March 2026 Visa Bulletin Released by State Department

The U.S. Department of State has released the Visa Bulletin for March 2026, providing updated priority date cut-offs for all immigrant visa categories. The bulletin is a critical monthly publication that determines which applicants may move forward in the green card process based on their priority date and country of birth. For EB-3 applicants — which covers skilled workers, professionals, and unskilled (other) workers — the March bulletin sets the latest filing and final action dates. Applicants whose priority dates are earlier than the listed cut-off dates may be eligible to file adjustment of status applications or proceed with consular processing, depending on USCIS guidance. Country-specific backlogs remain a key concern for nationals of high-demand countries such as India, China, Mexico, and the Philippines. These countries often have significantly earlier cut-off dates compared to the 'Rest of World' category due to per-country annual visa caps. Applicants and their attorneys should compare the March 2026 dates against the February 2026 bulletin to identify any forward or backward movement. USCIS also publishes a separate determination each month on whether to use Final Action Dates or Dates for Filing, which affects when applicants can submit Form I-485. EB-3 stakeholders are encouraged to visit the official State Department bulletin at travel.state.gov and consult with an immigration attorney to understand how the updated dates affect their individual case timeline.