EB-2 Priority Date India: What “Unavailable” Means for You

Under the July 2026 Visa Bulletin, the EB-2 India filing cut-off date is unavailable. This means EB-2 applicants from India cannot receive a Green Card until the next fiscal year, since the government has reached the annual cap.

Manifest’s principal immigration attorney Nicole Gunara says those who already have a pending EB-2 Green Card case should prepare for longer wait times, but not panic. “The government can still receive your case, schedule interviews, and even issue separate benefits like advance parole or a work permit. They just can’t finish the process and grant you the green card,” she says. 

“The most important thing to do is to keep your case moving forward, whether you’re just gathering evidence for the I-140 filing or preparing your Green Card interview,” Gunara continues.

See the latest EB-2 India priority dates below:

Why is there an EB-2 Green Card backlog for India?

U.S. law states that no single country can receive more than 7% of the total available employment-based immigrant visas in a fiscal year. The country’s population or number of qualified applicants doesn’t matter. That’s why India has its own set of priority dates in the Visa Bulletin, along with other countries such as China, Mexico, and the Philippines. It’s also why there are persistently long wait times on the Visa Bulletin for Indian nationals—there’s massively more demand than Green Cards available.

This year, the India EB-2 backlog is so massive that the State Department announced on May 21 that India had hit its yearly cap for EB-2 Green Cards. High demand among Indian EB-2 applicants likely led to the annual cap being met earlier than usual this year. This may not be the only time we hear of a category being capped this year, as the State Department has already warned in the June 2026 Visa Bulletin that other categories were approaching their FY 2026 limits.

How to read the Visa Bulletin for EB-2 India, step-by-step

The Visa Bulletin, published monthly by USCIS and the U.S. Department of State, breaks down current priority dates by visa type (e.g., employment-based or family-sponsored) and provides monthly cut-off dates that determine whether immigrant visa numbers are available. When you open the Visa Bulletin, here are four steps to help you find the current Visa Bulletin for EB-2 India:

1. Find out which dates the government is using.

There are two possible charts of dates for each visa category: a Dates for Filing chart and a Final Action Date chart. Every month, the U.S. government chooses which chart it will use to determine the priority dates that are current. USCIS will say on its website which chart it’s using, though most of the time, it will use the Final Action Date.

When you check the current month’s Visa Bulletin, double-check that the chart you’re looking at is the correct one. 

Generally, for adjustment of status, USCIS will use “Dates for Filing” to allow applicants to submit their Green Card applications and “Final Action Dates” to indicate when a Green Card can be approved and issued. 

2. Find charts under “Employment-Based Preference Cases.”

The Visa Bulletin includes charts for family-sponsored preference and employment-based preference filings, as well as several other visa categories. If you are applying for a Green Card through an EB-2 visa, find the employment-based visa charts.

3. Determine if your priority date is current.

An EB-2 visa is the second preference category for employment-based visas, so look for the row showing that “2nd” category and the “India” column. The date listed there is the cut-off date for people with India as their country of chargeability. If your priority date is on or before that cut-off date, your date is current, and you can apply for a Green Card

4. Consider filing for a Green Card as soon as possible.

If your priority date is current according to this month’s chart, consider taking the next step toward a Green Card ASAP. This means filing Form I-485 if you are within the U.S. or going through consular processing if you are not. If you are going through consular processing, remember that the Final Action Date chart will always decide if your priority date is current. If you are in the U.S., filing Form I-485 can also grant other permissions, such as work and travel authorization.

It’s important to remember that priority dates on the Visa Bulletin can retrogress, meaning they can move backward. So even if your priority date is current this month, there’s no guarantee it will remain current in the following month.

Get more help with your EB-2 Green Card journey

Knowing your priority date and how it functions with the charts released by USCIS is necessary to understand your Green Card wait time. When you find out your priority date is current, you want to work fast and file a strong Green Card application.

If you have questions about your priority date or what to do next in the Green Card process, request a consultation with Manifest today.

FAQs about EB-2 India priority date

What is a priority date?

Your “priority date” is the date USCIS receives your I-140 petition. That date stays the same throughout your case. The Visa Bulletin lists a cut-off date, which determines when you can take the next step.  Each month, USCIS announces whether applicants must use the Final Action Dates chart or the Dates for Filing chart to determine eligibility to file for adjustment of status (Form I-485).

Can I switch from EB-2 to EB-1 to shorten my priority date wait?

Once your priority date is established, it is generally yours to keep as long as you list it on future filings. Depending on the backlogs and your personal situation, it might make sense to change what Green Card you’re petitioning for.

If you can apply for an EB-1 visa, the backlog for India is usually much shorter. But for this category, you will have to prove that you have extraordinary ability in your field, with major awards, recommendations, and supporting documentation. You can work with an EB-1 visa attorney to port your EB-2 priority date into the EB-1 queue.

This category is also available for Multinational Managers and Outstanding Researchers. 

Can I switch from EB-2 to EB-3?

Going from EB-2 to EB-3

On rare occasions, the EB-3 visa backlog for India might move slightly faster than the EB-2 category. This type of visa is for less-skilled workers, meaning you don’t need to prove the same training or recognition in your field. You can port your priority date into the EB-3 queue by filing a new Form I-140, but you should talk with an attorney who understands Visa Bulletin trends before making any changes.