EB-2 Priority Date India Tracker
Latest September 2026 cut-off dates and priority date movement for Employment-Based Second Preference (EB-2) 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 Second Preference (EB-2) category is designed for professionals holding advanced degrees (such as a Master's degree, Ph.D., or a Bachelor's degree followed by five years of progressive work experience). Due to the high volume of applications and the statutory per-country ceiling of 7%, applicants born in India experience extensive wait times, commonly referred to as the green card backlog.
For the September 2026 Visa Bulletin, the Final Action date is listed as Unavailable. When marked Unavailable, approvals for Form I-485 or consular immigrant visa interviews are suspended until annual quotas replenish on October 1st. In contrast, the Dates for Filing stands at January 15, 2015, allowing eligible applicants to prepare documentation and monitor USCIS monthly filing chart directives.
Understanding the Backlog (EB-2 India)
Applicants born in India face a unique challenge in the EB-2 queue due to the high volume of high-skilled professionals and the statutory 7% country limit. Because the demand exceeds the supply by hundreds of thousands of applicants, wait times are estimated to span years or even decades.
Key Survival Options:
- AC21 Portability: If your I-140 has been approved for at least 180 days and your I-485 has been pending for 180 days, you can change employers in a similar or same occupational classification without losing your priority date.
- Dates for Filing Window: Always check if USCIS allows filing under Chart B. If they do, submit your I-485 immediately to obtain your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and Advance Parole (AP).
- Interfiling (Downgrade/Upgrade): If the EB-3 queue progresses faster than EB-2, some applicants consider filing a separate EB-3 petition to "interfile" or transfer their pending I-485. Consult with legal counsel before doing this.
- EB-1 Porting Opportunity: If you qualify for EB-1A (Extraordinary Ability) or EB-1C (Multinational Manager), your employer can file a petition porting your existing EB-2 priority date to jump years ahead in the queue.
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 | Unavailable (Exhausted) —No change (Held) | Jan 15, 2015 —No change (Held) | Steady; cut-off held unchanged. |
| August 2026August 2026 | Unavailable (Exhausted) —No change (Held) | Jan 15, 2015 —No change (Held) | Steady; cut-off held unchanged. |
| July 2026July 2026 | Unavailable (Exhausted) !Unavailable (Exhausted) | Jan 15, 2015 —No change (Held) | 100% of annual statutory quota exhausted (Unavailable). |
| June 2026June 2026 | Sep 1, 2013 -10 mo 13 d | Jan 15, 2015 —No change (Held) | Pre-exhaustion retrogression back to Sept 2013. |
| May 2026May 2026 | Jul 15, 2014 —No change (Held) | Jan 15, 2015 —No change (Held) | Steady; cut-off held unchanged. |
| April 2026April 2026 | Jul 15, 2014 +9 mo 29 d | Jan 15, 2015 +2 mo 14 d | Peak Chart A cutoff reached (July 15, 2014). |
| March 2026March 2026 | Sep 15, 2013 +2 mo 1 d | Nov 1, 2014 +11 mo | Regular monthly processing. |
| February 2026February 2026 | Jul 15, 2013 —No change (Held) | Dec 1, 2013 —No change (Held) | Steady; cut-off held unchanged. |
| January 2026January 2026 | Jul 15, 2013 +2 mo | Dec 1, 2013 —No change (Held) | Regular monthly processing. |
| December 2025December 2025 | May 15, 2013 +1 mo 14 d | Dec 1, 2013 —No change (Held) | Regular monthly processing. |
| November 2025November 2025 | Apr 1, 2013 —No change (Held) | Dec 1, 2013 —No change (Held) | Steady; cut-off held unchanged. |
| October 2025October 2025 | Apr 1, 2013 +2 mo 29 d | Dec 1, 2013 +9 mo 29 d | FY26 opening surge; Chart B opens through Dec 2013. |
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-2 India Priority Date Movement (Historical Trend)
23-Month Trend
Frequently Asked Questions: EB-2 India Priority Date
How did EB-2 India move over the past 12 months?
Over the last 12 months (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), EB-2 India experienced rapid initial progress, reaching a peak Chart A cutoff of July 15, 2014 (+18.5 months) in April 2026. However, heavy visa consumption triggered a 10.5-month retrogression in June 2026, followed by the category going completely Unavailable (U) from July through September 2026 due to statutory annual quota exhaustion.
What does "Unavailable" mean for EB-2 India in the Visa Bulletin?
It means the statutory annual quota of green cards allotted to Indian EB-2 applicants has been 100% used up for the federal fiscal year. USCIS cannot approve final I-485 applications until fresh quota numbers unlock on October 1st.
How can I track my exact place in the EB-2 India line?
You can use our interactive Priority Date Calculator to check your priority date against the latest cut-off and generate a custom wait-time projection based on historical movement speeds.
Calculate Your Specific Waiting Time
Priority Date & Wait Time Calculator
Evaluate your priority date with pre-populated parameters.