, RH) |
C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: Infrastructure (2%, including RI) |
C | C | C | C |
DATES FOR FILING FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES
The following Dates for Filing cutoff dates will apply in July.
*Note the chart remains unchanged since the May Visa Bulletin.
EB-1 Aliens of extraordinary ability, Outstanding Professors and Researchers, and Certain Multinational Managers or Executives
- EB-1 India and China will remain at December 1, 2023
- All other countries will remain current
EB-2 Members of the Professions and Aliens of Exceptional Ability
- EB-2 India will remain at January 15, 2015
- EB-2 China will remain at January 1, 2022
- All other countries will remain current
EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers
- EB-3 India will remain at January 15, 2015
- EB-3 China will remain at January 1, 2022
- EB-3 Philippines will remain at January 1, 2024
- All other countries (Worldwide and Mexico) will remain current
EB-3 Other Workers
- EB-3 India will remain at January 15, 2015
- EB-3 China will remain at October 1, 2019
- All other countries (Worldwide, Mexico, and Philippines) will remain at August 1, 2022
EB-4 Special Immigrants and Religious Workers
- EB-4 will remain at January 1, 2023
EB-5 Unreserved Categories (C5, T5, I5, and R5)
- EB-5 India will remain at May 1, 2024
- EB-5 China will remain at March 1, 2017
- All other countries will remain current
EB-5 Set-Aside Categories (Rural, High Unemployment, and Infrastructure) will also remain current
| Employment- based |
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed |
CHINA- mainland born |
INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| 1st | C | 01DEC23 | 01DEC23 | C | C |
| 2nd | C | 01JAN22 | 15JAN15 | C | C |
| 3rd | C | 01JAN22 | 15JAN15 | C | 01JAN24 |
| Other Workers | 01AUG22 | 01OCT19 | 15JAN15 | 01AUG22 | 01AUG22 |
| 4th | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 |
| Certain Religious Workers | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 |
| 5th Unreserved (including C5, T5, I5, R5) |
C | 01MAR17 | 01MAY24 | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: (Rural: NR, RR – 20%) |
C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: (High Unemployment: NH, RH – 10%) |
C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: (Infrastructure: RI – 2%) |
C | C | C | C | C |
FINAL ACTION DATES FOR FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCE CASES
The following Final Action cutoff dates will apply for family-sponsored categories in the month of July.
F-1 Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
- F1 Mexico will remain at November 8, 2007
- F1 Philippines will remain at May 1, 2013
- (Worldwide, China, and India) will advance 5 months to February 1, 2018
F-2A Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents
- F2A Mexico will remain at January 1, 2024
- F2A All other countries will remain at January 1, 2025
F-2B Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents
- F2B Mexico will remain at February 15, 2009
- F2B Philippines will advance by 1.2 months to May 15, 2013
- (Worldwide, China, India) will advance 2 months to November 22, 2017
F3 Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
- F3 Mexico will advance 1 month to June 1, 2001
- F3 Philippines will advance 3 months to February 22, 2006
- (Worldwide, China, India) will advance 2 months to April 15, 2012
F-4 Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens
- F4 Mexico will remain at April 8, 2001
- F4 Philippines will advance 2.4 weeks to August 1, 2007
- F4 India will remain at November 1, 2006
- (Worldwide and China) will advance 1.8 months to January 1, 2009
*The bold represents the Visa Bulletin advancements
| Family- Sponsored |
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed |
CHINA-mainland born |
INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| F1 | 01FEB18 | 01FEB18 | 01FEB18 | 08NOV07 | 01MAY13 |
| F2A | 01JAN25 | 01JAN25 | 01JAN25 | 01JAN24 | 01JAN25 |
| F2B | 22NOV17 | 22NOV17 | 22NOV17 | 15FEB09 | 15MAY13 |
| F3 | 15APR12 | 15APR12 | 15APR12 | 01JUN01 | 22FEB06 |
| F4 | 01JAN09 | 01JAN09 | 01NOV06 | 08APR01 | 01AUG07 |
DATES FOR FILING FOR FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCE CASES
The following Dates for Filing cutoff dates will apply for family-sponsored categories in the month of July.
F-1 Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
- F1 Mexico will remain at October 1, 2008
- F1 Philippines will remain at April 22, 2015
- (Worldwide, China, India) will advance 3 months to January 1, 2019
F-2A Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents
- All countries will remain current
F-2B Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents
- F2B Mexico will remain at May 15, 2010
- F2B Philippines will remain at October 1, 2013
- (Worldwide, China, India) will advance 2.6 months to June 8, 2018
F3 Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
- F3 Mexico will remain at July 15, 2001
- F3 Philippines will remain at August 8, 2006
- (Worldwide, China, India) will remain at December 8, 2012
F-4 Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens
- F4 Mexico will remain at April 30, 2001
- F4 Philippines will remain at March 22, 2008
- F4 India will remain at December 15, 2006
- (Worldwide and China) will advance 2.3 months to March 1, 2010
*The bold represents the Visa Bulletin advancements
| Family- Sponsored |
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed |
CHINA- mainland born |
INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| F1 | 01JAN19 | 01JAN19 | 01JAN19 | 01OCT08 | 22APR15 |
| F2A | C | C | C | C | C |
| F2B | 08JUN18 | 08JUN18 | 08JUN18 | 15MAY10 | 01OCT13 |
| F3 | 08DEC12 | 08DEC12 | 08DEC12 | 15JUL01 | 08AUG06 |
| F4 | 01MAR10 | 01MAR10 | 15DEC06 | 30APR01 | 22MAR08 |
Conclusion
In the employment-based dates for filing chart there has been no movement since the May visa Bulletin. In the final action chart, EB-1 India has retrogressed by 2 months to October 15, 2022, EB-2 and EB-5 Unreserved India have become unavailable. The rest of the employment-based categories will experience moderate movement.
In the family-sponsored dates for filing chart, F1 Worldwide, China, and India will advance 3 months to January 1, 2019, F2B Worldwide, China, India, will advance 2.6 months to June 8, 2018, and F4 Worldwide and China will advance 2.3 months to March 1, 2010.
In the final action chart, most family-sponsored categories will experience moderate movement except for F1 Mexico and Philippines, F2A, F2B Mexico, F4 Mexico, and F4 India.
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