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2026년 5월 15일

2026년 6월 비자 게시판: EB-1 및 EB-2 인도 후퇴가 EB-5 예약 카테고리 전략을 강화하는 이유

2026년 6월 비자 게시판에서 EB-1, EB-2 인도가 급격히 후퇴한 반면 EB-5 예약은 Current 유지 — 인도 투자자에게 전략적 함의.

태그#EB-5#Market Analysis#Visa Bulletin#EB-1#EB-2

The June 2026 Visa Bulletin India EB-5 picture is the cleanest contrast Indian investors have seen in years. The U.S. Department of State retrogressed EB-1 India by roughly 107 days and EB-2 India by roughly 317 days — nearly a full year of progress erased in a single bulletin — while every EB-5 Reserved category (Rural, High Unemployment Area, and Infrastructure) remains Current for India on both Chart A and Chart B. For an H-1B professional or Indian-born founder watching their employment-based timeline stretch into the 2030s, June 2026 is a clear data point about which lanes are open and which are closing — and with the September 30, 2026 grandfathering deadline approaching, it is one of the most consequential bulletins of the current cycle.

1. What the June 2026 Visa Bulletin Says for India

The June bulletin moved India priority dates in opposite directions across employment-based categories. The Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing tell a single story: traditional employment pathways are tightening for India, while the EB-5 Reserved categories created by the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 remain wide open.

  1. EB-1 India retrogression. Final Action Date moved from April 1, 2023 back to December 15, 2022 — approximately 107 days of retrogression in one month. Multinational executives, outstanding researchers, and extraordinary-ability filers now face an earlier cutoff than they did in May.
  2. EB-2 India retrogression. Final Action Date moved from July 15, 2014 back to September 1, 2013 — approximately 317 days of retrogression. For Advanced Degree professionals and National Interest Waiver applicants, this is close to a full year of lost ground in a single bulletin.
  3. EB-3 India incremental. EB-3 India advanced approximately 30 days to December 15, 2013 — still deep in multi-year backlog. The narrowing gap between EB-2 and EB-3 may revive interfiling or downgrading conversations for some Indian filers.
  4. EB-5 Reserved Current. All three EB-5 set-asides — Rural, High Unemployment Area, and Infrastructure — remain marked Current ("C") for India on both Chart A and Chart B. There is no priority date wait for Indian investors filing into these categories today.

Chart A — Final Action Dates (India, June 2026)

CategoryMay 2026June 2026Change
EB-1 (Multinational Execs, Researchers, Extraordinary Ability)Apr 1, 2023Dec 15, 2022Retrogressed ~107 days
EB-2 (Advanced Degree / NIW)Jul 15, 2014Sep 1, 2013Retrogressed ~317 days
EB-3 Professionals & Skilled WorkersNov 15, 2013Dec 15, 2013Advanced ~30 days
EB-3 Other WorkersNov 15, 2013Dec 15, 2013Advanced ~30 days
EB-4 Special ImmigrantsJul 15, 2022Jul 15, 2022No change
EB-5 UnreservedMay 1, 2022May 1, 2022No change
EB-5 Reserved — RuralCurrentCurrentNo change
EB-5 Reserved — High Unemployment AreaCurrentCurrentNo change
EB-5 Reserved — InfrastructureCurrentCurrentNo change
Chart A applies when the priority date is current for visa issuance — the cutoff for being scheduled for a green card interview or AOS approval.

Chart B — Dates for Filing (India, June 2026)

CategoryMay 2026June 2026Change
EB-1Dec 1, 2023Dec 1, 2023No change
EB-2Jan 15, 2015Jan 15, 2015No change
EB-3 Professionals & Skilled WorkersNot openNot openNot open
EB-3 Other WorkersAug 1, 2015Aug 1, 2015No change
EB-4 Special ImmigrantsJan 1, 2023Jan 1, 2023No change
EB-5 UnreservedMay 1, 2024May 1, 2024No change
EB-5 Reserved — RuralCurrentCurrentNo change
EB-5 Reserved — High Unemployment AreaCurrentCurrentNo change
EB-5 Reserved — InfrastructureCurrentCurrentNo change
Chart B applies when USCIS elects to accept I-485 Adjustment of Status filings. Important: for June 2026, USCIS has directed AOS applicants to use the Final Action Dates chart (Chart A), not Dates for Filing — so Chart B does not unlock additional I-485 filings this month.

2. Why EB-1 and EB-2 Retrogression Matters More Than the Headline

The June bulletin changes the math on every existing India case. Many H-1B holders who have been quietly waiting in line for an EB-2 priority date have just watched their effective wait time grow by close to a year. As CEO Jenny Zhan recently noted in American Bazaar, rising H-1B costs combined with a 20+ year EB-2 India backlog are forcing Indian professionals to reassess what "the green card line" actually means in practice.

  1. The line is not stable. Retrogression means the wait is not a fixed number of years — it can grow whenever annual visa supply runs short relative to demand. Indian EB-2 has retrogressed multiple times in the past 24 months alone.
  2. Per-country caps still bind. India is constrained by the same 7% per-country cap as every other country, but with disproportionately high demand. Even when Rest-of-World visas spill over, the relief is temporary.
  3. Employer-tied risk compounds. EB-2 and EB-3 require continued employer sponsorship. A layoff, role change, or H-1B fee escalation can disrupt a green card filing that has been pending for years.
  4. Children age out. Indian families with teenage dependents face the Child Status Protection Act math — every additional year of retrogression raises the risk that a child turns 21 before the priority date becomes current.

The Department of State went further this month: it specifically cautioned that EB-1 and EB-2 India could retrogress again — or become marked "unavailable" — before the fiscal year ends on September 30, 2026. For Indian filers, this is an unusually direct signal that the situation is expected to get worse before it gets better.

3. Why EB-5 Reserved Stays Current for India

The EB-5 Reserved categories were created by the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 to give specific project types — rural, high-unemployment, and infrastructure — their own dedicated annual visa allocations. Indian demand has grown sharply, but supply remains adequate enough that Charts A and B both show Current for June 2026. The 2026 EB-5 industry data for Indian investors shows record Indian filings into Rural Reserved with strong approval rates and ample visa supply — the structural reason this category continues to clear.

  1. Dedicated visa allocations. 20% of annual EB-5 visas are reserved for Rural projects, 10% for High Unemployment Area projects, and 2% for Infrastructure projects. Unused Reserved visas roll forward for two fiscal years before flowing into the Unreserved pool.
  2. Rural priority processing. USCIS is statutorily directed to prioritize adjudication of I-526E petitions tied to Rural projects, which has produced approvals in months — not years — for several investors filing in 2025 and 2026.
  3. Concurrent filing eligibility. Because Reserved is Current for India, an investor physically present in the U.S. on a valid nonimmigrant status can file I-485 (Adjustment of Status), I-765 (EAD), and I-131 (Advance Parole) concurrently with I-526E — and typically receive a Combo Card within months.
  4. Why Reserved, not Unreserved. EB-5 India Unreserved has been advanced aggressively in recent bulletins, and the Department of State has warned it could itself retrogress or become unavailable in the coming months. The Reserved categories sit on dedicated allocations and remain the more durable strategic lane for India-born investors.

For Beyond Paradise 1, this is the practical reality on the ground: a rural TEA project on Hawaii Island, I-956F approved, with a documented seven-month I-526E approval for one investor and a 3+1+1 senior loan structure designed for a 3-year capital return. The same Reserved Rural lane that shows Current on the June bulletin is the lane these filings are sitting in.

4. Family-Based Movement for India in June 2026

Family-based categories also moved in June 2026, with notable forward progress on F2A and F2B that may matter for Indian investors with spouses or unmarried children in the queue alongside their employment-based or EB-5 filings.

Family-Based Chart A — Final Action Dates (India, June 2026)

CategoryMay 2026June 2026Change
F1 — Unmarried Adult Children of U.S. CitizensSep 1, 2017Sep 1, 2017No change
F2A — Spouses & Minor Children of LPRsAug 1, 2024Jan 1, 2025Advanced ~153 days
F2B — Unmarried Adult Children of LPRsMay 22, 2017Sep 22, 2017Advanced ~123 days
F3 — Married Children of U.S. CitizensFeb 15, 2012Feb 15, 2012No change
F4 — Siblings of U.S. CitizensSep 18, 2006Nov 11, 2006Advanced ~54 days
F2A spouses/minor children of LPRs advanced ~153 days; F2B unmarried adult children of LPRs advanced ~123 days; F4 siblings advanced ~54 days.

5. Key Questions for Indian Investors Reading the June 2026 Bulletin

  1. Am I already in the U.S. on a valid nonimmigrant status? If yes — H-1B, L-1, F-1, O-1, E-2, or similar — concurrent filing through EB-5 Reserved can produce an EAD and Advance Parole long before any EB-1, EB-2, or EB-3 priority date becomes current.
  2. What is my realistic EB-2 or EB-3 timeline? Independent industry models put India EB-2 at well over a decade, and the June retrogression makes that conservative. Compare that horizon honestly against an EB-5 Reserved path with no current priority date.
  3. Which Visa Bulletin chart governs my I-485 in June? USCIS has confirmed that AOS filings in June 2026 must use the Final Action Dates chart (Chart A), not Dates for Filing. For EB-5 Reserved this is a non-issue — both charts show Current — but it matters for any EB-1/EB-2/EB-3 strategy.
  4. Will I file before September 30, 2026? Investors who file I-526E before the grandfathering deadline receive protections under the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 even if Congress does not reauthorize the program.
  5. Is my source of funds documentation USCIS-ready? Even with priority dates Current, RFEs on Source of Funds remain the leading cause of I-526E delays — particularly for India-based investors using property sale proceeds, gifted capital, or loan-funded structures.
  6. Who is the NCE Manager standing behind my capital? Once a project is I-956F approved, the risk shifts from paperwork to execution. The NCE Manager controls disbursement, monitoring, and return of capital.
  7. What is the exit structure? A 3-year capital return is only possible if the underlying senior loan is sized and termed to repay inside the sustainment period without forcing redeployment. Confirm this before subscribing.

Summary: June 2026 Visa Bulletin India EB-5 — Category by Category

FeatureWhy It Matters to You
EB-1 India retrogressionFinal Action Date moved back ~107 days, from April 1, 2023 to December 15, 2022 — multinational executives and extraordinary-ability filers lose ground.
EB-2 India retrogressionFinal Action Date moved back ~317 days, from July 15, 2014 to September 1, 2013 — Advanced Degree and NIW filers face a near full-year setback.
EB-3 IndiaAdvanced ~30 days to December 15, 2013 — still in multi-year backlog.
EB-5 Reserved Rural / HUA / InfrastructureAll three remain Current for India on both Chart A and Chart B in June 2026 — no priority date wait.
Concurrent filing (I-526E + I-485)Indian investors in the U.S. on H-1B, L-1, F-1, or O-1 can file I-485, I-765, and I-131 alongside I-526E and receive a Combo Card with EAD and Advance Parole.
September 30, 2026 grandfathering deadlineInvestors who file I-526E before this date are protected under the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 even if the program is not reauthorized.


The Bottom Line: The June 2026 Visa Bulletin gives Indian investors the clearest contrast in recent memory. EB-1 retrogressed by ~107 days, EB-2 by ~317 days, and EB-3 remains backlogged — while EB-5 Reserved Rural, HUA, and Infrastructure all remain Current for India on both Chart A and Chart B. For an Indian-born investor with capital ready, the strategic question is no longer whether to use EB-5, but which Reserved category, which project, and which NCE Manager will deliver the cleanest filing before the September 30, 2026 grandfathering deadline.

Beyond International Group serves as a fiduciary NCE Manager — backed by an institutional fund platform — applying the same underwriting rigor to Reserved Rural EB-5 filings that we apply to every fund we manage.

If you are an Indian investor seeking a Reserved Rural EB-5 project with I-956F approval, documented I-526E approval velocity, and a 3-year exit structure, Beyond Paradise 1 is an opportunity not to be missed.

Schedule a Free Consultation Today.

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Glossary terms in this article

Process

EB-5 Visa Bulletin: How to Read It in 2026

The State Department publishes a monthly Visa Bulletin showing which EB-5 priority dates are current per country. Rural TEA is current for all countries through 2026; Unreserved EB-5 has long backlogs for India and China.

Timeline

September 30, 2026 grandfathering deadline

The Reform Act's $800K set-aside is grandfathered for petitions filed by September 30, 2026. After that, the program could change.

Foundations

What is the EB-5 Reform & Integrity Act (RIA) 2022?

The RIA reauthorised the Regional Center EB-5 program through 2027, created reserved-visa set-asides (20% rural, 10% urban TEA, 2% infrastructure), reduced the sustainment period from 5 to 2 years, and added integrity measures (audits, source-of-funds reviews, I-956F project approval).

Family

CSPA: keeping kids under 21 for the green card

Children must be under 21 when their green card is issued. The Child Status Protection Act subtracts I-526E processing time to lock in their age.

Timeline

EB-5 Rural Set-Aside Status: Visa Availability Update

The 20% Rural Reserved set-aside under RIA 2022 is structurally CURRENT (visa-available) for all countries in 2026 — including India and China. This is the single most consequential structural feature for backlogged-country investors in 2026.

Process

EB-5 Concurrent Filing: I-526E + I-485 Together

Concurrent filing lets EB-5 investors physically present in the US in valid status file I-526E and I-485 together, unlocking EAD + Advance Parole within roughly 3-6 months — without waiting for I-526E adjudication first.

Timeline

EAD + Advance Parole During EB-5

When an EB-5 investor files I-485 concurrently with I-526E (inside the US, valid status, current visa category), they also file I-765 (EAD) and I-131 (Advance Parole). Both typically arrive within 3-6 months and unlock employer-independent work + international travel before the EB-5 petition is even adjudicated.

Country

EB-5 for India: Priority Date, Wait Time, and Rural Set-Aside

India-born EB-5 applicants face multi-year backlogs in the Unreserved category but the **Rural Reserved set-aside is current in 2026** — meaning Indian investors filing into a Rural TEA project face no visa-availability wait.

Foundations

Rural TEA vs Urban TEA vs Direct EB-5

Rural TEA = $800K + 20% visa set-aside + priority processing. Urban TEA = $800K + 10% set-aside. Direct EB-5 = $1.05M, no Regional Center.

Diligence

I-956F project approval — why it matters for you

I-956F is USCIS's pre-vetting of the EB-5 project itself. Filing I-526E against an already-approved I-956F means much faster individual adjudication.

Money

EB-5 Source of Funds Documentation Checklist

USCIS requires a documented chain showing every dollar of the $800K traces to a lawful origin. The documentation set varies by source type (salary, business sale, inheritance, property, loan, gift, stocks) — but the rule is universal: paper-trail everything, in English, with certified translations where needed.

Money

Source of Funds: the #1 cause of EB-5 denial

USCIS requires every dollar of your $800K to trace back to a lawful source. Poor documentation is the most common cause of RFEs and denials.

Diligence

EB-5 NCE Manager: What to Look For

The New Commercial Enterprise (NCE) Manager is the entity that holds your $800K and decides how it gets deployed to the project, monitored across the life of the investment, and (eventually) returned. NCE Manager quality is structurally more important than Regional Center quality, but rarely highlighted in marketing.

Timeline

EB-5 NCE vs JCE: Legal Structure Explained

Every Regional Center EB-5 investment has two entities: the New Commercial Enterprise (NCE) — the investor-facing fund — and the Job Creating Entity (JCE) — the actual project. Investors are limited partners or LLC members in the NCE; the NCE lends or invests in the JCE.

Money

EB-5 Redeployment: What Happens If Job Creation Finishes Before You Get Your GC

If the project creates the required 10 jobs and repays the NCE before the investor's sustainment period or I-829 is complete, the NCE must **redeploy** capital into a new at-risk investment to keep the investor compliant. Redeployment terms (control, sector, exit) materially affect repayment timing.