EB-3 India Priority Date Tracker
Latest August 2026 cut-off dates for Employment-Based Third Preference (EB-3) 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 Third Preference (EB-3) category accommodates skilled workers (requiring a minimum of two years of training or experience), professionals (requiring a U.S. bachelor's degree or equivalent), and other unskilled labor. Like the EB-2 category, EB-3 applicants from highly populated nations such as India face multi-year queues due to the 7% statutory per-country visa limit.
For the August 2026 Visa Bulletin, the EB-3 India Final Action date stands at January 1, 2014, and the Dates for Filing is set to January 15, 2015. This reflects forward movement for Indian skilled workers. Applicants whose priority dates are before the filing date should finalize their documents to enable rapid filing once USCIS determines their Chart B eligibility.
Understanding the Backlog (EB-3 India)
The EB-3 category covers skilled workers, professionals, and other workers born in India. The backlog in this category is heavily impacted by applicants downgrading from EB-2 when dates fluctuate, which often causes "retrogression" or sudden date rollbacks.
Key Survival Options:
- Priority Date Retention: Your priority date is established when your PERM Labor Certification is filed. If you switch employers and file a new PERM/I-140, you can carry over your approved EB-3 priority date.
- EB-3 to EB-2 Upgrade: If you gain additional experience or acquire an advanced degree while waiting, your employer can file a new EB-2 petition and retain your older EB-3 priority date.
- AC21 Portability Rules: Keep your I-140 approved for at least 180 days. This protects your priority date from being revoked if your original employer cancels the petition.
Priority Date Movement (21 Months)
22-Month Trend
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