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Visa Bulletin for January 2026

Final action dates and dates for filing for family-sponsored and employment-based green cards, as published by the U.S. Department of State.

30 final action dates advanced and 0 retrogressed compared with December 2025. Biggest moves: EB-3 Other Workers (China) advanced 12 months to Dec 8, 2018; EB-1 (India) advanced 10.6 months to Feb 1, 2023; EB-5 Unreserved (India) advanced 10 months to May 1, 2022.

Final Action Dates — January 2026

An immigrant visa or green card can be approved only if the priority date is earlier than the date shown. Changes compared with December 2025 are shown under each date.

Family	All countries*	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
F1	Nov 8, 2016 no change	Nov 8, 2016 no change	Nov 8, 2016 no change	Sep 1, 2006 +6 mo	Mar 1, 2013 +38 d
F2A	Feb 1, 2024 no change	Feb 1, 2024 no change	Feb 1, 2024 no change	Feb 1, 2023 no change	Feb 1, 2024 no change
F2B	Dec 1, 2016 no change	Dec 1, 2016 no change	Dec 1, 2016 no change	Nov 15, 2008 +6 mo	Dec 22, 2012 +2.5 mo
F3	Sep 8, 2011 no change	Sep 8, 2011 no change	Sep 8, 2011 no change	May 1, 2001 no change	Mar 1, 2005 +3.9 mo
F4	Jan 8, 2008 no change	Jan 8, 2008 no change	Nov 1, 2006 no change	Apr 8, 2001 no change	Jul 22, 2006 +7 d

Employment	All countries*	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
EB-1	Current no change	Feb 1, 2023 +10 d	Feb 1, 2023 +10.6 mo	Current no change	Current no change
EB-2	Apr 1, 2024 +2 mo	Sep 1, 2021 +3 mo	Jul 15, 2013 +2 mo	Apr 1, 2024 +2 mo	Apr 1, 2024 +2 mo
EB-3	Apr 22, 2023 +7 d	May 1, 2021 +30 d	Nov 15, 2013 +54 d	Apr 22, 2023 +7 d	Apr 22, 2023 +7 d
EB-3 Other Workers	Sep 1, 2021 +31 d	Dec 8, 2018 +12 mo	Nov 15, 2013 +54 d	Sep 1, 2021 +31 d	Sep 1, 2021 +31 d
EB-4	Jan 1, 2021 +4 mo	Jan 1, 2021 +4 mo	Jan 1, 2021 +4 mo	Jan 1, 2021 +4 mo	Jan 1, 2021 +4 mo
EB-5 Unreserved	Current no change	Aug 15, 2016 +31 d	May 1, 2022 +10 mo	Current no change	Current no change

Dates for Filing — January 2026

Applicants with a priority date earlier than these dates can submit documents to the National Visa Center, and — in months when USCIS says so — file Form I-485. See Final Action Date vs. Date for Filing.

Family	All countries*	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
F1	Sep 1, 2017 no change	Sep 1, 2017 no change	Sep 1, 2017 no change	Sep 1, 2007 +6 mo	Apr 22, 2015 no change
F2A	Dec 22, 2025 +30 d	Dec 22, 2025 +30 d	Dec 22, 2025 +30 d	Dec 22, 2025 +30 d	Dec 22, 2025 +30 d
F2B	Mar 15, 2017 +7 d	Mar 15, 2017 +7 d	Mar 15, 2017 +7 d	Nov 15, 2009 +6 mo	Oct 1, 2013 no change
F3	Jul 22, 2012 no change	Jul 22, 2012 no change	Jul 22, 2012 no change	Jul 1, 2001 no change	Feb 1, 2006 +3 mo
F4	Mar 1, 2009 no change	Mar 1, 2009 no change	Dec 15, 2006 no change	Apr 30, 2001 no change	Jan 15, 2008 +14 d

Employment	All countries*	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
EB-1	Current no change	Aug 1, 2023 +2.6 mo	Aug 1, 2023 +3.5 mo	Current no change	Current no change
EB-2	Oct 15, 2024 +3 mo	Jan 1, 2022 +31 d	Dec 1, 2013 no change	Oct 15, 2024 +3 mo	Oct 15, 2024 +3 mo
EB-3	Jul 1, 2023 no change	Jan 1, 2022 no change	Aug 15, 2014 no change	Jul 1, 2023 no change	Jul 1, 2023 no change
EB-3 Other Workers	Dec 1, 2021 no change	Oct 1, 2019 +12 mo	Aug 15, 2014 no change	Dec 1, 2021 no change	Dec 1, 2021 no change
EB-4	Mar 15, 2021 +28 d	Mar 15, 2021 +28 d	Mar 15, 2021 +28 d	Mar 15, 2021 +28 d	Mar 15, 2021 +28 d
EB-5 Unreserved	Current no change	Aug 22, 2016 +31 d	May 1, 2024 +25 mo	Current no change	Current no change

* "All countries" = All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed. "Current" means no backlog: any priority date qualifies. Dates are copied from the official bulletin; always confirm on travel.state.gov before acting.

Summary

What changed in the January 2026 Visa Bulletin?

EB-3 Other Workers (China) advanced 12 months to Dec 8, 2018; EB-1 (India) advanced 10.6 months to Feb 1, 2023; EB-5 Unreserved (India) advanced 10 months to May 1, 2022; F1 (Mexico) advanced 6 months to Sep 1, 2006; F2B (Mexico) advanced 6 months to Nov 15, 2008; EB-4 (all countries, China, India, Mexico and Philippines) advanced 4 months to Jan 1, 2021; F3 (Philippines) advanced 3.9 months to Mar 1, 2005; EB-2 (China) advanced 3 months to Sep 1, 2021.

Sources.

Visa Bulletin for January 2026 (travel.state.gov)

Figures are copied from the official files without changes; derived numbers (changes, backlog estimates) are explained on the methodology page. Not legal advice.