EB-2 India Priority Date Predictions: What to Expect Through FY2026

The EB-2 India priority date has been one of the most closely watched numbers in US immigration for over a decade. With approximately 372,000 pending I-485 applications in the EB-2 India queue and an annual per-country cap of ~9,940 visas, the math is sobering — but the monthly movement patterns matter for planning.

Where We Stand Right Now

As of the June 2026 Visa Bulletin, EB-2 India Final Action Date is April 15, 2012. The Dates for Filing chart shows May 30, 2012. This represents a priority date cohort from 14+ years ago.

The good news: EB-2 India has advanced approximately 2–4 weeks per month on average since January 2026, compared to near-zero movement in FY2023–2024 when the category was frequently retrogressed.

Why Movement Has Improved

Three factors are driving better movement in FY2026:

1. EB-1 Demand is Lower Than Projected Lower-than-expected EB-1 filings mean more spillover to EB-2. Historically, when EB-1 goes unused, those visas flow to EB-2 within the fiscal year — sometimes adding thousands of extra slots.

2. Congress Adjusted Annual Limits The FY2025 appropriations process included a technical fix that prevented the usual year-end retrogression by releasing numbers earlier in Q3. This pattern appears to be continuing in FY2026.

3. Post-Pandemic Consular Backlog Clearing NVC and consular processing backlogs that accumulated 2020–2023 have largely cleared, meaning the underlying cap is now being used more efficiently.

FY2026 Q4 Outlook (July–September)

This is the most critical period. Historical patterns show:

• July–August: Continued moderate advance (1–3 weeks/month) if EB-1 spillover continues
• September: High risk of hold or slight retrogression as the fiscal year closes and USCIS ensures they don’t over-issue

Our estimate: EB-2 India Final Action Date will reach approximately May–June 2012 by September 2026, barring unexpected demand surges.

FY2027 Outlook (October 2026 onward)

October always brings an October reset — new fiscal year numbers become available, and historically there’s a significant jump forward. In recent years, October advances of 2–6 months have occurred in EB-2 India.

If you have a priority date in late 2012 to mid-2013, FY2027 Q1 is a critical window to watch.

What This Means For You

If your PD is 2010–2011: You are current or very close. File I-485 now if eligible.

If your PD is 2012: Monitor the bulletin monthly. You could become current in FY2027 Q1.

If your PD is 2013–2015: You’re in the next tier. Realistically looking at 2–4 more years of waiting unless legislative reform passes.

If your PD is 2016+: The queue calculator math suggests a very long wait. Consider whether AC21 portability or NIW filings might change your strategy.

Track the latest bulletin on our EB-2 India page and set up email alerts to never miss a movement.