US Visa Bulletin July 2026: Complete Guide to Immigrant Visa Availability

Bulletin Number: 16 | Volume: XI | Issued by: U.S. Department of State, Washington, D.C.

What Is the July 2026 us Visa Bulletin?

The July 2026 Visa Bulletin provides a monthly summary of immigrant visa number availability for both Family-Sponsored and Employment-Based preference categories. It includes two key charts:

Important: Unless USCIS announces otherwise at www.uscis.gov/visabulletininfo, applicants filing for adjustment of status must refer to the Final Action Dates chart.

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How Are Visa Dates Determined?

Consular officers and USCIS report documentarily qualified applicants for numerically restricted visas. Visa number allocations are made in chronological order of priority dates, based on demand received by June 2, 2026.

When demand in a specific category or country exceeds available supply, that category is considered oversubscribed. The final action date then becomes the priority date of the first applicant who could not be accommodated within the numerical cap.

Annual Visa Limits for FY 2026

Currently oversubscribed countries: China (mainland-born), India, Mexico, and Philippines.

Part A: Family-Sponsored Preference Visa Categories

Family Preference Categories Explained

Final Action Dates – Family-Sponsored (July 2026)

“C” = Current (open to all applicants) | “U” = Unavailable | All other dates: priority date must be earlier than date shown.

Special F2A Per-Country Rules for July 2026

Dates for Filing Family-Sponsored Visa Applications (July 2026)

Applicants with a priority date earlier than the dates below may submit required documents to the NVC.

Part B: Employment-Based Preference Visa Categories

Employment Preference Categories Explained

EB-5 Set-Aside Breakdown

Final Action Dates Employment-Based (July 2026)

Dates for Filing – Employment-Based Visa Applications (July 2026)

Part C: Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery July 2026 Cut-Off Numbers

Up to 55,000 diversity visas are available annually under INA Section 203(c). Due to NACARA and NDAA provisions, the effective DV-2026 limit has been reduced to approximately 52,000 visas. No single country may receive more than 7% of the total available numbers.

Deadline Reminder: All DV-2026 entitlements expire on September 30, 2026. Numbers may be exhausted before that date act promptly.

DV Lottery Cut-Off Numbers for July 2026

DV Lottery Cut-Off Numbers for August 2026

Important Visa Availability Notices for FY 2026

EB-1 Retrogression for India

High demand from India-born applicants in the EB-1 category made it necessary to retrogress the final action date to stay within the FY 2026 annual limit. Further retrogression or making the category temporarily unavailable may follow if India’s pro-rated limit is reached before the fiscal year ends.

EB-2 Unavailable for India

India’s pro-rated EB-2 cap has been fully exhausted. The category is unavailable for the rest of FY 2026. The final action date is expected to advance to at least the level published in the May 2026 Visa Bulletin once FY 2027 begins in October, though the exact date depends on demand and the new annual limit.

EB-2 Watch for China

Due to substantial demand and increased visa usage by China-born applicants, the EB-2 final action date may be retrogressed or made unavailable in upcoming months to stay within FY 2026 limits.

EB-3 Watch for Philippines

The Philippines EB-3 category faces a risk of retrogression or unavailability due to elevated demand and rising visa usage. Close monitoring is ongoing.

EB-5 Unreserved Unavailable for India

India’s pro-rated EB-5 unreserved cap has been exhausted and the category is unavailable for the remainder of FY 2026. The final action date is expected to advance to at least the level in the June 2026 Visa Bulletin when FY 2027 opens, subject to demand and the new annual limit.

Impact of Administration Actions on Visa Availability

Reduced visa issuance rates for certain countries due to national security and public safety measures led the State Department to advance filing and final action dates for applicants from other countries in prior months. Retrogression remains possible if demand changes or current policies are modified.

U.S. Government Employee Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs)

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY 2024, enacted on December 22, 2023, may affect current or former U.S. government employees abroad, as well as surviving spouses and children of deceased U.S. government employees, applying for SIVs or adjustment of status under INA Section 101(a)(27)(D).

Note: This does not affect Iraqi or Afghan nationals applying for SQ or SI Special Immigrant Visas. Affected applicants should contact the consular section where their Form DS-1884 was filed for case-specific guidance.

Where to Find More Information

Source: U.S. Department of State Publication 9514 Visa Bulletin for July 2026, Number 16, Volume XI