March 2026 Visa Bulletin: Major Movement in Employment-Based Categories

The Department of State has issued the March 2026 Visa Bulletin, described by immigration attorneys as one of the most consequential employment-based updates in recent years. The most notable development is a dramatic 335-day advancement in EB-2 filing dates for India, a country historically burdened by severe backlogs due to per-country caps. In addition to the India EB-2 movement, the bulletin also addresses filing dates for Mexico, the Philippines, and all other chargeability areas, signaling a broader shift in the employment-based preference queue. These changes reflect USCIS and the State Department's ongoing management of annual visa number usage. For EB-3 applicants, visa bulletin movements in EB-2 can have downstream effects. When EB-2 dates advance, some applicants may consider downgrading to EB-3 to take advantage of available visa numbers, while others may upgrade from EB-3 to EB-2 if their priority dates become current. Applicants and their attorneys should review the March 2026 bulletin carefully in conjunction with USCIS guidance on which dates to use for filing — the 'Dates for Filing' versus the 'Final Action Dates' chart. Those with pending I-485 applications or approaching priority dates should consult an immigration attorney to assess their options in light of this bulletin.