The June 2026 Visa Bulletin is important for healthcare workers, nurses, and other employment-based green card applicants waiting under the EB-3 category.
EB-3 is the employment-based third preference category. It includes skilled workers, professionals, and other workers. For many healthcare workers, including registered nurses, EB-3 is one of the most common green card sponsorship pathways.
Each month, the U.S. Department of State publishes the Visa Bulletin to show which applicants may be able to move forward based on their immigrant visa category, country of chargeability, and priority date.
This June 2026 update explains what changed, what the EB-3 dates mean, and what healthcare workers should watch next.
This article is for general education only and is not legal advice. Immigration timelines can change monthly, so applicants should review the official Visa Bulletin and speak with a qualified immigration attorney about their specific case.
Final Action Dates are the dates that generally control when an immigrant visa can be issued or a green card can be approved.
For June 2026, the EB-3 Final Action Dates are:
If your priority date is earlier than the listed Final Action Date for your country and category, your case may be eligible for final action, assuming all other requirements are met.
If your priority date is later than the listed date, your case is not yet current for final approval.
Dates for Filing show when applicants may be able to begin submitting certain documents, depending on whether the chart is allowed for use that month.
For June 2026, the EB-3 Dates for Filing are:
“Current” means there is no cutoff date listed for that category and country on the Dates for Filing chart.
For applicants in the U.S., USCIS decides each month whether employment-based adjustment of status applicants can use the Dates for Filing chart or must use the Final Action Dates chart. Applicants should always check the USCIS adjustment of status filing chart guidance for the specific month before filing.
For EB-3, the June 2026 Visa Bulletin continues to show major differences by country.
The most important takeaways are:
The June 2026 bulletin specifically warns that increased demand in EB-3 Philippines may make it necessary to retrogress the Final Action Date or make the category unavailable in the coming months.
“Current” means there is no listed cutoff date for that category and country on that chart.
If a category is current, qualified applicants in that category may generally move forward without waiting for a specific priority date cutoff on that chart.
However, “current” on the Dates for Filing chart is not always the same as being current for final green card approval. Applicants need to check which chart applies and what step they are trying to complete.
A priority date is your place in line for an immigrant visa.
For many EB-3 cases, the priority date is connected to when the employer-sponsored immigration process begins. In Schedule A nurse cases, it may be tied to the filing of the I-140 immigrant petition.
Your priority date is compared against the Visa Bulletin chart for your category and country of chargeability.
If your priority date is earlier than the listed cutoff date, your case may be considered current for that chart. If your priority date is later, you usually need to keep waiting.
A Final Action Date is the cutoff date used to determine when an immigrant visa can generally be issued or a green card can be approved.
For EB-3 applicants, this date matters most for final approval.
For example, if your country’s EB-3 Final Action Date is August 1, 2023, then applicants with priority dates earlier than August 1, 2023 may generally be eligible for final action, assuming the case is otherwise ready and approved.
A Date for Filing is the cutoff date used to determine when certain applicants may begin submitting documents earlier in the process.
For consular processing, this may relate to when applicants can assemble and submit documents to the National Visa Center.
For adjustment of status inside the U.S., applicants must also check USCIS guidance to see whether the Dates for Filing chart can be used for that month.
This distinction is important because a person may be eligible to submit documents but not yet eligible for final green card approval.
For nurses and healthcare workers, the June 2026 Visa Bulletin can affect green card timing.
A nurse may have:
But the green card may still depend on visa availability.
For nurses from countries with backlogs, especially India and the Philippines, the Visa Bulletin is a major part of the timeline.
EB-3 India remains one of the most backlogged categories.
In June 2026, EB-3 India has a Final Action Date of December 15, 2013 and a Date for Filing of January 15, 2015.
This means Indian-born nurses may face very long waits even if they qualify for EB-3 sponsorship and have a U.S. employer willing to sponsor them.
For Indian-born applicants, EB-3 may still be possible, but it may not be a fast green card solution. Applicants should understand the backlog before relying on EB-3 as their only plan.
The Philippines is one of the most important countries for nurse-related EB-3 searches.
In June 2026, EB-3 Philippines has a Final Action Date of August 1, 2023 and a Date for Filing of January 1, 2024.
The June 2026 Visa Bulletin also warns that EB-3 Philippines may retrogress or become unavailable in the coming months if demand and number use continue to increase.
For Filipino nurses, this means EB-3 remains an important pathway, but timelines should be watched carefully.
For June 2026, EB-3 Mexico and All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed both show a Final Action Date of June 1, 2024.
The Dates for Filing chart shows EB-3 as Current for both All Chargeability Areas and Mexico.
This may be more favorable than India, China, and the Philippines, but applicants should still check the correct chart and confirm whether USCIS allows the Dates for Filing chart for adjustment of status that month.
The Visa Bulletin can move forward, stay the same, retrogress, or become unavailable.
Movement depends on several factors, including:
When demand is higher than expected, dates can retrogress. When annual limits are reached, a category may become unavailable.
Retrogression means a cutoff date moves backward.
For example, if a category was previously available to applicants with priority dates before 2024, but later moves back to 2023, some applicants may no longer be current.
Retrogression can be frustrating because it may delay final green card approval even after an applicant has already made progress in the process.
Retrogression does not always mean the case is denied. It often means the applicant must wait until the priority date becomes current again.
“Unavailable” means immigrant visa numbers are not authorized for that category for that period.
If a category becomes unavailable, final approvals generally cannot move forward until visa numbers become available again.
The June 2026 Visa Bulletin warns that some categories may become unavailable before the end of the fiscal year if annual limits, category limits, or country limits are reached.
EB-3 applicants should use the June 2026 Visa Bulletin to understand their position, but they should not make decisions based on the bulletin alone.
Here are helpful next steps:
Check your I-140 receipt notice, approval notice, or immigration paperwork to confirm your priority date.
This is usually your country of birth, not your current citizenship.
Look at the EB-3 row for your country in the Final Action Dates chart and Dates for Filing chart.
If you are in the U.S. and planning adjustment of status, confirm which chart USCIS allows for employment-based filings that month.
If your date is current, close to current, or recently retrogressed, ask what steps you should take next.
Visa Bulletin movement can change. Applicants should keep identity documents, work history, family documents, and immigration notices organized.
Flint helps eligible healthcare workers already in the U.S. connect with healthcare facilities that may offer employment-based green card sponsorship.
For healthcare workers, Visa Bulletin movement can affect the green card timeline, but the first step is still matching with a real employer sponsor and qualifying role.
Flint may be relevant if you are:
Flint is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Applicants should speak with a qualified immigration attorney about how the Visa Bulletin affects their individual case.
If you are a healthcare worker already in the U.S. and looking for possible green card sponsorship, you can check whether you may be eligible for Flint’s current healthcare roles.
