Visa Bulletin (July 2026): What the Priority-Date Charts Say — and the ‘Final Action Dates’ Reminder

On June 2, 2026 (marked CA/VO: June 2, 2026 on the bulletin), the U.S. Department of State published the Visa Bulletin for July 2026.

The Visa Bulletin is the official monthly publication that shows priority-date cutoffs for family- and employment-based immigrant visas. It also provides important context for people who may want to file Form I-485 (Adjustment of Status) with USCIS, depending on their category and priority date.

What the July 2026 Visa Bulletin is (in plain language)

If you are applying for a green card through a family or employment preference category, you often need to wait until a visa number is available for your category and country of chargeability. The Visa Bulletin is how the government publishes those monthly cutoffs.

In many cases, your ability to:

• file an adjustment-of-status application (Form I-485), or
• receive final approval

depends on the dates shown in the bulletin.

The bulletin’s key reminder about filing adjustment of status

The July 2026 bulletin repeats an important rule that many applicants miss: unless USCIS says otherwise for the month, people filing adjustment of status with USCIS must use the ‘Final Action Dates’ chart to determine when they are eligible to file.

The bulletin also notes that USCIS may sometimes allow applicants to use the ‘Dates for Filing Visa Applications’ chart when USCIS determines there are more visas available than there are known applicants — and USCIS posts that decision each month.

Because these monthly chart decisions can change, it’s a good habit to check both the Visa Bulletin and USCIS’s monthly application guidance before you send an application.

Notable availability notes called out in the July 2026 bulletin

The July 2026 bulletin includes specific notes stating that, due to high demand and number use:

• EB-2 India is listed as ‘Unavailable’ for the remainder of FY 2026, and
• EB-5 Unreserved India is also ‘Unavailable’ for the remainder of FY 2026.

The bulletin also warns that additional retrogression (dates moving backward) or additional categories becoming unavailable can happen if annual or per-country limits are reached before the end of the fiscal year.

What this means for you

• If you are preparing an I-485 filing, the monthly chart selection (Final Action Dates vs. Dates for Filing) can affect whether USCIS will accept your filing.
• If you are in a category facing high demand, the bulletin’s ‘Unavailable’ notes are a reminder to plan carefully and avoid last-minute filings if you may become current later.
• If you are not sure which preference category you fall under (or whether you are ‘current’), it can help to get your priority date and category confirmed before you file.

This post is general information, not legal advice.

We can help

Asal Immigration Services helps Columbus-area clients understand Visa Bulletin updates and what they can mean for real timelines and next steps. If you want to discuss your situation, you can [contact us](/contact) to schedule a consultation. You can also review our [resources](/resources) and [forms and guides](/forms).

Authoritative source: U.S. Department of State, Visa Bulletin for July 2026: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin/2026/visa-bulletin-for-july-2026.html