Visa Bulletin June 2026: Employment-Based & Family Priority Dates
What You Need to Know Right Now
The Visa Bulletin for June 2026 shows modest forward movement in most employment-based categories. India's EB-2 backlog barely moved, while EB-3 saw slight gains. Family-sponsored categories remain largely stalled. Here's what actually matters for your priority date.
⚠️ Important: Visit uscis.gov/visabulletininfo to confirm whether USCIS has authorized use of the "Dates for Filing" chart this month for adjustment of status (I-485). Some months use "Final Action Dates" instead.
Employment-Based Categories: What Moved
The headline: Most categories are either current (C) or moving at glacial pace. India continues to get hit hardest.
| Category | All Others | China | India | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 (Extraordinary Ability) | CURRENT | 01 APR 23 | 15 DEC 22 | Mostly clear |
| EB-2 (Advanced Degree) | CURRENT | 01 SEP 21 | 01 SEP 13 | India stuck 13 years back |
| EB-3 (Skilled Workers) | 01 JUN 24 | 01 AUG 21 | 15 DEC 13 | Moving but slow |
| EB-4 (Special Immigrants) | 15 JUL 22 | 15 JUL 22 | 15 JUL 22 | Frozen |
What Actually Changed (May → June)
- EB-1 India: Moved back slightly from 01 APR 23 to 15 DEC 22. Good news for someone — someone just got current.
- EB-2 India: No movement. Still at 01 SEP 13. This is a category with almost 13 years of backlog.
- EB-3 India: Tiny movement. 15 NOV 13 → 15 DEC 13 (one month forward in over a decade of waiting).
- EB-3 China: Moved from 15 JUN 21 to 01 AUG 21 (1.5 months). China's backlog is improving faster than India's.
Family-Sponsored Categories: Still Stuck
Family categories show minimal movement across the board.
| Category | All Others | Status |
|---|---|---|
| F1 (Unmarried adult children) | 01 SEP 17 | Almost 9 years back |
| F2A (Spouse of permanent resident) | CURRENT | Recently cleared |
| F3 (Married adult children) | 15 FEB 12 | 14 years back |
| F4 (Siblings) | 08 NOV 08 | 17+ years back |
✅ F2A is the only family category that's current. If you're waiting for your spouse as a permanent resident (F2A), you can file now. Everyone else: patience is still your only strategy.
Who This Actually Affects
If Your Priority Date Is Already Current
Congratulations. You can file I-485 now (or may already be in processing). The visa bulletin moving forward doesn't affect you — you're already in the system.
If Your Priority Date Is Getting Close (Within 6-12 Months)
Watch the bulletin each month. When your date becomes current, you can file immediately. For employment-based (EB), this typically means filing your I-485. For family-based, it means filing I-485 or consular processing (NVC).
If Your Priority Date Is Years Away
The Visa Bulletin matters less month-to-month. What matters more: your country's backlog. If you're India EB-2, the bulletin moving a month doesn't change the fact that you're waiting 10+ years. Focus on stabilizing your life (job, housing, family) rather than obsessing over the bulletin.
How to Use This Data
Step 1: Find Your Priority Date
Look at your I-140 approval notice (employment-based) or your I-130 petition receipt (family-based). Your priority date is the date your petition/application was received by USCIS or DOL (depending on category).
Step 2: Compare to the Visa Bulletin
Match your category and country to the chart above. If the bulletin date is after your priority date, congratulations — your date is current and you can file I-485.
Step 3: Calculate the Gap
If the bulletin is before your priority date, subtract: bulletin date from your priority date = how much longer you wait.
Example: You're EB-3 India with a priority date of 01 JAN 14. The June 2026 bulletin shows 15 DEC 13. You're 18 days away from current. At the current pace (one month per year), you'll be current in about 2 weeks.
The Bigger Picture
The Visa Bulletin is a lagging indicator. It shows where USCIS was processing 6+ months ago, not where they are now. Processing times have been creeping up. I-485 processing at NBC is averaging 20 months. So even if your priority date is current, you've got a long wait ahead in the adjustment of status phase.
📊 See I-485 processing trends on the Timeline tab here. The Visa Bulletin getting current is just step 1. I-485 approval is step 2 — and that's where most people spend 18-24 months.
What Hasn't Changed (And Won't Soon)
- India's backlog: Still the worst in employment-based immigration. EB-2 and EB-3 applicants from India are waiting 10-15+ years. This is structural — visa caps haven't changed, and demand from India vastly exceeds supply.
- F4 (Siblings): Still 17+ years back. Family immigration has always been slow; this category is glacial.
- Processing times: Even if your priority date is current, I-485 processing is still 18-20 months. The Visa Bulletin doesn't speed that up.
Key Takeaway
The June 2026 Visa Bulletin shows modest movement in most categories and near-stagnation in others. If you're India EB-2 or EB-3, don't expect dramatic movement. If you're another country or EB-1, you're likely current or getting close. The real work starts after your priority date is current — that's when I-485 processing begins, and that's where the 18-24 month wait really happens.