EB-2 India Visa Bulletin history: how far the cutoff moved each year
Final action dates, October 2015 to October 2026
Where is the EB-2 India cutoff now?
Final action date
Nov 1, 2013
October 2026
Date for filing
Jan 15, 2015
October 2026
Behind the bulletin month
12.9 yrs
cutoff vs first day of the month
Moved since 2015
102 mo
in 11 years
A case whose priority date is earlier than the final action date can be approved; the date for filing decides when an adjustment of status application can be filed in months when USCIS allows that chart. In October 2026 the final action date for EB-2 India was Nov 1, 2013.
How far did it move each fiscal year?
Each fiscal year starts with the October bulletin, when a new year of visa numbers becomes available. The table shows the October cutoff, how many months (mo) it moved by the next October, and how many years (yrs) it sat behind the bulletin month. Backward years are in red.
| Fiscal year | October cutoff | Moved in year | Behind |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2016 | May 1, 2005 | +20.5 mo | 10.4 yrs |
| FY2017 | Jan 15, 2007 | +20.0 mo | 9.7 yrs |
| FY2018 | Sep 15, 2008 | +6.3 mo | 9.0 yrs |
| FY2019 | Mar 26, 2009 | +1.5 mo | 9.5 yrs |
| FY2020 | May 12, 2009 | +3.7 mo | 10.4 yrs |
| FY2021 | Sep 1, 2009 | +24.0 mo | 11.1 yrs |
| FY2022 | Sep 1, 2011 | +7.0 mo | 10.1 yrs |
| FY2023 | Apr 1, 2012 | -3.0 mo | 10.5 yrs |
| FY2024 | Jan 1, 2012 | +6.4 mo | 11.8 yrs |
| FY2025 | Jul 15, 2012 | +8.5 mo | 12.2 yrs |
| FY2026 | Apr 1, 2013 | +7.0 mo | 12.5 yrs |
| FY2027 | Nov 1, 2013 | so far | 12.9 yrs |
What does the full record look like?
Gaps are months when the category was listed as unavailable.
When did it go backwards?
A retrogression is a bulletin whose cutoff is earlier than the last published date, usually because demand outran the visas left for the year.
| Bulletin | Before | After | Back by |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 2016 | Nov 22, 2008 | Oct 1, 2004 | 49.7 mo |
| September 2018 | Mar 15, 2009 | Jan 1, 2007 | 26.4 mo |
| October 2022 | Dec 1, 2014 | Apr 1, 2012 | 32.0 mo |
| December 2022 | Apr 1, 2012 | Oct 8, 2011 | 5.8 mo |
| April 2023 | Oct 8, 2011 | Jan 1, 2011 | 9.2 mo |
| June 2026 | Jul 15, 2014 | Sep 1, 2013 | 10.4 mo |
The category was also listed as unavailable in July 2026: no EB-2 India case could be approved that month.
What does the record show?
- 1Average pace: about 9.3 months of priority dates per year of bulletins, so the line fell further behind the calendar every year.
- 2Best year: FY2021, when the cutoff gained 24.0 months (from Sep 1, 2009).
- 3Worst year: FY2023, when it ended 3.0 months behind where it started (from Apr 1, 2012).
- 4Backward steps: 6 retrogressions and 1 unavailable month in 11 years; 4 of the 6 came between April and September, late in the fiscal year.
How many petitions are waiting?
USCIS publishes how many approved petitions are waiting for a visa number. For people born in India, as of June 2026:
| Category | December 2023 | June 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | 16,679 | 17,861 |
| EB-2 | 308,481 | 356,360 |
| EB-3 | 99,834 | 106,214 |
These are petitions, not people: spouses and children usually use visa numbers too. See the green card backlog for every country and category.
FAQ
How far has the EB-2 India cutoff moved since 2015?
From May 1, 2005 in the October 2015 bulletin to Nov 1, 2013 in October 2026: about 102 months of priority dates in 11 years of bulletins, or roughly 9.3 months a year on average.
How many times has EB-2 India retrogressed?
The final action date moved to an earlier date 6 times between October 2015 and October 2026, and the category was listed as unavailable once (July 2026). The largest backward step was 49.7 months.
Does this predict when my priority date will be current?
No. The State Department sets each month's cutoff from demand and the annual limits; past movement is a record, not a forecast. Check each new bulletin and the chart USCIS designates for adjustment of status.
Sources
- U.S. Department of State, Visa Bulletin · every monthly bulletin since October 2015
- USCIS, approved employment-based petitions awaiting visa availability · as of June 2026
- USCIS, Adjustment of Status Filing Charts from the Visa Bulletin
More guides
Related
This guide reports published government data and rules; it is not legal advice and does not predict future movement. Terms.