The Legal Brief: Immigration Attorney Dissects the March 2026 Visa Bulletin

The Department of State has released the March 2026 Visa Bulletin, and it is one of the most consequential employment-based updates we’ve seen in years.

At first glance, the headline is simple: EB-2 filing dates for India surged forward by 335 days, and EB-2 filing dates for Mexico, the Philippines, and all other areas are now current. EB-1 filing dates for India and China also advanced significantly.

USCIS has also confirmed it will use the Dates for Filing chart for March. That means many applicants physically present in the United States may now file Adjustment of Status applications.

But when I look at this bulletin as an immigration attorney, I see a more interesting story.

Why did the March Visa Bulletin move forward so dramatically?

When the Visa Bulletin jumps forward, it usually means one thing: the government believes more Green Cards can be issued than originally expected.

Each fiscal year, Congress limits how many employment-based and family-based Green Cards can be approved. If those numbers aren’t fully used, the State Department advances cutoff dates to make sure available spots don’t go to waste before the fiscal year ends.

In other words, forward movement often signals that federal agencies see unused capacity and are trying to distribute it.

One possible contributing factor: the immigrant visa processing freeze 

For March’s Visa Bulletin specifically, one contributing factor may be the recent immigrant visa processing freeze affecting 75 countries.

That pause primarily impacts consular processing, meaning Green Cards issued at U.S. embassies and consulates abroad. This is more common in family-based categories like IR-1 (marriage Green Card), than employment-based categories like EB-1 and EB-2.

If fewer family-based Green Cards are ultimately issued overseas this fiscal year, some of those unused numbers could later spill over into employment-based categories. That redistribution can create additional availability and allow cutoff dates to move forward.

The government does not announce these reallocations in real time. But historically, I’ve seen anticipated spill over act as a trigger for large, unexpected Visa Bulletin movement.

A closer look at EB-2: Applicants receive a major lifeline

EB-2 filing dates have not been current for Mexico, Philippines, and “all other countries” since November 2022. This category (particularly EB-2 NIW) remained severely backlogged for a long time, so major movement for these countries, and India, is exciting for thousands of immigrants. 

EB-2’s backlog started with an extraordinary growth in demand over the past three fiscal years:

• FY2022: 21,973 applications received
• FY2023: 39,803 applications received
• FY2024: 63,549 applications received

EB-2 may be moving forward now due to the reasons we discussed above – but also perhaps due to a shift in demand. In FY2025, USCIS’s most recent data showed that EB-2 NIW filings actually declined quarter over quarter:

• Q1: 20,136 applications
• Q2: 17,604 applications
• Q3: 14,538 applications

If fewer new petitions are entering the pipeline, while USCIS continues adjudicating existing cases, demand projections may have begun to stabilize. Combined with potential visa number recapture, that creates room for priority dates to advance.

What this means if you’re in the United States

Because USCIS is honoring filing dates in March, if your priority date is current under the Dates for Filing chart, you may now:

• File Form I-485 (adjustment of status)
• File Form I-765 (work authorization)
• File Form I-131 (advance parole)

This provides interim work and travel flexibility while you wait for your final action date to become current.

However, it is important to remember that you cannot receive a physical Green Card until your priority date becomes current under the Final Action Date chart.

An immigration attorney’s practical advice for March 2026

When we see dramatic forward movement, especially nearly a full year for EB-2 India, it is often followed by stabilization or even retrogression later in the fiscal year. That means if filings surge in response to this Bulletin, forward movement may slow in future months. 

In regards to your filing strategy, though, this Bulletin represents an opportunity to file. The Visa Bulletin is not a promise, and there’s always a possibility that the State Department and USCIS could regress the dates. 

So, if your priority date is newly current:

1. Confirm your priority date and preference category.
2. Begin gathering evidence immediately.
3. Prepare your Adjustment of Status package without delay.
4. Continue strengthening your professional record in case of an interview or further review.

March 2026 signals recalibration. Whether it becomes sustained momentum will depend on visa demand in the months ahead. For now, this is a moment to pay attention, and, if eligible, to act. This Bulletin represents movement, and movement creates opportunity. 

Sincerely,
Henry Lindpere

March 2026 Visa Bulletin Charts: EB-1 and EB-2 

EB-1: Priority Workers (Dates for Filing)

The EB-1 category includes individuals of extraordinary ability (EB-1A), outstanding professors and researchers (EB-1B), and multinational executives (EB-1C).

EB-1: Priority Workers (Final Action Dates)

EB-2: Exceptional people and advanced degree holders (Dates for Filing)

The EB-2 category (including EB-2 NIW) includes exceptional people and advanced degree holders. 

EB-2: Exceptional people and advanced degree holders (Final Action Dates)