November 2026 Visa Bulletin: Indian applicants trail Chinese by about eight years in US EB-2, EB-3 green card categories
Key points
- India's EB-2 final action date is 1 November 2013; mainland China's is 1 October 2021.
- India's EB-3 cutoff is 22 January 2014; China's is 22 January 2022.
- Indian applicants trail Chinese applicants by about eight years in both categories.
The US State Department's November 2026 Visa Bulletin shows India's EB-2 final action date at 1 November 2013 versus 1 October 2021 for mainland China. In EB-3, India's cutoff is 22 January 2014 versus 22 January 2022 for China, leaving Indian applicants about eight years behind in both categories. Reports say this poses a challenge for Indian professionals who rely on employer sponsorship and for US employers seeking to retain talent.
What employers should do
- Check employees' green card priority dates against the Visa Bulletin and plan related immigration filings in advance.
Original report: South Asian Herald ↗Edited with AI assistance. Facts are based on official sources and original reports. For information only; not legal, immigration or insurance advice.