EB-2 Visa Bulletin: advanced degrees and exceptional ability, every cut-off since 2002
EB-2 is for professionals with an advanced degree, people of exceptional ability, and National Interest Waiver applicants. In the October 2026 bulletin the final action date is Jan 1, 2025 for most countries, Oct 1, 2021 for China, Nov 1, 2013 for India, Jan 1, 2025 for Mexico, Jan 1, 2025 for Philippines.
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EB-2 by country: dates, speed and wait
| Country | Final action | Dates for filing | Last move | Wait now | Speed 1 / 3 / 5 yr | Retrogressions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All other countries | Jan 1, 2025 | Mar 15, 2026 | −20.0 mo | 1.7 yr | 13.1 mo/yr · 10.2 mo/yr · 6.8 mo/yr | 9 |
| China (mainland-born) | Oct 1, 2021 | Jan 1, 2023 | +30 d | 5.0 yr | 6.0 mo/yr · 8.2 mo/yr · 7.8 mo/yr | 9 |
| India | Nov 1, 2013 | Jan 15, 2015 | 12.9 yr | 7.0 mo/yr · 7.5 mo/yr · 5.2 mo/yr | 16 | |
| Mexico | Jan 1, 2025 | Mar 15, 2026 | −20.0 mo | 1.7 yr | 13.1 mo/yr · 10.2 mo/yr · 6.8 mo/yr | 9 |
| Philippines | Jan 1, 2025 | Mar 15, 2026 | −20.0 mo | 1.7 yr | 13.1 mo/yr · 10.2 mo/yr · 6.8 mo/yr | 9 |
Wait now = bulletin month minus the cut-off. Speed = months of priority dates cleared per year (12 = keeps pace with time, 6 = a year of the queue takes two years); current months are left out of the speed.
EB-2 final action dates since 2002
Final action date (y) in each month's bulletin (x). When a line is current it is drawn at the bulletin month itself.
EB-2 month by month
| Bulletin | All countries | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | Jan 1, 2025−20.0 mo | Oct 1, 2021+30 d | Nov 1, 2013 | Jan 1, 2025−20.0 mo | Jan 1, 2025−20.0 mo |
| September 2026 | Current | Sep 1, 2021 | Unavailable | Current | Current |
| August 2026 | Current | Sep 1, 2021 | Unavailable | Current | Current |
| July 2026 | Current | Sep 1, 2021 | Unavailable | Current | Current |
| June 2026 | Current | Sep 1, 2021 | Sep 1, 2013−10.4 mo | Current | Current |
| May 2026 | Current | Sep 1, 2021 | Jul 15, 2014 | Current | Current |
| April 2026 | Current+17.5 mo | Sep 1, 2021 | Jul 15, 2014+10.0 mo | Current+17.5 mo | Current+17.5 mo |
| March 2026 | Oct 15, 2024+6.5 mo | Sep 1, 2021 | Sep 15, 2013+2.0 mo | Oct 15, 2024+6.5 mo | Oct 15, 2024+6.5 mo |
| February 2026 | Apr 1, 2024 | Sep 1, 2021 | Jul 15, 2013 | Apr 1, 2024 | Apr 1, 2024 |
| January 2026 | Apr 1, 2024+2.0 mo | Sep 1, 2021+3.0 mo | Jul 15, 2013+2.0 mo | Apr 1, 2024+2.0 mo | Apr 1, 2024+2.0 mo |
| December 2025 | Feb 1, 2024+2.0 mo | Jun 1, 2021+2.0 mo | May 15, 2013+44 d | Feb 1, 2024+2.0 mo | Feb 1, 2024+2.0 mo |
| November 2025 | Dec 1, 2023 | Apr 1, 2021 | Apr 1, 2013 | Dec 1, 2023 | Dec 1, 2023 |
| October 2025 | Dec 1, 2023+3.0 mo | Apr 1, 2021+3.5 mo | Apr 1, 2013+3.0 mo | Dec 1, 2023+3.0 mo | Dec 1, 2023+3.0 mo |
| September 2025 | Sep 1, 2023 | Dec 15, 2020 | Jan 1, 2013 | Sep 1, 2023 | Sep 1, 2023 |
| August 2025 | Sep 1, 2023−44 d | Dec 15, 2020 | Jan 1, 2013 | Sep 1, 2023−44 d | Sep 1, 2023−44 d |
| July 2025 | Oct 15, 2023 | Dec 15, 2020+14 d | Jan 1, 2013 | Oct 15, 2023 | Oct 15, 2023 |
| June 2025 | Oct 15, 2023+3.8 mo | Dec 1, 2020+2.0 mo | Jan 1, 2013 | Oct 15, 2023+3.8 mo | Oct 15, 2023+3.8 mo |
| May 2025 | Jun 22, 2023 | Oct 1, 2020 | Jan 1, 2013 | Jun 22, 2023 | Jun 22, 2023 |
| April 2025 | Jun 22, 2023+38 d | Oct 1, 2020+4.8 mo | Jan 1, 2013+31 d | Jun 22, 2023+38 d | Jun 22, 2023+38 d |
| March 2025 | May 15, 2023+44 d | May 8, 2020+16 d | Dec 1, 2012+47 d | May 15, 2023+44 d | May 15, 2023+44 d |
| February 2025 | Apr 1, 2023 | Apr 22, 2020 | Oct 15, 2012+14 d | Apr 1, 2023 | Apr 1, 2023 |
| January 2025 | Apr 1, 2023+17 d | Apr 22, 2020+31 d | Oct 1, 2012+2.0 mo | Apr 1, 2023+17 d | Apr 1, 2023+17 d |
| December 2024 | Mar 15, 2023 | Mar 22, 2020 | Aug 1, 2012+17 d | Mar 15, 2023 | Mar 15, 2023 |
| November 2024 | Mar 15, 2023 | Mar 22, 2020 | Jul 15, 2012 | Mar 15, 2023 | Mar 15, 2023 |
Every EB-2 retrogression since 2002
- All other countries: July 2012 (41.0 months), August 2016 (28.9 months), August 2017 (27.0 months), September 2018 (67.0 months), August 2019 (29.9 months), April 2023 (4.0 months), May 2023 (4.5 months), August 2025 (44 days), October 2026 (20.0 months)
- China (mainland-born): October 2005 (64.0 months), December 2007 (36.0 months), October 2008 (28.0 months), July 2009 (61.5 months), May 2012 (32.5 months), September 2015 (95.4 months), June 2016 (32.0 months), September 2018 (25.9 months), October 2019 (24.0 months)
- India: October 2005 (70.0 months), December 2007 (27.0 months), January 2008 (24.0 months), October 2008 (40.0 months), June 2009 (49.5 months), May 2012 (32.5 months), December 2013 (43.0 months), November 2014 (50.5 months), September 2015 (33.0 months), October 2015 (8.0 months), June 2016 (49.7 months), September 2018 (26.4 months), October 2022 (32.0 months), December 2022 (5.8 months), April 2023 (9.2 months), June 2026 (10.4 months)
- Mexico: July 2012 (41.0 months), August 2016 (28.9 months), August 2017 (27.0 months), September 2018 (67.0 months), August 2019 (29.9 months), April 2023 (4.0 months), May 2023 (4.5 months), August 2025 (44 days), October 2026 (20.0 months)
- Philippines: July 2012 (41.0 months), August 2016 (28.9 months), August 2017 (27.0 months), September 2018 (67.0 months), August 2019 (29.9 months), April 2023 (4.0 months), May 2023 (4.5 months), August 2025 (44 days), October 2026 (20.0 months)
Who can use EB-2
EB-2 is the employment-based preference for professionals with an advanced degree, people of exceptional ability, and National Interest Waiver applicants. Its annual limit is 28.6 % of the employment limit (about 40,000) plus numbers EB-1 does not use. Most cases start with a PERM labor certification and Form I-140; the priority date is normally the PERM filing date, or the I-140 date where no labor certification is needed.
Your column is your country of chargeability, normally the country of birth. A green card in EB-2 becomes possible in the month the final action date for your column passes your priority date; until then the case waits at USCIS or the National Visa Center.
What the history says about the next months
A line's past speed is the best simple guide to its future, and the State Department itself plans with it. Over the last five years the EB-2 line for most countries cleared 6.8 mo/yr, while India cleared 5.2 mo/yr. Speeds change when demand changes – a surge of new petitions, a change in the law, unused numbers falling from another category in October – so treat any projection as a range, not a date.
EB-2 questions
What is the EB-2 final action date in October 2026?
All other countries: Jan 1, 2025; China (mainland-born): Oct 1, 2021; India: Nov 1, 2013; Mexico: Jan 1, 2025; Philippines: Jan 1, 2025.
Who qualifies for EB-2?
EB-2 is for professionals with an advanced degree, people of exceptional ability, and National Interest Waiver applicants. Annual limit: 28.6 % of the employment limit (about 40,000) plus numbers EB-1 does not use.
How fast does EB-2 move?
All other countries: 13.1 mo/yr over the last year, 6.8 mo/yr over five years; China (mainland-born): 6.0 mo/yr over the last year, 7.8 mo/yr over five years; India: 7.0 mo/yr over the last year, 5.2 mo/yr over five years; Mexico: 13.1 mo/yr over the last year, 6.8 mo/yr over five years; Philippines: 13.1 mo/yr over the last year, 6.8 mo/yr over five years. "mo/yr" = months of priority dates the line clears in a year; 12 means it keeps pace with time.
Has EB-2 retrogressed?
All other countries: 9 times, last in October 2026; China (mainland-born): 9 times, last in October 2019; India: 16 times, last in June 2026; Mexico: 9 times, last in October 2026; Philippines: 9 times, last in October 2026.
How long is the EB-2 wait?
The longest EB-2 line in October 2026 is India, whose cut-off is 12.9 years behind the bulletin month. That is the wait people reaching the front now have had; if the line keeps its five-year speed (5.2 mo/yr), a priority date filed today would take longer than that. Use the calculator for your own date.
Other categories
Source: U.S. Department of State, Visa Bulletin (travel.state.gov), every monthly bulletin since 2003, parsed by 77.today. A bulletin can be revised after release; the State Department's page is the binding text. Not legal advice.