State Department Releases April 2026 Visa Bulletin: Big Updates for EB-1, EB-2 India

The State Department has just released the April 2026 Visa Bulletin, bringing good news for Indian nationals applying in the EB-1 and EB-2 categories.

EB-1/EB-2 final action dates on the April 2026 Visa Bulletin:

• For EB-1, China and India moved forward by a month (March 1, 2023 to April 1, 2023). All other areas remain current.
• For EB-2, China shows no movement and India surges forward by 303 days (September 15, 2013 to July 15, 2014). All other areas are now current.

EB-1/EB-2 filing dates on the April 2026 Visa Bulletin:

• For EB-1, no movement for India and China (remain at December 1, 2023). All other areas remain current.
• For EB-2, India moves forward by 75 days (November 1, 2014 to January 15, 2015). No movement for China. All other areas remain current. 

USCIS has also announced that it would continue using the Dates of Filing chart to determine the applicable priority dates to file an adjustment of status.

Looking for more insights? Check out the Legal Brief: Immigration Attorney Explains April Visa Bulletin Movement.

April 2026 Visa Bulletin Charts

Employment-Based Green Cards – Filing Dates

EB-1: Priority Workers (Dates for Filing)

The EB-1 category includes individuals of extraordinary ability (EB-1A), outstanding professors and researchers (EB-1B), and multinational executives (EB-1C).

Country	Filing Date (March 2026)	Filing Date (April 2026)	Movement
All Other Areas	Current	Current	No change
China	01-Dec-23	01-Dec-23	No change
India	01-Dec-23	01-Dec-23	No change
Mexico	Current	Current	No change
Philippines	Current	Current	No change

EB-2: Exceptional people and advanced degree holders (Dates for Filing)

The EB-2 category (including EB-2 NIW) includes exceptional people and advanced degree holders. 

Country	Filing Date(March 2026)	Filing Date(April 2026)	Movement
All Other Areas	Current	Current	No change
China	01-Jan-22	01-Jan-22	No change
India	01-Nov-14	15-Jan-15	+2.5 Months
Mexico	Current	Current	No change
Philippines	Current	Current	No change

EB-3: Skilled worker, professional, or other worker (Dates for Filing)

The EB-3 visa category is for skilled workers, professionals, or other workers. 

Country	Filing Date(March 2026)	Filing Date(April 2026)	Movement
All Other Areas	15-Jan-24	Current	Current
China	01-Jan-22	01-Jan-22	No change
India	15-Aug-14	15-Jan-15	+5 Months
Mexico	15-Jan-24	Current	Current
Philippines	01-Jan-24	01-Jan-24	No change

Other Workers (Dates for Filing)

Country	Filing Date(March 2026)	Filing Date(April 2026)	Movement
All Other Areas	22-Jun-22	01-Aug-22	+40 Days
China	01-Oct-19	01-Oct-19	No change
India	15-Aug-14	15-Jan-15	+5 Months
Mexico	22-Jun-22	01-Aug-22	+40 Days
Philippines	22-Jun-22	01-Aug-22	+40 Days

EB-4: “Special immigrants” category (Dates for Filing)

The EB-4 category is for special immigrants, including religious workers, certain broadcasters, military members, Iraqi translators, and other specific groups designated by U.S. immigration law.

Country	Filing Date(March 2026)	Filing Date(April 2026)	Movement
All Other Areas	01-Jan-23	01-Jan-23	No change
China	01-Jan-23	01-Jan-23	No change
India	01-Jan-23	01-Jan-23	No change
Mexico	01-Jan-23	01-Jan-23	No change
Philippines	01-Jan-23	01-Jan-23	No change

EB-5: “Investors” category (Dates for Filing)

The EB-5 category is for immigrant investors who make qualifying investments in U.S. businesses that create or preserve at least 10 full-time jobs for American workers.

Country	Filing Date(March 2026)	Filing Date(April 2026)	Movement
All Other Areas	Current	Current	Current
China	01-Oct-16	01-Oct-16	No change
India	01-May-24	01-May-24	No change
Mexico	Current	Current	Current
Philippines	Current	Current	Current

Employment-Based Green Cards – Final Action Dates

USCIS is using the Filing Dates Chart to determine eligibility for Adjustment of Status in April 2026. However, Final Action Dates are still important to keep in mind, because they determine when a Green Card is available and can actually be issued once your application is pending.

EB-1: Priority Workers (Final Action Dates)

Country	Final Action Date (March 2026)	Final Action Date (April 2026)	Movement
All Other Areas	Current	Current	No change
China	01-Mar-23	01-Apr-23	+1 Month
India	01-Mar-23	01-Apr-23	+1 Month
Mexico	Current	Current	No change
Philippines	Current	Current	No change

EB-2: Exceptional people and advanced degree holders (Final Action Dates)

Country	Final Action Date (March 2026)	Final Action Date (April 2026)	Movement
All Other Areas	15-Oct-24	Current	+17 months
China	01-Sep-21	01-Sep-21	No change
India	15-Sep-13	15-July-14	+10 Months
Mexico	15-Oct-24	Current	+17 months
Philippines	15-Oct-24	Current	+17 months

EB-3: Skilled worker, professional, or other worker (Final Action Dates)

Country	Final Action Date (March 2026)	Final Action Date (April 2026)	Movement
All Other Areas	01-Oct-23	01-Jun-24	+8 Months
China	01-May-21	15-Jun-21	+1 Month
India	15-Nov-13	15-Nov-13	No change
Mexico	01-Oct-23	01-Jun-24	+8 Months
Philippines	01-Aug-23	01-Aug-23	No change

EB-4: “Special immigrants” category (Final Action Dates)

Country	Final Action Date (March 2026)	Final Action Date (April 2026)	Movement
All Other Areas	15-Jul-21	15-Jul-22	+1 Year
China	15-Jul-21	15-Jul-22	+1 Year
India	15-Jul-21	15-Jul-22	+1 Year
Mexico	15-Jul-21	15-Jul-22	+1 Year
Philippines	15-Jul-21	15-Jul-22	+1 Year

EB-5: “Investors” category (Final Action Dates)

Country	Final Action Date (March 2026)	Final Action Date (April 2026)	Movement
All Other Areas	Current	Current	No change
China	15-Aug-16	01-Sep-16	+2 Weeks
India	01-May-22	01-May-22	No change
Mexico	Current	Current	No change
Philippines	Current	Current	No change

Family-Based Green Cards – Filing Dates

Family-sponsored green cards are allocated across four main preference categories, covering unmarried and married children of U.S. citizens, spouses and children of permanent residents, and siblings of U.S. citizens. The cut-off dates in these categories decide when applicants can take the next step toward securing a green card.

F1: Unmarried children (age 21 and older) of U.S. Citizens

Country	New Cut-Off Date(March 2026)	New Cut-Off Date(April 2026)	Movement
All Other Areas	01-Sep-17	01-Mar-18	+6 Months
China	01-Sep-17	01-Mar-18	+6 Months
India	01-Sep-17	01-Mar-18	+6 Months
Mexico	01-Dec-07	15-Apr-08	+4 Months
Philippines	22-Apr-15	22-Apr-15	No change

F2A: Spouses and unmarried children (under age 21) of U.S. Green Card holders

Country	New Cut-Off Date(March 2026)	New Cut-Off Date(April 2026)	Movement
All Other Areas	22-Feb-26	Current	Current
China	22-Feb-26	Current	Current
India	22-Feb-26	Current	Current
Mexico	22-Feb-26	Current	Current
Philippines	22-Feb-26	Current	Current

F2B: Unmarried children (age 21 or older) of Green Card holders

Country	New Cut-Off Date(March 2026)	New Cut-Off Date(April 2026)	Movement
All Other Areas	15-Mar-17	08-Aug-17	+4 Months
China	15-Mar-17	08-Aug-17	+4 Months
India	15-Mar-17	08-Aug-17	+4 Months
Mexico	15-Feb-10	15-May-10	+3 Months
Philippines	01-Oct-13	01-Oct-13	No change

F3: Married Children of U.S. Citizens

Country	New Cut-Off Date(March 2026)	New Cut-Off Date(April 2026)	Movement
All Other Areas	22-Jul-12	22-Nov-12	+4 Months
China	22-Jul-12	22-Nov-12	+4 Months
India	22-Jul-12	22-Nov-12	+4 Months
Mexico	01-Jul-01	01-Jul-01	No change
Philippines	01-Jun-06	15-Jul-06	+44 days

F4: Siblings of U.S. Citizens

Country	New Cut-Off Date(March 2026)	New Cut-Off Date(April 2026)	Movement
All Other Areas	01-Mar-09	15-May-09	+75 Days
China	01-Mar-09	15-May-09	+75 Days
India	15-Dec-06	15-Dec-06	No change
Mexico	30-Apr-01	30-Apr-01	No change
Philippines	15-Jan-08	22-Mar-08	+67 Days

Visa Bulletin resources:

• March 2026 Visa Bulletin brings massive moment for EB-1, EB-2
• What are filing dates vs. final action dates on the Visa Bulletin?
• What is a priority date?
• Priority date guide and news for EB-1 India and EB-2 India
• Priority date guide and news for EB-1 China and EB-2 China