The EB-2 visa bulletin priority dates for India and China are among the most watched numbers in US immigration. They move slowly, sometimes backward, and a single month's bulletin can affect years of your plans.
This post covers what those dates mean, what causes them to shift, and how to stay on top of changes without checking government websites every day.
What the EB-2 Priority Date Actually Means
EB-2 is an employment-based green card category for people with advanced degrees or exceptional ability. It also covers the NIW (National Interest Waiver), where you self-petition without a job offer.
Your priority date is the date your labor certification (or NIW petition) was filed. The State Department publishes a Visa Bulletin every month. If your priority date is earlier than the "cut-off date" listed in that bulletin, you may be eligible to move forward in the green card process.
For most countries, EB-2 moves quickly. For India and China, the backlog stretches decades.
Why India and China Are in a Different Position
US law caps the number of green cards any single country can use in a year at about 7% of the total. India and China produce far more EB-2 petitions than that cap allows. So applicants from those countries wait in a separate, much longer line, even if their petition was approved years ago.
As of mid-2026, EB-2 India priority dates are in the early 2010s. China is somewhat less severe but still years behind most other countries.
What Changes Month to Month
The Visa Bulletin has two charts that matter:
- Dates for Filing (also called the Action Date for filing adjustment): when USCIS allows you to file Form I-485 (the green card application).
- Final Action Dates: when a visa number is actually available and your case can be approved.
USCIS announces each month whether it will accept the Dates for Filing chart or only the Final Action Dates chart. That decision alone can open or close your ability to file.
Other things that move priority dates:
- How many people ahead of you used (or did not use) their visa numbers last month
- Annual visa number resets at the start of the fiscal year (October)
- Retrogression, which is when a date moves backward because demand spiked
What to Watch Every Month
Here is a practical checklist:
- The new Visa Bulletin (published by the State Department around the 2nd week of each month)
- USCIS's announcement on which chart it will use for I-485 filings
- Any USCIS policy memo on EB-2 or employment-based processing
- Processing time updates for Form I-485 at your field office
- Any regulatory changes to the NIW standard or concurrent filing rules
That is a lot to track manually. A tool like AIDular can do it for you. You set it up once, and it emails you a sourced summary on whatever schedule you pick.
Copy-Paste AIDular Prompt
Here is a prompt you can use directly in AIDular to get a weekly update:
"Search for the latest USCIS Visa Bulletin, EB-2 India and China priority dates, any USCIS announcement on which filing chart is accepted this month, and any news about EB-2 retrogression or forward movement. Summarize what changed and what it means for people waiting in the EB-2 India and China backlogs."
Set it to weekly, and you will get a clean email every time something shifts. The Lite plan is free at aidular.com.
One Thing Many People Miss
When priority dates move forward significantly, USCIS sometimes issues a "cutoff" partway through the month to stop accepting new I-485 filings. If you are close to your window and you blink, you can miss a filing opportunity. Staying informed is the only way to catch these moments.
A Note on Legal Advice
This post is general information only. Priority dates, eligibility, and filing windows depend on the specifics of your case. Always confirm details on the official USCIS website and the State Department Visa Bulletin. For advice on your own situation, talk to a licensed immigration attorney.
If you are tired of checking the Visa Bulletin manually every month, set up a free AIDular tracker at aidular.com. You pick the topic, pick the schedule, and the report comes to you.