February 2026 Visa Bulletin: Green Card Backlogs Persist for Indian EB-3 Applicants

The February 2026 Visa Bulletin, published by the U.S. Department of State, brings little relief to Indian-born EB-3 applicants who continue to face some of the longest green card wait times in the employment-based immigration system. The bulletin reflects only marginal advancement in priority dates for the India EB-3 category, consistent with the sluggish movement seen in recent months. India's outsized representation in employment-based immigration petitions, combined with the 7% per-country annual cap on green card issuances, creates a structural bottleneck that affects hundreds of thousands of skilled workers. Analysts estimate that some Indian EB-3 applicants filing today could wait several decades before their priority date becomes current under the existing statutory framework. For EB-3 applicants from other countries, the bulletin generally shows more favorable conditions, with most worldwide dates advancing at a steadier pace. The Rest of World and China categories continue to move forward more predictably than the India-born backlog. Immigration advocates and industry groups continue to call on Congress to reform the per-country cap system, but no legislative fix has advanced through the current session. In the absence of reform, applicants are advised to file I-485 adjustment of status applications as soon as their priority date becomes current to lock in their place in the queue. EB-3 applicants should consult the USCIS website and the monthly Visa Bulletin to track their specific priority date category and country of birth, and work closely with an immigration attorney to plan accordingly.