US Department of State Releases January 2026 Visa Bulletin

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will use the Dates for Filing chart for Employment-Based Adjustment of Status Applications in January 2026. The Dates for Filing chart shows moderate EB-1 and EB-2 advancement for all categories except for EB-2 applicants from India.

The US Department of State has released its January 2026 Visa Bulletin outlining per-country priority date cutoffs that regulate immigrant visa availability and the flow of adjustment of status application and consular immigrant visa application filings and approvals.

WHAT DOES THE JANUARY 2026 VISA BULLETIN SAY?

The bulletin includes both a Dates for Filing Visa Applications chart and an Application Final Action Dates chart. The former indicates when intending immigrants may file their applications for adjustments of status or immigrant visas, and the latter indicates when adjustment of status applications or immigrant visa applications may be approved and permanent residence granted.

Each month, the USCIS chooses which chart it will follow. For January 2026, the USCIS will follow the Dates for Filing chart for employment-based (EB) filings for adjustment of status. This means that individuals seeking to file applications for adjustment of status with the USCIS in January 2026 must use the Dates for Filing chart below.

DATES FOR FILING CUTOFF DATES

To be eligible to file an EB adjustment application in January 2026, a foreign national must have a priority date that is earlier than the date listed below for their preference category and country. The “C” listing indicates that the category is current, and applications may be filed regardless of the applicant’s priority date. The listing of a date for any category indicates that only applicants with a priority date that is earlier than the listed date may file their applications.

EMPLOYMENT-BASED FIRST PREFERENCE (EB-1)

The EB-1 cutoff date for All Chargeability Areas, Mexico, and the Philippines will remain current. This means that all applicants chargeable to these areas whose I-485 applications have not yet been filed can file their I-485 applications with the USCIS.

The EB-1 cutoff date for China will advance two-and-a-half months to August 1, 2023. This means that China EB-1 applicants whose I-485 applications have not yet been filed and who have a priority date before August 1, 2023 can file their I-485 applications with the USCIS.

The EB-1 cutoff date for India will advance three-and-a-half months to August 1, 2023. This means that India EB-1 applicants whose I-485 applications have not yet been filed and have a priority date before August 1, 2023 can file their I-485 applications with the USCIS.

EMPLOYMENT-BASED SECOND PREFERENCE (EB-2)

The EB-2 cutoff date for All Chargeability Areas, Mexico, and the Philippines will advance three months to October 15, 2024. This means that all applicants who are chargeable to these areas whose I-485 applications have not yet been filed and have a priority date before October 15, 2024 can file their I-485 applications with the USCIS.

The EB-2 cutoff date for China will advance one month to January 1, 2022. This means that China EB-2 applicants whose I-485 applications have not yet been filed and have a priority date before January 1, 2022 can file their I-485 applications with the USCIS.

The EB-2 cutoff date for India will remain December 1, 2013. This means that India EB-2 applicants whose I-485 applications have not yet been filed and have a priority date before December 1, 2013 can file their I-485 applications with the USCIS.

EMPLOYMENT-BASED THIRD PREFERENCE (EB-3)

The EB-3 cutoff date for All Chargeability Areas, Mexico and the Philippines will remain July 1, 2023. This means that all applicants who are chargeable to these areas whose I-485 applications have not yet been filed and have a priority date before July 1, 2023 can file their I-485 applications with the USCIS.

The EB-3 cutoff date for China will remain January 1, 2022. This means that China EB-3 applicants whose I-485 applications have not yet been filed and have a priority date before January 1, 2022 can file their I-485 applications with the USCIS.

The EB-3 cutoff date for India will remain August 15, 2014. This means that India EB-3 applicants whose I-485 applications have not yet been filed and have a priority date before August 15, 2014 can file their I-485 applications with the USCIS.

OTHER WORKERS

The Other Workers cutoff date for All Chargeability Areas, Mexico, and Philippines will remain December 1, 2021. This means that Other Worker applicants from these areas whose I-485 applications have not yet been filed and have a priority date before December 1, 2021 can file their I-485 applications with the USCIS.

The Other Workers cutoff date for China will advance one year to October 1, 2019. This means that Other Worker applicants from China whose I-485 applications have not yet been filed and have a priority date before October 1, 2019 can file their I-485 applications with the USCIS.

The Other Workers cutoff date for India will remain August 15, 2014. This means that Other Worker applicants from India whose I-485 applications have not yet been filed and have a priority date before August 15, 2014 can file their I-485 applications with the USCIS.

SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS

USCIS will again use the Dates for Filing chart in January 2026. The Dates for Filing chart shows significant advancement in the China Other Workers category, advancing one year to October 1, 2019. The Final Actions Dates chart shows slight forward movement for all categories.