January 2026 Visa Bulletin: Analysis & Predictions Including EB-2 Priority Date India

VisaNation legal team provides regular monthly updates on the most recent visa bulletin, analyzes the date movements, and predicts upcoming months to help answer these questions. This month, we’ll go over the January 2026 visa bulletin.

For more information on how to read the bulletin, scroll to the bottom of the post or view the Table of Contents.

January 2026 Visa Bulletin: Overview and Predictions

Despite fears of retrogression caused by the late release of the January 2026 visa bulletin, the outlook is positive: many employment and family-based categories achieved modest progress, while some saw substantial advancement.

USCIS has confirmed that it will accept Adjustment of Status filings under the Dates for Filing chart in January, an important window for thousands of applicants.

Key January Movement

Worldwide (All Other Countries)

• EB-2 moved 2-3 months.
• EB-3 barely moved (1 week), suggesting demand remains high for general professionals worldwide.

China

• EB-3 Unskilled Final Action and filing dates jumped 1 full year.
• EB-2 moved 3 months.

India

• EB-2 progressed 2 months.
• EB-1 Final Action advanced nearly 11 months, and Filing Dates moved 4 months.
• India EB-5 Investors (Unreserved): Final Action jumped 10 months (to May 2022), and Filing Dates leapt over 2 years (to May 2024).

Mexico

• F1 & F2B: Both categories jumped 6 months in both Final Action and Filing dates

January’s advancement indicates that:

1. The DOS is confident enough in demand projections to continue forward movement.
2. Since there wasn’t a major spike in demand for EB2 and EB3, there was no need to keep the dates frozen.
3. USCIS now has a more accurate count of its pending I-485 applications, so the Department of State was confident in advancing the dates for oversubscribed categories.

This is a reassuring sign for applicants across the board.

VisaNation’s Guidance For All Categories

1. Applicants should act quickly – History shows large jumps can sometimes be followed by “retrogressions” (dates moving backward) later in the fiscal year if demand is higher than expected. Locking in your application in January is crucial.
2. Worldwide EB-3 applicants should not assume consistent movement. Our attorneys highlight that historically, the EB-3 category sees faster surges and sharper retrogressions. January’s slow movement suggests the DOS remains conservative. Anyone eligible to file an AOS should act during this window.
3. EB-1 remains the safest and most stable route – Worldwide remains current, and India and China continue their incremental advances. Anyone eligible for EB-1 reclassification or interfiling should closely evaluate the option with counsel.

Visa Bulletin Predictions for Early 2026

1. Our firm predicts that Chart B Dates for Filing are likely to remain in use for January and possibly February. This pattern is common early in the fiscal year, and December’s choice supports the likelihood of continued acceptance.
2. EB-2 Worldwide may continue modest forward movement. No indicators suggest oversubscription.
3. EB-3 Worldwide could move slowly or pause. The DOS remains cautious here. A small advance is possible, but a temporary freeze would not be surprising.
4. For India and China, expect continued incremental month-over-month advances. The backlog depth prevents major jumps, but DOS appears committed to avoiding another freeze.

Adjustment of Status (AOS) Filing Guidance

For Adjustment of Status (AOS) filings, USCIS has confirmed:

• Employment-based categories: applicants must use the Dates for Filing chart.
• Family-sponsored categories: applicants must use the Dates for Filing chart.

Final Action vs. Filing Dates:

It’s important to differentiate between the final action dates (when a visa can be issued) and the filing dates (when an application can be submitted). This will help applicants understand their current status and next steps.

The Final Action Dates chart determines when an I-485 adjustment of status application can be approved (adjudicated) and your green card issued, while the Dates for Filing Chart determines when an applicant can submit their I-485 Adjustment of Status application.

Here is why this distinction is critical for our clients:

For individuals with a pending Adjustment of Status (AOS) application, we stress that their priority date must be current under the Final Action Chart for their green card to be approved.

This is also where advanced strategies like interfiling, a process that allows AOS applicants to change their preference category, become a key topic. Interfiling is a process our attorneys use to move a client’s pending AOS application from one preference category to a more favorable one (e.g., from EB-3 to EB-2) to take advantage of a more current Final Action Date. This is a complex legal decision, and we recommend contacting VisaNation Law Group to determine if it is the right strategy for your specific case.

As the fiscal year progresses, demand fluctuations and potential “retrogressions” remain possible. Our firm doesn’t just monitor these trends; we actively analyze them to provide projections as new information becomes available. We encourage all applicants to stay informed and prepared for potential adjustments in the coming months.

Family-Based Green Cards

The category for family-based immigration comprises four preference levels based on who your sponsoring family member is in relation to you. They include:

• F1 Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens: 23,400 plus any numbers not required for fourth preference.
• F2A: Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents
• F2B Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents: 23% of the overall second preference limitation.
• F3 Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
• (F4) Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens

There are five chargeability areas for this category: China, India, Mexico, the Philippines, and all other countries. Your country of chargeability is where you were born.

Family-Based Dates for Filing Charts

*The numbers in the brackets designate the amount of movement in the filing date for that particular category compared to the previous month. If there’s no bracket below certain dates, there is no movement for those dates/categories in the latest visa bulletin.

Key Takeaways

• F2A (Spouses/Children of LPRs): The filing date advanced by exactly 1 month for every single country.

• Mexico: Big movements continue here. Both F1 and F2B advanced by 6 months

• Rest of World (F2B): There was a slight 1-week forward movement for the all chargeability category (and China/India), moving from March 8 to March 15, 2017.

• Philippines: F3 moved a solid 3 months, while F4 nudged forward by 14 days.

Family-Based Final Action Dates Chart

*The numbers in the brackets designate the amount of movement in the final action date for that particular category compared to the previous month. If there’s no bracket below certain dates, there is no movement for those dates/categories in the latest visa bulletin.

F1 (First Preference):

• Mexico: This category saw the largest jump, moving forward exactly 6 months to September 1, 2006
• Philippines: Moved forward by roughly 5 weeks (37 days).
• Rest of World: Stalled at November 8, 2016.

F2A (Second Preference A):

There was no movement in the Final Action dates for any country this month.

F2B (Second Preference B):

• Mexico: Also saw a major jump of 6 months to November 15, 2008.
• Philippines: Advanced by 75 days
• Rest of World: Stalled at December 1, 2016.

F3 (Third Preference):

• Philippines: Advanced by 4 months, moving from November 1, 2004 to March 1, 2005.
• Rest of World: Stalled.

F4 (Fourth Preference):

• Philippines: Slight movement of 1 week to July 22, 2006.
• Rest of World: Stalled.

Employment-Based Green Cards

With five different preference levels and seven chargeability areas, USCIS issues employment-based category visas through your job or occupation. The chargeability areas are China, India, Mexico, the Philippines, Central America (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador), Vietnam, and the general category.

Employment-Based Dates: Final Action Dates

Key changes

EB-1 (Priority Workers):

• India: The biggest winner in this category, jumping forward nearly 11 months to February 1, 2023.
• China: A slight nudge of 10 days.
• Rest of World: Remains Current (no backlog).

EB-2 (Advanced Degree / Exceptional Ability):

• Rest of World / Mexico / Philippines: A solid movement of 2 months, bringing the cutoff to April 1, 2024.

• China: Advanced by 3 months to September 1, 2021.

• India: Advanced by 2 months to July 15, 2013.

EB-3 (Skilled Workers / Professionals):

• India: Moved forward by roughly 54 days (almost 2 months).
• China: Advanced by exactly 1 month.
• Rest of World / Mexico / Philippines: Very slow movement of just 7 days (1 week).

EB-3 Other Workers (Unskilled):

• China: Saw a massive jump of 1 full year, moving from December 2017 to December 8, 2018.
• Rest of World: Advanced 1 month to September 1, 2021.

EB-4 (Special Immigrants / Religious Workers):

• All countries moved forward by 4 months, crossing into 2021 (Jan 1, 2021).

EB-5 Unreserved

• India advanced 10 months to May 1st, 2022
• China advanced 1 month to August 15, 2016

Employment-Based Dates for Filing Chart

Importantly, for employment-based categories, adjustment of status applicants can use the Filing Dates chart.

*The numbers in the brackets designate the amount of movement in the final action date for that particular category compared to the previous month. If there’s no bracket below certain dates, there is no movement for those dates/categories in the latest visa bulletin.

Key changes

India EB-5 (Unreserved): Leapt forward by over 2 years to May 1, 2024.

China Other Workers: A massive 1-year jump to October 1, 2019.

EB-1: Progress for both India (+4 mos) and China (+3 mos).

EB-2: “All Chargeability” (Rest of World) moved forward 3 months to October 2024, providing relief for recent applicants.

Important January 2026 Visa Bulletin Dates

For those new to the green card process, our law firm recommends learning a few terms and dates to understand the rest of this visa bulletin report. If you have further questions about the process or anything else about your green card, you should consult with your immigration attorney.

Priority Dates

Each person who files a petition with the USCIS receives a priority date when the government obtains their petition. A priority date establishes a person’s place in line to get an immigrant visa. Keep this date handy, since you will need it to compare to the dates in this bulletin. Remember that your priority date does not move, and you cannot change it except under certain circumstances.

Note: Priority dates are not relevant for immediate relatives of U.S. Citizens (e.g., spouses or minor children) as that category is always current.

Final Action Dates

Final action dates are based on the green card category and the chargeability area—your country of origin. Therefore, the final action dates constantly change based on how many people from each chargeability area have petitioned for that green card.

If green cards are still available, the final action date will likely move closer to your priority date. If green cards are unavailable, you will not see any movement from that final action date. However, if the limit has passed, you may see the date retrogress or move backward from your priority date.

Once the final action date in your green card preference level and chargeability area reaches your priority date, your priority date will be considered current. Once current, you will adjust your status or go through consular processing.

Date for Filing Charts and I-485

You’ll notice there are two charts for each category.

1. The Date for Filing chart determines whether or not one can submit the final immigrant visa application.
2. The Final Action Date chart indicates whether an immigrant visa number will be available.

USCIS announces which chart applicants can use within a week of the visa bulletin’s release.

Can You Shorten Your Waiting Time?

The short answer is: probably not. However, there are two prominent cases in which you may be able to shorten your green card processing time, which we will explain here.

1. The first way is to file an I-140 for a green card category that has a current priority date. In this case, your green card can begin processing immediately, and you can even pay an additional fee for premium processing, which will shorten the processing time to 15 business days. However, this is only available for certain green cards that use the I-140.
2. The second situation involves green card “porting,” or transferring your application from a lower preference level (EB-3) to a higher one (EB-2) to take advantage of the shorter waiting times. This is misleading because you don’t port your green card. In reality, you need to start with a new petition (and a new PERM if necessary). The “porting” aspect only comes in when you indicate that you want to retain your original priority date.

As attractive as “porting” might seem, it is a delicate process with particular requirements. Therefore, we recommend running complex decisions like this through your immigration attorney.

Staying Up-to-Date

In the world of immigration law, it always pays to be informed. The more you know about your green card, the easier it will be to make informed decisions about your case. To stay in the know about things like the newest visa bulletin, follow the Department of State’s Visa Bulletin.