Complete breakdown of EB-2 and EB-3 priority date movement, India and China backlog updates, and what PERM delays mean for your green card timeline.
The April 2026 visa bulletin is critical for H-1B holders planning their green card journey. With PERM processing at 503 days and growing backlogs for India and China EB-2/EB-3 categories, understanding priority date movement is essential for career planning. Here is the complete analysis.
| Category | Final Action Date | Movement vs March 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| EB-1 India | January 1, 2022 | ↑ Advanced 1 month |
| EB-2 India | January 1, 2013 | ↑ Advanced 3 weeks |
| EB-3 India | March 15, 2012 | ↑ Advanced 2 weeks |
| EB-2 China | June 1, 2020 | ↑ Advanced 2 months |
| EB-3 China | March 1, 2020 | ↑ Advanced 6 weeks |
| EB-2 ROW | Current | ↔ No backlog |
| EB-3 ROW | Current | ↔ No backlog |
| PERM Processing Time | 503 days average | ↑ Up from 420 days |
📊 Information Gain Perspective
The most overlooked data point: PERM processing at 503 days means your priority date is locked 16+ months after your employer starts the process. For EB-2 India, this creates a compounding effect — even if priority dates advance 3 weeks per month, you are waiting 13+ years from today. A newly selected FY2027 H-1B holder who starts PERM immediately will not receive their green card until approximately 2039-2041. This math is rarely presented clearly.
💡 Pro Tip
Start your PERM process on Day 1 of your H-1B — do not wait. Every month you delay adds a month to your green card timeline. Some employers start PERM before the H-1B is even approved, which is legally permissible. Check the employer's PERM filing history on Wisa — companies with high PERM filing volumes have established processes and are less likely to delay.
If you were just selected in the FY2027 lottery, here is your realistic green card timeline:
A common strategy for India-born candidates is filing EB-3 instead of or in addition to EB-2:
🔍 Amazon — 8,200+ PERM filings on record | Average processing: 480 days | Starts PERM within first year of H-1B | Most filings at EB-2 level | Priority date locked ~16 months after initiation
🔍 Google — 6,800+ PERM filings | Known for expedited internal processing | Files EB-2 and EB-3 simultaneously for India-born employees | Average $178K salary supports Level 3-4 PERM
🔍 Infosys — 4,100+ PERM filings | Longer internal delays before starting PERM — average 2.5 years after H-1B start | Primarily Level 2 filings | Slower priority date lock-in
Research PERM filing volumes, processing times, and green card sponsorship patterns on Wisa.
Search PERM Sponsors on WisaSearch thousands of verified H-1B sponsors by company, industry, and location.
Search H-1B Sponsors on Wisa →EB-2 India final action date is January 1, 2013 (advanced 3 weeks from March 2026). EB-3 India is March 15, 2012 (advanced 2 weeks). At current rates, EB-2 India has approximately a 13-year backlog and EB-3 India approximately 14 years.
Starting PERM immediately in October 2026, with 503-day processing, your priority date locks around February 2028. EB-2 India backlog of 13-15 years from that date means green card approximately 2041-2043. Starting PERM later extends this further. Every month of delay adds a month.
Consider filing both simultaneously. EB-2 India has a 13-year backlog and EB-3 India has 14 years, but EB-3 occasionally surges past EB-2 when spillover visas become available. Dual filing costs more but provides maximum flexibility for priority date porting.
PERM processing at 503 days means your priority date is locked 16+ months after your employer starts the process. This creates a compounding effect with visa bulletin backlogs. If your employer delays starting PERM by even one year, your green card arrives one year later.