What changed in the March 2026 bulletin
Against last month: 23 employment-based dates advanced, 0 retrogressed, 27 held. The biggest advances: EB-2 for most countries (became current), EB-2 Mexico (became current), EB-2 Philippines (became current) and Certain Religious Workers for most countries (became available again).[1]
Of the 25 family-sponsored cells, 19 match last month; 6 advanced and 0 went backward. The biggest advances: F3 Philippines (+4 months to 01 Jun 2006), F2A for most countries (+31 days to 22 Feb 2026), F2A China (+31 days to 22 Feb 2026) and F2A India (+31 days to 22 Feb 2026).
| Category | Country | Before | March | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-2 | Rest of world | 15 Oct 2024 | C | ▲ became current |
| EB-2 | Mexico | 15 Oct 2024 | C | ▲ became current |
| EB-2 | Philippines | 15 Oct 2024 | C | ▲ became current |
| Certain Religious Workers | Rest of world | U | 01 Jan 2023 | ▲ became available again |
| Certain Religious Workers | China | U | 01 Jan 2023 | ▲ became available again |
| Certain Religious Workers | India | U | 01 Jan 2023 | ▲ became available again |
| Certain Religious Workers | Mexico | U | 01 Jan 2023 | ▲ became available again |
| Certain Religious Workers | Philippines | U | 01 Jan 2023 | ▲ became available again |
| EB-4 | Rest of world | 15 Mar 2021 | 01 Jan 2023 | ▲ 22 months |
| EB-4 | China | 15 Mar 2021 | 01 Jan 2023 | ▲ 22 months |
March 2026 employment-based dates
Arrows compare each date with February 2026, the month before. EB-2 India advanced 11 months to 01 Nov 2014. Category history: EB-2, EB-3, EB-2 India.
| Category | Rest of world | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | C■ | 01 Dec 2023▲ advanced 4 months | 01 Dec 2023▲ advanced 4 months | C■ | C■ |
| EB-2 | C▲ became current | 01 Jan 2022■ | 01 Nov 2014▲ advanced 11 months | C▲ became current | C▲ became current |
| EB-3 | 15 Jan 2024▲ advanced 3 months | 01 Jan 2022■ | 15 Aug 2014■ | 15 Jan 2024▲ advanced 3 months | 01 Jan 2024▲ advanced 3 months |
| EB-3 Other Workers | 22 Jun 2022▲ advanced 7 months | 01 Oct 2019■ | 15 Aug 2014■ | 22 Jun 2022▲ advanced 7 months | 22 Jun 2022▲ advanced 7 months |
| EB-4 | 01 Jan 2023▲ advanced 22 months | 01 Jan 2023▲ advanced 22 months | 01 Jan 2023▲ advanced 22 months | 01 Jan 2023▲ advanced 22 months | 01 Jan 2023▲ advanced 22 months |
| Certain Religious Workers | 01 Jan 2023▲ became available again | 01 Jan 2023▲ became available again | 01 Jan 2023▲ became available again | 01 Jan 2023▲ became available again | 01 Jan 2023▲ became available again |
| EB-5 Unreserved | C■ | 01 Oct 2016▲ advanced 40 days | 01 May 2024■ | C■ | C■ |
The three EB-5 set-aside rows (rural, high unemployment, infrastructure) were current for every country in March 2026.
March 2026 family-sponsored dates
Family dates are compared with February 2026. F2A for most countries was 22 Feb 2026 (advanced 31 days). 24 cells were current (C). History: F2A; backlog in years: wait-time table.
| Category | Rest of world | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | 01 Sep 2017■ | 01 Sep 2017■ | 01 Sep 2017■ | 01 Dec 2007■ | 22 Apr 2015■ |
| F2A | 22 Feb 2026▲ advanced 31 days | 22 Feb 2026▲ advanced 31 days | 22 Feb 2026▲ advanced 31 days | 22 Feb 2026▲ advanced 31 days | 22 Feb 2026▲ advanced 31 days |
| F2B | 15 Mar 2017■ | 15 Mar 2017■ | 15 Mar 2017■ | 15 Feb 2010■ | 01 Oct 2013■ |
| F3 | 22 Jul 2012■ | 22 Jul 2012■ | 22 Jul 2012■ | 01 Jul 2001■ | 01 Jun 2006▲ advanced 4 months |
| F4 | 01 Mar 2009■ | 01 Mar 2009■ | 15 Dec 2006■ | 30 Apr 2001■ | 15 Jan 2008■ |
Fiscal year 2026 context
March 2026 is in the middle of fiscal year 2026; mid-year bulletins tend to adjust dates as the State Department sees how quickly numbers are being used. Since the October 2025 bulletin on the same chart: EB-2 India from 01 Dec 2013 to 01 Nov 2014; EB-2 China from 01 Dec 2021 to 01 Jan 2022; EB-3 India unchanged at 15 Aug 2014; EB-3 China unchanged at 01 Jan 2022; EB-2 Rest of world from 15 Jul 2024 to Current; EB-3 Rest of world from 01 Jul 2023 to 15 Jan 2024. No category was marked U in March 2026.
USCIS's choice of chart matters as much as the dates: in March 2026 it accepted Dates for Filing for employment-based I-485s.[3] The chart history page lists every month's choice since 2015.
- Previous month: visa bulletin February 2026
- Next month: visa bulletin April 2026
- Check your own date: priority date calculator
Frequently asked questions
Did EB-2 India move in the March 2026 visa bulletin?
Yes. EB-2 India advanced 11 months on the Dates for Filing chart: it read 01 Dec 2013 in February 2026 and 01 Nov 2014 in March 2026.
Which chart did USCIS accept for March 2026?
For employment-based adjustment of status, USCIS accepted Dates for Filing; for family-sponsored cases, Dates for Filing. Applicants whose category is current on the Final Action Dates chart may also file under it.
Was any category unavailable in March 2026?
No. No category or country was marked U in March 2026.
When was the March 2026 visa bulletin in effect?
From March 1 to March 31, 2026. The State Department publishes each bulletin in the middle of the previous month.
Sources
- When to File Your Adjustment of Status Application for Family-Sponsored or Employment-Based Preference Visas: March 2026
- When to File Your Adjustment of Status Application for Family-Sponsored or Employment-Based Preference Visas: February 2026
- Adjustment of Status Filing Charts from the Visa Bulletin
- The Visa Bulletin (monthly publication and archive)