EB-1 Priority Date India Tracker
Latest September 2026 cut-off dates and priority date movement for Employment-Based First Preference (EB-1) India.
Consular processing and green card approvals are currently frozen because the annual category limit has been reached.
Applicants with priority dates earlier than this date can submit documentation or file I-485 packets.
The Employment-Based First Preference (EB-1) category encompasses three high-priority subcategories: EB-1A (Individuals with Extraordinary Ability in sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics), EB-1B (Outstanding Professors and Researchers), and EB-1C (Multinational Managers and Executives).
For the September 2026 Visa Bulletin, the EB-1 India Final Action Date stands at October 15, 2022, while the Dates for Filing is set to December 1, 2023. Due to high annual demand from Indian professionals seeking adjustment of status, the State Department closely monitors EB-1 numbers to prevent exceeding statutory per-country quotas before fiscal year end.
Understanding the EB-1 India Queue & Porting Strategies
Unlike the multi-decade backlogs facing Indian applicants in EB-2 and EB-3, the EB-1 India queue offers a significantly faster pathway to lawful permanent residence. However, managing your filing strategy remains critical:
- Priority Date Porting (EB-2/EB-3 → EB-1): If you have an earlier priority date from an approved EB-2 or EB-3 I-140 petition, that priority date can be ported directly to an approved EB-1 petition, immediately moving you to the front of the queue if your date is earlier than October 15, 2022.
- Chart A vs Chart B Determination: USCIS announces each month whether employment-based applicants inside the U.S. may file Form I-485 using Chart B (Dates for Filing). If Chart B is authorized, file promptly to secure employment authorization (EAD) and travel documents (Advance Parole).
- Fiscal Year Quota Resets: On October 1st of each year, the federal government replenishes annual visa quotas. EB-1 India historically sees its most consistent forward movement during the first quarter of the fiscal year (October through December).
12-Month Priority Date Movement History
Month-by-month tracking of Chart A (Final Action) and Chart B (Dates for Filing) cut-off movements.
| Bulletin Month | Chart A (Final Action) | Chart B (Dates for Filing) | USCIS Filing Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026September 2026 | Oct 15, 2022 —No change (Held) | Dec 1, 2023 —No change (Held) | Steady; cut-off held unchanged. |
| August 2026August 2026 | Oct 15, 2022 —No change (Held) | Dec 1, 2023 —No change (Held) | Steady; cut-off held unchanged. |
| July 2026July 2026 | Oct 15, 2022 -2 mo | Dec 1, 2023 —No change (Held) | Secondary adjustment; dates frozen through fiscal year end. |
| June 2026June 2026 | Dec 15, 2022 -3 mo 16 d | Dec 1, 2023 —No change (Held) | Mid-year retrogression to contain high demand. |
| May 2026May 2026 | Apr 1, 2023 —No change (Held) | Dec 1, 2023 —No change (Held) | Steady; cut-off held unchanged. |
| April 2026April 2026 | Apr 1, 2023 +1 mo 1 d | Dec 1, 2023 —No change (Held) | Regular monthly processing. |
| March 2026March 2026 | Mar 1, 2023 +28 d | Dec 1, 2023 +4 mo | Regular monthly processing. |
| February 2026February 2026 | Feb 1, 2023 —No change (Held) | Aug 1, 2023 —No change (Held) | Steady; cut-off held unchanged. |
| January 2026January 2026 | Feb 1, 2023 +10 mo 19 d | Aug 1, 2023 +3 mo 17 d | Major 10.5-month jump in Chart A; interview queues surge. |
| December 2025December 2025 | Mar 15, 2022 +28 d | Apr 15, 2023 —No change (Held) | Regular monthly processing. |
| November 2025November 2025 | Feb 15, 2022 —No change (Held) | Apr 15, 2023 —No change (Held) | Steady; cut-off held unchanged. |
| October 2025October 2025 | Feb 15, 2022 —No change (Held) | Apr 15, 2023 +11 mo 30 d | FY26 begins; Chart B opens aggressively for I-485 filings. |
How to Use This 12-Month Movement Data for Your Strategy
Department of State annual visa quotas replenish every October 1st. First-quarter bulletins (Oct-Jan) typically offer the widest Chart B filing windows, spring bulletins reach peak Chart A advancement, and summer months carry heightened risk of retrogression or category exhaustion.
EB-1 India Priority Date Movement (Historical Trend)
23-Month Trend
Frequently Asked Questions: EB-1 India
How has EB-1 India moved over the last 12 months?
Over the last 12 months (October 2025 to September 2026), EB-1 India Chart A advanced from Feb 15, 2022 to a peak of April 1, 2023, before experiencing a summer retrogression to Oct 15, 2022, representing a net 12-month advance of +8.0 months. Chart B (Dates for Filing) moved forward substantially by +19.5 months, advancing from April 2022 to December 1, 2023.
What is the difference between EB-1A, EB-1B, and EB-1C for India?
All three subcategories share the exact same priority date cut-off under EB-1 India in the Visa Bulletin. EB-1A does not require employer sponsorship or PERM labor certification, whereas EB-1B and EB-1C require a qualifying U.S. employer sponsor.
How does EB-1 India compare with EB-2 and EB-3 India?
While EB-2 and EB-3 India face queues spanning back to 2012–2015 with multi-year waiting times, EB-1 India priority dates remain within 2–4 years of current processing, making it the fastest employment-based category for Indian nationals.
Calculate Your Specific Waiting Time
Priority Date & Wait Time Calculator
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