The U.S. Department of State (DOS) released the January 2026 Visa Bulletin providing the visa number availability to file for and obtain legal permanent residency (immigrant or “green card” status).
The immigrant visa numbers advanced across the board for the approval of green card applications, including for the EB-1 category for India and China and the EB-2 and EB-3 category for all countries. In particular, the EB-1 category for India advanced almost one year. The EB-1 category includes aliens of exceptional ability, such as EB-1A extraordinary ability aliens and EB-1B outstanding researchers and professors, and EB-1C multinational managers and executives. Also, the date for filing green card applications has advanced for most countries.
For those interested in holding green card status, it is very important to check the Visa Bulletin each month to learn if a visa number is available to apply for a green card. A foreign national who is eligible to file for the green card in the month noted in the Visa Bulletin chart should file that month, since the visa numbers can slide backwards (retrogress) in successive months, making the foreign national ineligible until the visa number becomes available again.
Also, USCIS announced that Form I-485 applicants for adjustment of status to legal permanent residency (“green card” status) must use the Filing dates chart from DOS’s January 2026 Visa Bulletin to determine eligibility for filing.
Applicants for adjustment of status who have a priority date earlier than the date in the ‘Dates for Filing’ chart may file their Forms I-485. Applicants whose priority date for a visa number is currently available in January 2026 should file their Form I-485 by the end of January 2026.
Applicants for immigrant visas at U.S. consulates abroad may use the ‘Dates for Filing’ charts.
In the charts below, the “C” listing indicates that the category is current, and that applications may be filed regardless of the applicant’s priority date. For family-based cases, the priority date is the date that the Form I-130 was filed for the alien relative. For employment-based cases, the priority date is the date that the PERM labor certification, or if not required, the Form I-140 was filed. The listing of a date for any category indicates that only applicants with a priority date which is earlier than the listed date may file their application.
FINAL ACTION DATES FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES
Numbers are authorized for issuance only for applicants whose priority date is earlier than the final action date listed below.
| Employment- based |
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed |
CHINA- mainland born |
INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| 1st | C | 01FEB23 | 01FEB23 | C | C |
| 2nd | 01APR24 | 01SEP21 | 15JUL13 | 01APR24 | 01APR24 |
| 3rd | 22APR23 | 01MAY21 | 15NOV13 | 22APR23 | 22APR23 |
| Other Workers | 01SEP21 | 08DEC18 | 15NOV13 | 01SEP21 | 01SEP21 |
| 4th | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 |
| Certain Religious Workers | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 |
DATES FOR FILING OF EMPLOYMENT-BASED VISA APPLICATIONS
For January 2026, USCIS will use this filing dates chart to accept Forms I-485 applications to adjust status.
| Employment- based |
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed |
CHINA- mainland born |
INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| 1st | C | 15AUG23 | 15AUG23 | C | C |
| 2nd | 15OCT24 | 01JAN22 | 01DEC13 | 15OCT24 | 15OCT24 |
| 3rd | 01JUL23 | 01JAN22 | 15AUG14 | 01JUL23 | 01JUL23 |
| Other Workers | 01DEC21 | 01OCT19 | 15AUG14 | 01DEC21 | 01DEC21 |
| 4th | 15MAR21 | 15MAR21 | 15MAR21 | 15MAR21 | 15MAR21 |
| Certain Religious Workers | 15MAR21 | 15MAR21 | 15MAR21 | 15MAR21 | 15MAR21 |