July Visa Bulletin Drops: EB-2 India Unavailable Through FY2026

The U.S. Department of State released the July Visa Bulletin, which includes a significant update for Indian nationals in the employment-based second preference category. The EB-2 India category has been listed as unavailable for the remainder of fiscal year 2026, meaning no new visa numbers will be issued for this category until the start of the next fiscal year in October.

The unavailability of EB-2 India visas is due to high demand and the annual cap being reached. This affects thousands of Indian professionals who have been waiting for green cards, often for many years, as the category is heavily oversubscribed.

Applicants with pending EB-2 India cases will not be able to move forward with their applications until visa numbers become available again. The Department of State advises that the category will likely remain unavailable until October 2026, when new visa numbers are allocated for fiscal year 2027.

The July bulletin also provides updates for other employment-based categories, but the EB-2 India cutoff remains a key concern for the Indian diaspora. Immigration attorneys recommend that affected individuals review their priority dates and consider alternative options if eligible.