EB-2 India Priority Date Tracker
Latest August 2026 cut-off dates 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 August 2026 Visa Bulletin, the Final Action date is listed as Unavailable. This status indicates that the U.S. government has completely exhausted the annual supply of visa numbers allocated for EB-2 India. Consequently, approvals for Form I-485 or consular immigrant visa interviews are suspended until the next federal fiscal year opens on October 1, 2026, when new quotas replenish. In contrast, the Dates for Filing stands at January 15, 2015, allowing long-waiting applicants to gather civil documents or file initial AOS packets if eligible under USCIS monthly determinations.
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.
Priority Date Movement (21 Months)
22-Month Trend
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