March 2026 Visa Bulletin: EB-3 Advances to Jan 2024, EB-2 Goes Current

The March 2026 Visa Bulletin brings meaningful forward movement across employment-based preference categories. USCIS has confirmed it will use the Dates for Filing Chart (Chart B) for March, meaning applicants with priority dates before the listed cutoffs may file Adjustment of Status (Form I-485) applications immediately, even before their Final Action Date becomes current. For EB-3 applicants, the most notable change is the advancement of All Chargeability Areas, Mexico, and the Philippines to January 15, 2024. This opens filing windows for workers sponsored through the EB-3 skilled worker or professional categories with priority dates before that cutoff. EB-3 China remains stationary at January 1, 2022, and EB-3 India holds at August 15, 2014, reflecting the persistent backlogs for nationals of those countries. The headline development this month is the return of EB-2 All Chargeability Areas to Current status, eliminating all prior cutoff date constraints. EB-2 India also advanced nearly eleven months from December 1, 2013 to November 1, 2014. While these are EB-2 movements, they signal a broader loosening of the employment-based backlog and may free up EB-3 visa numbers in coming months. Filing under the Dates for Filing Chart now — even before Final Action Dates become current — allows applicants to enter the processing queue and receive Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) and Advance Parole while awaiting green card approval. Employers with sponsored workers holding EB-3 priority dates before January 15, 2024 should contact their immigration counsel immediately to initiate I-485 filings before April's bulletin potentially retracts these dates.