There is finally some meaningful movement in the employment-based green card process for Indian nationals, and this time it is not minor. The April 2026 Visa Bulletin brings a noticeable jump that many have been waiting for.

Let’s get straight to the point.

For EB-2 and EB-3 India, the Dates for Filing have advanced to January 15, 2015. This is a significant jump compared to the March 2026 Visa Bulletin, where EB-2 India was only at November 1, 2014. That is over two months forward movement in one bulletin, something we have not consistently seen in recent years. More importantly, EB-3 India is now aligned at the same filing date, which opens up strategic options again.

This is not movement you ignore. This is movement you act on.

On the Final Action Dates, EB-2 India has moved to July 15, 2014, which is roughly a ten-month jump from the previous position of September 2013 in March 2026. This is not just incremental movement. This is real progress.

After years of waiting, the line has finally started to move, and when it moves, you move with it.

At the same time, EB-2 for the rest of the world remains current, meaning there is no backlog for those countries. That contrast continues to highlight how uniquely impacted Indian applicants are, but also why this movement matters so much.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN PRACTICALLY?

If your priority date is before January 15, 2015, and USCIS allows the use of the Dates for Filing chart, you may now be eligible to file your I-485. That means access to EAD, Advance Parole, and job flexibility, which are major benefits for thousands of Indian professionals stuck in the backlog.

For those waiting on approvals, the forward movement in Final Action Dates signals that USCIS is actively clearing older cases. This is often a leading indicator of more movement in upcoming months.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

This kind of advancement does not happen randomly. It typically indicates that visa number usage is being managed more efficiently or that demand has softened slightly, both of which can benefit Indian applicants in the short term.

But let’s be clear. This is not the end of the backlog problem. It is a positive window, not a permanent fix.

Do not celebrate too early, but do not sit idle either. This is the window smart applicants use.

BOTTOM LINE

This is good news, real good news, for Indians in EB-2 and EB-3. If you have been waiting for years, this movement should get your attention.

Act fast, review your priority dates, and be prepared. Opportunities like this do not stay open forever.

And if this trend continues, we may be looking at even better movement in the coming months.

By: Rahul Reddy

Rahul Reddy is the founding partner of Reddy Neumann Brown PC. He founded our firm in 1997 and has over 28 years of experience practicing employment-based immigration. Rahul‘s vast knowledge of the complex immigration system makes him an invaluable resource and an expert in the field. His personal experience with the immigration system has made him empathetic to each of his clients’ cases and empowered him to help others achieve the American Dream.

Rahul‘s dedication to serving the immigrant community is evident, from his daily free conference calls to his weekly immigration Q&As on Facebook and YouTube Live. He is an active member of the immigrant community and one of the founders of ITServe Alliance. He has been a member of American Immigration Lawyers Association since 1995.