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EB-3 Visa Bulletin for Nurses: Priority Dates

Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin · Public domain

⚠Retrogression Warning — June 2026

The U.S. Department of State has indicated that EB-3 Final Action Dates may need to retrogress in coming months due to high visa demand. Nurses approaching their priority date should consult their immigration attorney before making plans based on current dates.

Current EB-3 Final Action Dates

Philippines 🇵🇭
Priority date
August 1, 2023
India 🇮🇳
Priority date
December 15, 2013
All Other Countries 🌍
Priority date
June 1, 2024
Plain-language interpretation: DOS warned in June 2026 that retrogression of EB-3 Final Action Dates may be necessary in the coming months. Philippine nurses with a priority date before August 1, 2023 can currently proceed to consular interview. Those with later priority dates must continue to wait.

What "Priority Date" Means

Your priority date is the date on which your employer first filed the EB-3 petition (Form I-140) on your behalf. The Visa Bulletin shows the "Final Action Date" — the cutoff date for your country. If your priority date is earlier than the Final Action Date, you can proceed to the next step in the visa process.

Example: If the Philippines Final Action Date is August 1, 2023, and your priority date is June 15, 2023, you can proceed. If your priority date is October 1, 2023, you must continue to wait.

The dates move forward (usually) as visas are issued and new fiscal year slots open. Retrogression occurs when dates move backward — this happens when more people become eligible than there are visa slots available.

Historical Priority Dates

MonthPhilippinesIndiaAll OthersWarning?
Jun 2026August 1, 2023December 15, 2013June 1, 2024Yes
May 2026July 1, 2023December 1, 2013May 1, 2024—
Apr 2026June 1, 2023November 15, 2013April 1, 2024—
Mar 2026May 1, 2023November 1, 2013March 1, 2024—
Feb 2026April 1, 2023October 15, 2013February 1, 2024—
Jan 2026March 1, 2023October 1, 2013January 1, 2024—

India: The 12-Year Wait

The India EB-3 priority date of December 15, 2013 means that only Indian nurses whose I-140 was filed before December 15, 2013 can currently proceed to a visa interview. An Indian nurse whose petition was filed today would not qualify for a visa interview until approximately 2038 under current movement rates.

Indian nurses should seriously evaluate the H-1B nonimmigrant visa as an alternative. H-1B does not have the same country-of-birth queue, but requires winning an annual lottery. See our visa pathways guide.