The April 2026 Visa Bulletin (Number 13, Volume XI), released by the U.S. Department of State on March 4, 2026, brought what many EB-2 India applicants have been waiting for: a significant forward movement. With the Final Action Date leaping 303 days — from September 15, 2013 to July 15, 2014 — this is one of the largest single-month advances for this category in recent fiscal years.
But this advance comes with critical context. The Department of State has explicitly warned that retrogression may be necessary later in Fiscal Year 2026 to stay within annual limits. Understanding exactly where things stand, what drove this movement, and what it means for your specific priority date is essential.
| India | China | ROW | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | Apr 01, 2023 ▲31d | Apr 01, 2023 ▲31d | Current |
| EB-2 | Jul 15, 2014 ▲303d | Sep 01, 2021 | Current |
| EB-3 | Nov 15, 2013 | Jun 15, 2021 ▲45d | Jun 01, 2024 ▲244d |
| F-1 | May 01, 2017 ▲174d | May 01, 2017 ▲174d | May 01, 2017 ▲174d |
| F-2A | Feb 01, 2024 | Feb 01, 2024 | Feb 01, 2024 |
EB-2 India: April 2026 Official Numbers
Final Action Dates (All Countries)
| Country | March 2026 | April 2026 | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | Sep 15, 2013 | Jul 15, 2014 | +303 days |
| China (mainland) | Jun 01, 2021 | Sep 01, 2021 | +92 days |
| Rest of World | Oct 15, 2024 | Current | Current! |
| Mexico | Oct 15, 2024 | Current | Current! |
| Philippines | Oct 15, 2024 | Current | Current! |
Dates for Filing Applications (All Countries)
| Country | March 2026 | April 2026 | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | Aug 15, 2014 | Jan 15, 2015 | +153 days |
| China (mainland) | Sep 01, 2021 | Jan 01, 2022 | +122 days |
| Rest of World | Current | Current | No change |
| Mexico | Current | Current | No change |
| Philippines | Current | Current | No change |
The Final Action Date (July 15, 2014) determines when your green card can actually be issued. The Filing Date (January 15, 2015) determines when you can submit your I-485 adjustment of status application — but only if USCIS announces it will accept filing date applications for that month. Check uscis.gov/visabulletininfo each month to confirm which chart applies.
What This Means for Your Priority Date
If you are an EB-2 India applicant, the April 2026 bulletin changes your situation depending on when your I-140 petition was filed and approved. Here is a breakdown by priority date range:
| Your Priority Date | Final Action | Filing Date | What You Can Do Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| Before Jul 15, 2014 | CURRENT | CURRENT | Your visa number is available. If you have a pending I-485 with USCIS, it can be adjudicated. If you are consular processing, NVC can schedule your interview. |
| Jul 15, 2014 – Jan 14, 2015 | Not yet current | CURRENT | You can file I-485 if USCIS uses the Filing Date chart. You cannot receive final approval yet, but filing locks in benefits (EAD, Advance Parole). |
| Jan 15, 2015 – Dec 31, 2017 | Not yet current | Not yet current | Estimated 1–4 years remaining. Monitor monthly bulletins and keep I-140 approval notice and supporting documents ready. |
| 2018 – 2020 | Not yet current | Not yet current | Estimated 4–7 years at current pace. Consider long-term options: H-1B extensions beyond 6 years under AC21, H-4 EAD for dependents. |
| 2021 – 2023 | Not yet current | Not yet current | Estimated 7–10 years. Ensure employer sponsorship is stable. Plan for potential job changes under AC21 portability (I-140 must be approved 180+ days). |
| 2024 and later | Not yet current | Not yet current | Estimated 10–13+ years. The wait is long, but having an approved I-140 secures your place in line regardless of employer changes. |
If your priority date is before July 15, 2014 and you have not yet filed I-485 or completed consular processing, act immediately. Contact your immigration attorney to confirm all documents are current. Medical exams (I-693) are valid for two years from the date of the civil surgeon’s signature — check that yours has not expired.
Why Did EB-2 India Jump 303 Days?
This historic advance was not caused by reduced demand from Indian applicants. The backlog for EB-2 India remains enormous — estimated at several hundred thousand pending cases. Instead, the movement was driven by two factors:
1. Reduced visa issuance worldwide. The administration’s Presidential Proclamation 10949 and Presidential Proclamation 10998 have restricted immigrant visa processing at consulates in multiple countries. Fewer visas being issued globally means unused numbers become available for reallocation.
2. Per-country limit mechanics. When countries like Mexico and the Philippines use fewer numbers than allocated, Section 202(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act allows those unused numbers to flow to oversubscribed countries — primarily India and China. The April 2026 bulletin reflects this reallocation.
The Department of State acknowledged this dynamic explicitly in the April bulletin:
“Dates for filing and final action dates have been advanced across various immigrant visa categories. Note that as additional immigrant visa demand materializes, or administration actions are amended, retrogression may be necessary later in the fiscal year to keep issuances within annual limits.”
EB-2 India vs. EB-3 India: Which Is Moving Faster?
A question many Indian applicants face: should I downgrade from EB-2 to EB-3 to get a green card faster? The April 2026 data makes this comparison clear:
| Metric | EB-2 India | EB-3 India | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Final Action Date | Jul 15, 2014 | Nov 15, 2013 | EB-2 is 8 months ahead |
| Filing Date | Jan 15, 2015 | Jan 15, 2015 | Same date |
| Apr Movement (Final) | +303 days | +92 days | EB-2 moved 3x faster |
| Apr Movement (Filing) | +153 days | +153 days | Same movement |
With EB-2 India now 8 months ahead of EB-3 India in Final Action Dates, downgrading from EB-2 to EB-3 would move you backward, not forward. This reverses the pattern from earlier fiscal years when EB-3 India was occasionally ahead. If you are currently in EB-2, stay in EB-2.
EB-2 India Historical Movement: FY-2026 So Far
To understand the trajectory, here is how the EB-2 India Final Action Date has moved each month in Fiscal Year 2026:
| Bulletin Month | Final Action Date | Monthly Movement |
|---|---|---|
| October 2025 | Jan 01, 2012 | FY start |
| November 2025 | Mar 15, 2012 | +74 days |
| December 2025 | Jun 01, 2012 | +78 days |
| January 2026 | Sep 01, 2012 | +92 days |
| February 2026 | Jan 15, 2013 | +136 days |
| March 2026 | Sep 15, 2013 | +243 days |
| April 2026 | Jul 15, 2014 | +303 days |
The acceleration is clear. EB-2 India has advanced approximately 2.5 years of priority dates in just 7 months of FY-2026, averaging roughly 132 days of forward movement per month with an accelerating trend. However, this pace is directly tied to reduced global visa issuance — if that changes, movement will slow.
Retrogression Risk: What Could Happen Next
The April 2026 bulletin contains an explicit warning: “Retrogression may be necessary later in the fiscal year to keep issuances within annual limits.” This means the Final Action Date could move backward in a future month — potentially significantly. This has happened before: in October 2023, EB-2 India retrogressed from June 2012 back to January 2010, erasing over two years of progress overnight.
What could trigger retrogression for EB-2 India:
- Consulates resuming normal processing. If the administration modifies or lifts Proclamations 10949/10998, pent-up demand from suspended consular posts would surge immediately.
- USCIS I-485 adjudication surge. If USCIS clears a backlog of pending adjustments, the demand on visa numbers could spike.
- End of fiscal year compression. In August and September 2026, DOS may need to pull dates back sharply to avoid exceeding the 140,000 annual employment-based limit.
The best strategy: if your priority date is newly current or close to current, file or complete your case as quickly as possible. Do not assume continued forward movement.
What You Should Do Now
If your priority date is before July 15, 2014:
- Confirm your I-485 is pending. If you filed years ago, contact USCIS or your attorney to verify nothing is missing from your file.
- Check your medical exam (I-693) validity. The exam is valid for 2 years from the civil surgeon’s signature. If yours has expired, schedule a new exam immediately.
- Update your address with USCIS using Form AR-11 if you have moved since filing.
- Respond to any RFEs promptly. An open Request for Evidence can block final adjudication even when your date is current.
- Consular processing applicants: Ensure your DS-260 is complete and all civil documents (birth certificates, police clearances) are current. The National Visa Center will schedule your interview.
If your priority date is between July 15, 2014 and January 15, 2015:
- Check if USCIS is using Filing Dates this month at uscis.gov/visabulletininfo.
- If yes, file I-485 now. Filing an I-485 unlocks Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and Advance Parole — even before your Final Action Date becomes current.
- Filing also provides AC21 portability after 180 days, letting you change employers without losing your green card application.
If your priority date is after January 15, 2015:
- Keep your I-140 approval notice safe. This is your most important immigration document.
- Maintain valid nonimmigrant status (H-1B, L-1, etc.) while waiting.
- H-1B holders: You are eligible for extensions beyond the 6-year limit under Section 104(c) of AC21 as long as your I-140 is approved or your labor certification (PERM) has been pending for 365+ days.
- H-4 dependent spouses: You may be eligible for H-4 EAD if the principal H-1B holder has an approved I-140. Confirm current USCIS policy on H-4 EAD eligibility.
- Monitor the bulletin monthly. Bookmark the VisaVerge Visa Bulletin page for instant updates each month.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the EB-2 India Final Action Date for April 2026?
The EB-2 India Final Action Date for April 2026 is July 15, 2014. This means immigrant visa numbers are available for EB-2 India applicants whose priority date is earlier than July 15, 2014.
How much did EB-2 India move in April 2026?
The EB-2 India Final Action Date advanced 303 days — from September 15, 2013 to July 15, 2014. The Filing Date advanced 153 days — from August 15, 2014 to January 15, 2015. These are among the largest single-month movements for EB-2 India in recent years.
Why did EB-2 India move so much in April 2026?
The advance is primarily driven by reduced visa issuance at U.S. consulates worldwide due to Presidential Proclamations 10949 and 10998. Fewer visas being used by other countries allows unused numbers to flow to oversubscribed countries like India under INA Section 202(e).
Will EB-2 India retrogress in 2026?
The Department of State has explicitly warned that “retrogression may be necessary later in the fiscal year.” While no specific date has been announced, the risk is real — especially toward the end of FY-2026 (August–September 2026) when annual visa limits come into play. Applicants with current priority dates should file as soon as possible.
Should I downgrade from EB-2 to EB-3 India?
No. As of April 2026, EB-2 India (July 15, 2014) is 8 months ahead of EB-3 India (November 15, 2013) in Final Action Dates. Downgrading would move you backward. EB-2 is also advancing faster, with 303 days of movement versus EB-3’s 92 days this month.
What is the EB-2 India Filing Date for April 2026?
The EB-2 India Filing Date (Dates for Filing) for April 2026 is January 15, 2015. If USCIS announces it will accept filing date applications for April, EB-2 India applicants with priority dates before this date can submit I-485 applications.
How long is the EB-2 India green card wait in 2026?
With the Final Action Date at July 2014, there is roughly a 12-year backlog. Wait times vary by priority date: a 2015 priority date may wait 1–2 more years, while a 2024 priority date could wait 10–13+ years at current pace. These estimates assume continued forward movement and no retrogression.
Looking Ahead: May 2026 and Beyond
The trend for EB-2 India in FY-2026 has been consistently positive, with monthly advances accelerating from 74 days in November to 303 days in April. Whether this pace continues depends entirely on two variables: the administration’s visa issuance policies and the overall demand from EB-2 India applicants at the new cutoff dates.
For the May 2026 Visa Bulletin predictions and analysis, continue to follow VisaVerge. We publish updates as soon as each bulletin is released.
For the complete April 2026 Visa Bulletin covering all categories and countries, see our full analysis: April 2026 Visa Bulletin: Everything You Need to Know.
