Quick Hits
- EB-1 advances for China and India.
- All EB-2 categories advance, except China.
- EB-3 advances except China and India.
Final Action Dates
The final action dates chart show the following movement in the March 2026 Visa Bulletin:
- EB-1: Advances one month for China and India; all other countries continue to be current.
- EB-2: No movement for China, India advances two months to September 15, 2013; all other countries advance to October 15, 2024.
- EB-3: All countries advance except for China-mainland (which remains at May 1, 2021) and India (which remains at November 15, 2013). The Philippines advances two months to August 1, 2023. All other countries advance by four months to October 1, 2023.
- EB-4: All countries advance to July 15, 2021.
- EB‑4 Certain Religious Workers: July 15, 2021.
- EB-5: No movement is shown.
| Employment- based |
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed |
CHINA- mainland born |
INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| 1st | C | 01MAR23 | 01MAR23 | C | C |
| 2nd | 15OCT24 | 01SEP21 | 15SEP13 | 15OCT24 | 15OCT24 |
| 3rd | 01OCT23 | 01MAY21 | 15NOV13 | 01OCT23 | 01AUG23 |
| Other Workers | 01NOV21 | 08DEC18 | 15NOV13 | 01NOV21 | 01NOV21 |
| 4th | 15JUL21 | 15JUL21 | 15JUL21 | 15JUL21 | 15JUL21 |
| Certain Religious Workers | 15JUL21 | 15JUL21 | 15JUL21 | 15JUL21 | 15JUL21 |
| 5th Unreserved (including C5, T5, I5, R5, NU, RU) |
C | 15AUG16 | 01MAY22 | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: Rural (20%, including NR, RR) |
C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: High Unemployment (10%, including NH, RH) |
C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: Infrastructure (2%, including RI) |
C | C | C | C | C |
Source: U.S. Department of State, March 2026 Visa Bulletin, Final Action Dates Chart
Dates for Filing
The dates for filing advance significantly almost across the board. Additionally, the EB-4 Certain Religious Workers subcategory was Unavailable (U) for all countries in February 2026, and is now available for January 1, 2023, for all countries.
- EB-1: China and India advance four months to December 1, 2023. All other countries remain current.
- EB-2: No movement is shown for China. India advances eleven months to November 1, 2014. All other countries become current.
- EB-3: No movement for China-mainland and India. Philippines advances to January 1, 2024, and Mexico advances to January 15, 2024. All other countries advance by more than three months to January 15, 2024.
- EB-4: All countries advance to January 1, 2023.
- EB‑4 Certain Religious Workers: January 1, 2023.
- EB-5: China advances to October 1, 2016, for 5th unreserved. No other movement is shown.
| Employment- based |
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed |
CHINA- mainland born |
INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| 1st | C | 01DEC23 | 01DEC23 | C | C |
| 2nd | C | 01JAN22 | 01NOV14 | C | C |
| 3rd | 15JAN24 | 01JAN22 | 15AUG14 | 15JAN24 | 01JAN24 |
| Other Workers | 22JUN22 | 01OCT19 | 15AUG14 | 22JUN22 | 22JUN22 |
| 4th | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 |
| Certain Religious Workers | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 |
| 5th Unreserved (including C5, T5, I5, R5) |
C | 01OCT16 | 01MAY24 | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: (Rural: NR, RR – 20%) |
C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: (High Unemployment: NH, RH – 10%) |
C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: (Infrastructure: RI – 2%) |
C | C | C | C | C |
Source: U.S. Department of State, March 2026 Visa Bulletin, Dates for Filing Chart
The State Department notes that this advancement is in part due to the immigrant visa processing pause on certain nationalities and if the administration’s policies shift, retrogression may be necessary later in the fiscal year to bring the issuance of immigrant visas within the annual limits.
Key Takeaways
The significant advancement of most categories in the Dates for Filing Chart will allow more applicants to file adjustment of status applications starting March 1, 2026.
Ogletree Deakins’ Immigration Practice Group will continue to monitor developments and will post updates on the Immigration blog as additional information becomes available.
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