Wei's priority date was August 15, 2021. He stared at the June Visa Bulletin for a full three minutes before he let himself believe it. The cutoff: September 1, 2021. Two weeks of breathing room.
His colleague David walked over, holding two coffees. David's priority date was October 3, 2021. Three weeks after the cutoff. David couldn't file.
Two engineers. The same employer. The same green card category. Separated by three weeks on a calendar.
The June 2026 Visa Bulletin landed quietly on May 13th. Most people skimmed the priority date column and moved on. But buried in Section F — easy to miss, hard to forget once you've read it — the State Department included this sentence:
"Sufficient demand and increased number use by aliens chargeable to China in the EB-2 visa category may make it necessary to retrogress the final action date or make the category 'unavailable' in the coming months."
This is not bureaucratic boilerplate. It's a warning shot.
What the Numbers Actually Mean
The China EB-2 Final Action Date for June 2026 is September 1, 2021. USCIS has confirmed it will use Final Action Dates — not the more permissive Dates for Filing — for adjustment of status applications this month. That distinction matters: only applicants whose EB-2 priority date falls before September 1, 2021 can file their I-485 right now.
Your priority date is typically the date your labor certification (PERM) was filed, or for NIW self-petitioners, the date USCIS received your I-140. It doesn't move. The cutoff date does — and right now, it's flashing yellow.
Why is this moment so precarious? NIW petitions — the self-petition pathway that most Chinese scientists, engineers, and researchers rely on — surged from approximately 22,000 filings in FY2022 to over 63,000 in FY2024. That's a 190% increase in two years. Three times as many people competing for the same pool of China-allocated EB-2 numbers. By FY2025, those numbers ran out before September 30th. The State Department is watching the same math in real time.
The Mistake Everyone Makes
After years of watching a priority date sit in the backlog, most people assume that when their window finally opens, it will stay open long enough to prepare. It's an understandable assumption. It's also wrong.
Retrogressions — where the cutoff date moves backward — happen without notice. Look at Section E of this very bulletin: EB-1 and EB-2 dates for India were retrogrressed this month due to "high demand and number use." China is in Section F with softer language, but the mechanism is identical. When the State Department says "may make it necessary," they mean: we are already monitoring the numbers and we may pull the lever next month.
The July 2026 Visa Bulletin — the one that determines whether you can file in July — will be released around mid-June. You will not have weeks to prepare after it drops. You need your documents ready before it drops.
What to Do Based on Your Situation
If your priority date is before September 1, 2021: File your I-485 as soon as possible. Gather your medical exam (Form I-693, completed by a USCIS-designated civil surgeon), civil documents (birth certificate, marriage certificate if applicable), employment verification letter, and passport photos. You can file the I-485 concurrently with Form I-131 (advance parole/travel document) and Form I-765 (employment authorization). Do not wait for a "better" time.
If your priority date is September 1, 2021 through approximately December 2021: You are in the red zone. You cannot file today, but you may be able to file as soon as next month — or the window may close before it ever opened for you. Start assembling your documents now. Brief your attorney now. The goal is to be ready to file within 24 hours of a favorable Visa Bulletin.
If your priority date is 2022 or later: The Filing Date chart shows January 1, 2022 as the current cutoff, but USCIS is not accepting I-485 filings from Filing Date applicants this month. If you are pursuing consular processing, you may be able to submit documents to the National Visa Center. The most important action now: verify that your I-140 is approved and in active status, and confirm there are no issues with your underlying petition.
Key Dates to Watch
Now: Confirm your exact priority date and compare it to September 1, 2021.
Mid-June 2026: The July Visa Bulletin releases. This is the next critical decision point — dates could advance, hold steady, or retrogress.
September 30, 2026: End of fiscal year 2026. Any unused EB-2 numbers in the China allocation expire. The new year brings a fresh supply — but also fresh demand.
Your Priority Date Is a Ticking Clock
Wei started his I-485 package that afternoon. He booked a medical exam for the following Tuesday. Not because he had time — he had a product launch that week — but because he understood something that took David a few more days to absorb: a window that's open today may not be open in six weeks. Priority dates are not finish lines. They are starting guns.
If your priority date is near the cutoff — whether you're inside it or just outside — this is the moment to talk to an immigration attorney. Not after the July bulletin drops. Now.
Book a free consultation with Yingzhong Law today. We'll review your exact priority date, flag any risks in your petition, and help you build a timeline that doesn't leave your green card to chance.
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Schedule a consultationAbout the Author
Jinwen Liu
Managing Attorney
Jinwen Liu is the Managing Attorney at Yingzhong Law Offices, specializing in employment-based and investment immigration.
Legal Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration laws and policies change frequently, and every case is different. For advice specific to your situation, consult a qualified immigration attorney. Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Attorney Advertising.
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