US Visa Bulletin for March 2026

On 4 February 2026, the US Department of State officially published the US Visa Bulletin for March 2026 – the most critical monthly document followed by millions awaiting immigration opportunities to the United States. Volume XI, Bulletin No. 12 brings notable changes, particularly unexpected progress in several immigration categories as the new administration implements policies to tighten border security.

The Visa Bulletin is the official tool for determining when applicants can proceed with the next steps in their immigrant visa or adjustment of status application. With two main tables – “Final Action Dates” (Table A) and “Dates for Filing Applications” (Table B) – the March 2026 bulletin reflects complex developments in the United States immigration system.

Overview of the visa allocation system for March 2026

Under Section 201 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), the fiscal year 2026 limit for family-sponsored immigrant visas is 226.000 visa. For employment-based categories, this figure is a minimum of 140.000 visa per year. Section 202 sets the per-country limit at 7% of the total annual limit, equivalent to 25.620 visa, while dependent territories are allocated 2%, equivalent to 7.320 visa.

Method for determining priority dates

Consular officers are responsible for reporting to the Department of State on documentarily qualified applicants for numerically limited visa categories. Similarly, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reports on applicants applying for adjustment of status. Allocations are made in order of priority based on the petition filing date (priority date) for requests received before 04/02/2026.

When demand exceeds available supply within numerical limits, that category or country is considered “oversubscribed”. The final action date for an oversubscribed category is the priority date of the first applicant who cannot be served within the available numerical limit.

Detailed analysis of family sponsorship categories for March 2026

Chart A – Final Action Dates

Chart A sets out the priority dates by which applicants may receive a visa or complete the adjustment of status process. Only those with a priority date earlier than the date listed will be issued a visa number.

F1 Category – Unmarried sons and daughters of US citizens:

• All areas: 08/11/2016
• Mainland China: 08/11/2016
• India: 08/11/2016
• Mexico: 22/12/2006 (almost 10 years behind)
• Philippines: 01/03/2013

F2A Category – Spouses and children of permanent residents:

• All areas: 01/02/2024
• Mexico: 01/02/2023 (1 year behind other areas)

Specifically, for March 2026, F2A visas exempt from per-country limits are issued to applicants from all countries with priority dates earlier than 01/02/2023. F2A visas subject to per-country limits are issued to all countries EXCEPT MEXICO with priority dates from 01/02/2023 to before 01/02/2024. All F2A visas for Mexico are exempt from per-country limits.

F2B Category – Unmarried adult children of permanent residents:

• All areas: 01/12/2016
• Mexico: 15/02/2009
• Philippines: 22/12/2012

F3 Category – Married sons and daughters of US citizens:

• All areas: 08/09/2011
• Mexico: 01/05/2001 (more than 10 years behind)
• Philippines: 01/03/2005

F4 Category – Siblings of adult US citizens:

• All areas: 08/01/2008
• India: 01/11/2006
• Mexico: 08/04/2001
• Philippines: 01/09/2006

Overall, countries with high immigration demand such as Mexico, the Philippines and India face severe backlogs, with waiting times ranging from 15 to 25 years depending on the category.

Chart B – Dates for Filing Applications

Chart B allows applicants to start preparing and submitting files to the National Visa Center (NVC) or USCIS earlier than Chart A. However, whether USCIS accepts adjustment of status applications based on Chart B depends on the monthly announcement on its website www.uscis.gov/visabulletininfo.

Highlights of Chart B for March 2026:

• F2A Current: Applicants from all countries can file with priority dates up to 22/02/2026 – this is a positive signal for this category
• F1: Progressed to 01/09/2017 for most areas, while Mexico remains at 01/12/2007
• F2B: Progressed to 15/03/2017 for most areas
• F3 and F4: Remain significantly delayed with waiting times of 15-25 years

Analysis of Employment-Based categories for March 2026

Employment-based categories are divided into five preference categories under Section 203(b) of the INA, each accounting for a different percentage of the total annual limit.

Chart A – Final Action Dates for employment-based categories

EB-1 – Priority Workers:

• All areas: Current
• Mainland China: 01/03/2023
• India: 01/03/2023

This is good news for most applicants EB-1, except for Chinese and Indian nationals who still face a waiting time of around 3 years.

EB-2 – Advanced degree holders or individuals of exceptional ability:

• All areas: 15/10/2024
• China: 01/09/2021 (around 3 years behind)
• India: 15/09/2013 (more than 11 years behind!)
• Mexico and the Philippines: 15/10/2024

The backlog for Indian nationals under EB-2 remains one of the most severe issues, with waiting times of over a decade.

EB-3 – Skilled workers, professionals, and other workers:

• All chargeability areas: 01/10/2023
• China: 01/05/2021
• India: 15/11/2013 (more than 10 years behind)
• Philippines: 01/08/2023

Other Workers:

• All chargeability areas: 01/11/2021
• China: 08/12/2018
• India: 15/11/2013

Under the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act (NACARA), the annual limit for the EB-3 “Other Workers” category has been reduced to approximately 5.000 visa (instead of 10,000) to offset the NACARA status adjustment programme. In fiscal year 2026, this figure is reduced by a further 150 visa.

EB-4 – Certain Special Immigrants:

• All countries: 15/07/2021

EB-5 – Job creation investment:

• Unreserved: Current for most areas, except China (15/08/2016) and India (01/05/2022)
• Rural area (Rural – 20%): Current for all
• High Unemployment area (High Unemployment – 10%): Current for all
• Infrastructure projects (Infrastructure – 2%): Current for all

Table B – Dates for Filing for employment-based visas

Table B for employment-based visas also shows significant progress:

EB-2:

• All areas: Current
• China: 01/01/2022
• India: 01/11/2014

EB-3:

• All chargeability areas: 15/01/2024
• China: 01/01/2022
• India: 15/08/2014

The fact that EB-2 is Current under Table B for most areas (except China and India) is good news, allowing applicants to prepare Form DS-260 or I-485 earlier if USCIS permits the use of Table B this month.

Diversity Visa (DV) programme for March 2026

Section 203(c) of the INA allocates up to a maximum of 55,000 visas each fiscal year for the DV programme to provide immigration opportunities for nationals of countries with low immigration rates in the previous five years. However, NACARA stipulates that up to 5.000 visa will be used for the NACARA programme, reducing the DV-2026 limit to approximately 54.850 visa.

In addition, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2024 amended the provisions of NACARA, resulting in a further reduction of the DV-2026 limit to approximately 52.000 visa.

Regional quotas for March 2026:

Africa: 45,000

• Algeria: 37.000
• Egypt: 22,250

Asia: 30,000

• Nepal: 6.500

Europe: 11,000

North America (Bahamas): 30

Oceania: 1,200

South America and the Caribbean: 2,100

Forecast for April 2026:

The bulletin also pre-announced the limits for April 2026, showing a significant increase:

• Africa: 55,000 (up 10,000)
• Asia: 35,000 (up 5,000)
• Europe: 20,000 (up 9,000)
• Nepal: 10,000 (up 3,500)
• Egypt: 30,000 (up 7,750)

This increase indicates that the Department of State is accelerating the processing of DV-2026 to ensure all available visas are used before the fiscal year ends on 30/09/2026.

Important note: Entitlement to DV visa status lasts only through the end of the fiscal year for which the applicant was selected in the lottery. All DV-2026 applicants must complete the process before 30/09/2026. Applicants should not expect DV visas to remain available until late September, as numbers may be exhausted earlier.

Other important changes and updates

Impact of new executive orders

The March 2026 bulletin specifically mentions that the rate of immigrant visa issuance for nationals of certain countries has decreased due to administration actions to protect national security and public safety. Specifically:

• Executive Order 10949: Restricting entry of foreign nationals to protect the United States from foreign terrorism and other national security threats
• Executive Order 10998: Restricting and limiting entry of foreign nationals to protect United States security
• Visa processing updates: Restrictions on nationalities at high risk of public charge usage

Therefore, to ensure that the visas available in fiscal year 2026 are used strictly in accordance with Sections 201-203 of the INA, filing dates and final action dates have advanced across several immigration categories. However, it should be noted that as visa demand increases or administrative actions are modified, it may become necessary to retrogress priority dates (retrogression) late in the fiscal year to keep allocations within annual limits.

EB-4 religious workers extension

H.R. 7148, signed on 03/02/2026, extended the “Certain Religious Workers” (SR) category under EB-4 until 30/09/2026. The SR category is subject to the same filing dates and final action dates as other EB-4 categories for the corresponding country of chargeability.

Special Immigrant Visas for US Government Employees (SIVs)

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2024, signed into law on 22/12/2023, may affect certain current and former US Government employees abroad, as well as surviving spouses and children of deceased US government employees when applying for SIVs or adjustment of status under Section 101(a)(27)(D) of the INA. This does not affect Iraqi and Afghan nationals applying for SQ and SI category SIVs.

Guide to effectively using the visa bulletin

How to determine your priority date

The priority date is typically the date the petition is submitted to USCIS. For family-sponsored categories, it is the date Form I-130 is filed. For employment-based categories, it is the date Form I-140 is filed (or the date the labour certification application is filed if required).

Distinguishing between Chart A and Chart B

• Chart A (Final Action Dates): Used to determine when you can receive a visa or complete adjustment of status. This is the most important “official” date.
• Chart B (Dates for Filing): Allows you to assemble and submit your application earlier, but only when USCIS authorises the use of Chart B for that month. You should check www.uscis.gov/visabulletininfo to confirm.

Check regularly

The Visa Bulletin is published in the middle of each month for the following month. For example, the bulletin published in early February 2026 applies to March 2026. Applicants should:

1. Monitor the official website: travel.state.gov/visa-bulletin
2. Subscribe to email notifications from USCIS
3. Consult an immigration lawyer when major changes occur
4. Prepare documentation before your priority date approaches

Advice for applicants in the current context

Prepare for uncertainty

Given new administration policies and severe application backlogs, applicants need to:

• Be patient: Wait times may be longer than expected due to retrogression or new policies
• Be flexible: Consider alternative immigration pathways where available
• Stay updated: Keep contact details accurate in the system at all times
• Be prepared: Fully prepare supporting documents before the priority date arrives

Beneficiaries in March 2026

• DV-2026 applicants from most regions still have good prospects if they act promptly
• EB-1 applicants from countries other than China and India
• F2A applicants from all countries while Chart B is active
• EB-5 applicants rural, high unemployment, and infrastructure projects

Those facing longer wait times

• Indian nationals in EB-2 and EB-3 categories (10+ years)
• Mexican nationals in F1, F3, and F4 categories (15-25 years)
• Philippine nationals in F1, F2B, F3, and F4 categories
• Chinese nationals in EB-2, EB-3, and EB-5 categories

Conclusion

The US Visa Bulletin for March 2026 reflects a complex picture of the United States immigration system amidst new policy developments. Although there is progress in several categories, particularly F2A and EB-1, applicants from high-demand countries continue to face wait times spanning many years or even decades.

The unexpected advancement of priority dates across numerous categories is attributed to reduced demand from certain countries affected by new executive orders. However, this also points to potential saturation in the coming months as demand from other countries rises to fill the quota.

For applicants, the most critical step is to closely monitor monthly bulletins, stay informed, prepare complete documentation, and seek professional advice when necessary. Amid rapidly evolving immigration policies, thorough preparation and an accurate understanding of the process will maximise the chances of success.

The March 2026 bulletin serves as another reminder that the United States immigration system is a complex process requiring patience and a deep understanding of regulations. Applicants should always consult official sources and licensed immigration professionals to ensure their immigration journey proceeds as smoothly as possible.