March 2026 Visa Bulletin Brings Meaningful Forward Movement

The March 2026 Visa Bulletin has been released, bringing what analysts at Ogletree Deakins describe as meaningful forward movement in priority dates across employment-based categories. This development is welcome news for thousands of foreign nationals waiting in the EB-3 queue. Forward movement in the Visa Bulletin indicates that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Department of State are advancing the cutoff dates, allowing more applicants to become eligible to file for adjustment of status or receive immigrant visa appointments at U.S. consulates abroad. For EB-3 applicants — which includes skilled workers, professionals, and unskilled workers — any forward movement in priority dates is significant, particularly for heavily backlogged countries such as India and China where wait times can span decades. Workers from rest-of-world countries may also see improved timelines. Applicants should review the March 2026 Bulletin carefully to determine whether their priority date has become current under either the Final Action Dates or Dates for Filing charts. Those whose dates have advanced may be eligible to take action on their pending cases. Immigration attorneys recommend consulting with counsel to evaluate how the updated bulletin affects individual cases, as eligibility to file can depend on the specific form being submitted and the processing center involved.