Guide
EB-2 India is 'Unavailable' (U) — what it means and what to do
Short answer
In the July 2026 Visa Bulletin, the EB-2 India Final Action Date shows 'U,' meaning Unavailable — no EB-2 India visa numbers can be issued that month, regardless of how old your priority date is. It is usually a temporary, end-of-fiscal-year measure to prevent a category from exceeding its annual limit, and dates typically resume in the new fiscal year in October.
What 'U' actually means
On the Visa Bulletin, a cell can show a date, the letter 'C' (current — everyone qualifies), or the letter 'U' (Unavailable — no one qualifies). When EB-2 India shows 'U,' the Department of State is signaling that no visa numbers are available for EB-2 India that month. This applies to everyone in that category and country, even applicants with priority dates from a decade or more ago. It is a hard stop on final approvals for that specific month.
Why it happened in July 2026
The U.S. government's fiscal year runs October 1 through September 30, and each employment category has an annual visa-number allotment. When a heavily oversubscribed category like EB-2 India uses up its numbers before the fiscal year ends, the Department of State may set the Final Action Date to 'U' for the remaining months (often summer) to avoid issuing more visas than the law allows. This is why 'U' most commonly appears in the July–September window and typically clears when fresh numbers become available on October 1.
How EB-2 India reached 'U' this year
The July 2026 'U' did not come out of nowhere. Over the preceding year the EB-2 India Final Action Date advanced, then retrogressed in June 2026, and finally went Unavailable in July 2026 — a classic pattern as a category runs low on numbers late in the fiscal year. The table below shows the full snapshot of the July 2026 Final Action Dates across categories and countries, with EB-2 India marked 'U.'
| Category | Rest of World | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | C | 01 Jun 2023 | 15 Oct 2022 | C | C |
| EB-2 | C | 01 Sep 2021 | U | C | C |
| EB-3 | 01 Aug 2024 | 22 Dec 2021 | 01 Jan 2014 | 01 Aug 2024 | 01 Aug 2023 |
Does 'U' affect a pending I-485?
If you already filed Form I-485 while you were current, an 'Unavailable' month does not cancel your application. Your I-485 stays on file; USCIS simply cannot approve it until a visa number is available again. Your Employment Authorization Document and Advance Parole generally remain valid and renewable. In short, 'U' pauses final approvals — it does not erase progress you have already made.
Can I still file during a 'U' month?
Whether you can file Form I-485 depends on the Dates for Filing chart and whether USCIS authorizes its use that month, not just on the Final Action Dates chart. It is possible for the Final Action Date to be 'U' while a Dates for Filing cutoff still allows new filings — but this varies month to month. Always check the USCIS 'Adjustment of Status Filing Charts' page for the specific month before assuming you can or cannot file.
What to do while EB-2 India is Unavailable
Practical steps: keep your documents (medical exam, civil documents) ready so you can act quickly when numbers return; keep any EAD and Advance Parole current; watch the October bulletin closely, since new fiscal-year numbers often restore a date; and consider whether alternative paths fit your situation — such as an EB-1 petition if you qualify, cross-chargeability to a spouse's country of birth, or an EB-2-to-EB-3 downgrade if EB-3 India is temporarily further ahead (as of July 2026, EB-3 India shows 01 Jan 2014). These are options to explore with a qualified attorney, not automatic solutions.
Will it become current again?
Historically, categories that go 'U' late in a fiscal year usually resume with a date in the new fiscal year beginning in October, though often at a cutoff that has retrogressed compared to earlier in the year. The exact date depends on demand, per-country limits, and how many numbers spill over from other categories. No one can promise a specific date, but 'Unavailable' is typically a temporary condition rather than a permanent one.
How 'U' differs from a plain retrogression
It helps to distinguish two related events. Retrogression means the cutoff date moves backward to an earlier date — say, from 15 Jul 2014 to 01 Sep 2013 — so a narrower group of people become current. 'Unavailable' is the extreme case: there is no date at all, so nobody in that category and country can move forward, regardless of priority date. In practice, a category often retrogresses first (as EB-2 India did in June 2026) and then goes 'U' (as it did in July 2026) once the annual numbers are exhausted. Both are supply-and-demand mechanisms under the same annual caps, just at different intensities.
The one-year timeline that led to 'U'
Seeing the full year of movement makes the July 2026 'U' less surprising. The EB-2 India Final Action Date advanced steadily through late 2025 and early 2026, spiked forward to 15 Jul 2014 in the spring, then pulled back and finally went Unavailable — a textbook late-fiscal-year pattern for an oversubscribed category.
| Bulletin month | EB-2 India Final Action Date |
|---|---|
| August 2025 | 01 Feb 2013 |
| September 2025 | 01 Feb 2013 |
| October 2025 | 01 Apr 2013 |
| November 2025 | 01 Apr 2013 |
| December 2025 | 15 May 2013 |
| January 2026 | 15 Jul 2013 |
| February 2026 | 15 Jul 2013 |
| March 2026 | 15 Sep 2013 |
| April 2026 | 15 Jul 2014 |
| May 2026 | 15 Jul 2014 |
| June 2026 | 01 Sep 2013 |
| July 2026 | U (Unavailable) |
Frequently asked questions
Does 'U' mean my case was denied? No — it only means no visa numbers are available this month; a pending case simply waits. Can 'U' last more than one month? Yes, it can persist for several months, most often until the new fiscal year on October 1. Will my priority date change because of 'U'? No; your priority date is fixed regardless of the bulletin. Should I withdraw anything? No — keep your I-140 and any pending I-485 in place; withdrawing could forfeit your priority date and progress. Is this legal advice? No — this is general information; consult a qualified immigration attorney about your situation.
What 'U' does NOT change
It is easy to overreact to an 'Unavailable' month, so it helps to be clear about what stays the same. Your priority date does not move. An approved I-140 remains approved. A pending I-485 remains pending and on file. Your existing EAD and Advance Parole remain valid until their expiration and can generally be renewed. Your underlying nonimmigrant status (for example H-1B) is unaffected by the bulletin. In other words, 'U' pauses one specific thing — the issuance of new green cards in that category and country — while leaving the rest of your case intact.
Planning around an Unavailable summer
Because 'U' most often appears in the summer months of an oversubscribed category, you can plan around it. If you were current earlier in the year and filed your I-485, you are in the strongest position: you simply wait out the pause. If you were about to become current and 'U' hit before you filed, focus on being fully ready — medical exam completed within its validity window, civil documents translated, and forms prepared — so you can file the instant numbers return, typically in the new fiscal year starting in October. Watching how the category behaved in prior October bulletins can give a rough sense of where the date may reopen.
This guide is for informational purposes only. It is not legal advice. For questions about your specific case, consult a qualified immigration attorney.
Check your priority date estimateLive timeline data
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