January 2026 vs December 2025
Visa Bulletin Comparison
PREVIOUS BULLETIN
December
2025
CA/VO: November 3, 2025
VS
CURRENT BULLETIN
January
2026
CA/VO: December 2, 2025
A comprehensive month-over-month analysis of Final Action Dates, Dates for Filing, and Diversity Visa cutoffs. Discover which categories advanced, which retrogressed, and what it means for your immigration timeline.
25+
Categories Advanced
1
Retrogression (F4 PH)
322
Max Days Forward (EB-1 IN)
2x
DV Africa Cutoff Doubled
KEY CHANGES
Most Significant Movements
EB-1 India: Exceptional Jump
Final Action Date advanced from 15MAR22 to 01FEB23 — nearly 11 months of progress in a single month! This is the largest EB-1 India movement in recent memory.
+322 days (~10.7 months)
EB-3 Other Workers China: 1 Year Forward
Final Action Date jumped exactly one year from 08DEC17 to 08DEC18. This remarkable movement suggests significant visa number availability.
+365 days (1 year)
EB-5 India Unreserved: Major Leap
Final Action Date advanced from 01JUL21 to 01MAY22 — over 10 months of progress. EB-5 investors from India see significant timeline improvement.
+304 days (~10 months)
F4 Philippines: Significant Retrogression
Final Action Date moved backward from 15JUL06 to 01MAR05 — a retrogression of nearly 1.4 years. Brothers/sisters of US citizens from Philippines face longer waits.
-501 days (~1.4 years)
EMPLOYMENT-BASED FINAL ACTION DATES COMPARISON
EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCES
Final Action Dates: Dec 2025 → Jan 2026
EB-1: PRIORITY WORKERS
28.6% of EB visas
| Country | Dec 2025 | Jan 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Chargeability | Current | Current | No Change |
| China-mainland born | 22JAN23 | 01FEB23 | +10 days |
| India | 15MAR22 | 01FEB23 | +322 days (~10.7 mo) |
| Mexico | Current | Current | No Change |
| Philippines | Current | Current | No Change |
EB-1 India saw the largest movement this month! The 322-day advancement is exceptional and brings the date to February 2023, significantly reducing the backlog.
EB-2: ADVANCED DEGREE / EXCEPTIONAL ABILITY
28.6% of EB visas
| Country | Dec 2025 | Jan 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Chargeability | 01FEB24 | 01APR24 | +59 days |
| China-mainland born | 01JUN21 | 01SEP21 | +92 days (~3 mo) |
| India | 15MAY13 | 15JUL13 | +61 days |
| Mexico | 01FEB24 | 01APR24 | +59 days |
| Philippines | 01FEB24 | 01APR24 | +59 days |
EB-2 China showed strong 3-month advancement. India continues steady progress at ~2 months/month, maintaining the backlog reduction trajectory.
EB-3: SKILLED WORKERS & PROFESSIONALS
28.6% of EB visas
| Country | Dec 2025 | Jan 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Chargeability | 15APR23 | 22APR23 | +7 days |
| China-mainland born | 01APR21 | 01MAY21 | +30 days |
| India | 22SEP13 | 15NOV13 | +54 days |
| Mexico | 15APR23 | 22APR23 | +7 days |
| Philippines | 15APR23 | 22APR23 | +7 days |
EB-3: OTHER WORKERS (EW)
Max 10,000/year (reduced to ~5,000 by NACARA)
| Country | Dec 2025 | Jan 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Chargeability | 01AUG21 | 01SEP21 | +31 days |
| China-mainland born | 08DEC17 | 08DEC18 | +365 days (1 year!) |
| India | 22SEP13 | 15NOV13 | +54 days |
| Mexico | 01AUG21 | 01SEP21 | +31 days |
| Philippines | 01AUG21 | 01SEP21 | +31 days |
Remarkable: China Other Workers jumped exactly 1 year! For FY2026, the NACARA reduction is limited to approximately 150 visas.
EB-4: CERTAIN SPECIAL IMMIGRANTS
7.1% of EB visas
| Category | Dec 2025 | Jan 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Countries | 01SEP20 | 01JAN21 | +122 days (~4 mo) |
| Certain Religious Workers (SR) | 01SEP20 | 01JAN21 | +122 days (~4 mo) |
CRITICAL SR DEADLINE - JANUARY 30, 2026
H.R. 5371 extends the SR category until January 30, 2026. No SR visas may be issued overseas, or final action taken on AOS cases, after midnight January 29, 2026. All applicants must be admitted into the US by this deadline. If no legislative extension occurs, the category becomes "Unavailable" on January 30, 2026.
EB-5: IMMIGRANT INVESTORS
7.1% of EB visas
| Category / Country | Dec 2025 | Jan 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unreserved - All Chargeability | Current | Current | No Change |
| Unreserved - China | 15JUL16 | 15AUG16 | +31 days |
| Unreserved - India | 01JUL21 | 01MAY22 | +304 days (~10 mo) |
| Unreserved - Mexico | Current | Current | No Change |
| Unreserved - Philippines | Current | Current | No Change |
| Set Aside: Rural (20%) | Current | Current | All Countries |
| Set Aside: High Unemployment (10%) | Current | Current | All Countries |
| Set Aside: Infrastructure (2%) | Current | Current | All Countries |
EB-5 Set-Asides remain Current for ALL countries including China. EB-5 India Unreserved saw major 10-month advancement.
FAMILY-SPONSORED FINAL ACTION DATES COMPARISON
FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCES
Final Action Dates: Dec 2025 → Jan 2026
F1: UNMARRIED SONS/DAUGHTERS OF U.S. CITIZENS
23,400 visas/year
| Country | Dec 2025 | Jan 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Chargeability | 08NOV16 | 08NOV16 | No Change |
| China-mainland born | 08NOV16 | 08NOV16 | No Change |
| India | 08NOV16 | 08NOV16 | No Change |
| Mexico | 01MAR06 | 01SEP06 | +184 days (~6 mo) |
| Philippines | 22JAN13 | 01MAR13 | +38 days |
F2A: SPOUSES & CHILDREN OF PERMANENT RESIDENTS
77% of F2 | 75% exempt from per-country limit
| Country | Dec 2025 | Jan 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Chargeability | 01FEB24 | 01FEB24 | No Change |
| China-mainland born | 01FEB24 | 01FEB24 | No Change |
| India | 01FEB24 | 01FEB24 | No Change |
| Mexico | 01FEB23 | 01FEB23 | No Change |
| Philippines | 01FEB24 | 01FEB24 | No Change |
F2A Special Rule: Numbers EXEMPT from per-country limit for dates earlier than 01FEB23. Numbers SUBJECT to limit for dates 01FEB23-01FEB24 (except Mexico - all exempt).
F2B: UNMARRIED ADULT SONS/DAUGHTERS OF PERM. RESIDENTS
23% of F2
| Country | Dec 2025 | Jan 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Chargeability | 01DEC16 | 01DEC16 | No Change |
| China-mainland born | 01DEC16 | 01DEC16 | No Change |
| India | 01DEC16 | 01DEC16 | No Change |
| Mexico | 15MAY08 | 15NOV08 | +184 days (~6 mo) |
| Philippines | 08OCT12 | 22DEC12 | +75 days |
F3: MARRIED SONS/DAUGHTERS OF U.S. CITIZENS
23,400 visas/year
| Country | Dec 2025 | Jan 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Chargeability | 08SEP11 | 08SEP11 | No Change |
| China-mainland born | 08SEP11 | 08SEP11 | No Change |
| India | 08SEP11 | 08SEP11 | No Change |
| Mexico | 01MAY01 | 01MAY01 | No Change |
| Philippines | 01NOV04 | 22JUL06 | +628 days (~1.7 yrs) |
F3 Philippines saw exceptional 1.7-year advancement! Mexico remains stagnant with a ~24-year backlog (priority date at May 2001).
F4: BROTHERS/SISTERS OF ADULT U.S. CITIZENS
65,000 visas/year
| Country | Dec 2025 | Jan 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Chargeability | 08JAN08 | 08JAN08 | No Change |
| China-mainland born | 08JAN08 | 08JAN08 | No Change |
| India | 01NOV06 | 01NOV06 | No Change |
| Mexico | 08APR01 | 08APR01 | No Change |
| Philippines | 15JUL06 | 01MAR05 | -501 days (~1.4 yrs) |
RETROGRESSION ALERT: F4 Philippines retrogressed approximately 1.4 years backward (15JUL06 → 01MAR05). This is the only retrogression in this month's bulletin. Mexico backlog exceeds 24 years.
DATES FOR FILING COMPARISON (SELECTED HIGHLIGHTS)
DATES FOR FILING APPLICATIONS
Filing Dates Key Changes: Dec 2025 → Jan 2026
IMPORTANT NOTE
Dates for Filing are used when USCIS determines there are more immigrant visas available than known applicants. Check uscis.gov/visabulletininfo each month to see which chart applies for adjustment of status filings.
EMPLOYMENT-BASED FILING DATES - KEY CHANGES
| Category / Country | Dec 2025 | Jan 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 China | 15MAY23 | 01AUG23 | +78 days |
| EB-1 India | 15APR23 | 01AUG23 | +108 days |
| EB-2 China | 15JUL24 | 15OCT24 | +92 days (~3 mo) |
| EB-2 India | 01DEC21 | 01JAN22 | +31 days |
| EB-3 All/Mexico/Philippines | 15JUL24 | 15OCT24 | +92 days (~3 mo) |
| EB-3 Other Workers India | 01OCT18 | 01OCT19 | +365 days (1 year!) |
| EB-4 All Countries | 15FEB21 | 15MAR21 | +28 days |
| EB-5 China Unreserved | 22JUL16 | 22AUG16 | +31 days |
| EB-5 India Unreserved | 01APR22 | 01MAY24 | +760 days (~2+ yrs) |
FAMILY-SPONSORED FILING DATES - KEY CHANGES
| Category / Country | Dec 2025 | Jan 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| F2A All/China/India/Mexico | 22NOV25 | 22DEC25 | +30 days |
| F2B All/China/India | 08MAR17 | 15MAR17 | +7 days |
| F2B Mexico | 22NOV25 | 15NOV09 | Adjusted |
| F3 All/China/India | 15MAY09 | 15NOV09 | +184 days (~6 mo) |
| F4 India | 01NOV05 | 01FEB06 | +92 days (~3 mo) |
| F4 Philippines | 01JAN08 | 15JAN08 | +14 days |
DIVERSITY VISA (DV-2026) CUTOFF COMPARISON
DIVERSITY VISA PROGRAM
DV-2026 Cutoffs: Dec 2025 → Jan 2026
DV-2026 ANNUAL LIMIT
Approximately 52,000 visas (55,000 statutory minus ~150 NACARA adjustments minus NDAA reductions). DVs are divided among six geographic regions. No country can receive more than 7% of available DVs. Entitlement ends September 30, 2026.
December 2025 Cutoffs
AFRICA
17,500
↳ Algeria
17,250
↳ Egypt
16,000
ASIA
10,000
↳ Nepal
6,000
EUROPE
7,750
N. AMERICA (BAHAMAS)
20
OCEANIA
1,100
S. AMERICA/CARIBBEAN
1,850
January 2026 Cutoffs
AFRICA
35,000 (+17,500)
↳ Algeria
20,000 (+2,750)
↳ Egypt
16,000
ASIA
15,000 (+5,000)
↳ Nepal
6,000
EUROPE
8,500 (+750)
N. AMERICA (BAHAMAS)
20
OCEANIA
1,100
S. AMERICA/CARIBBEAN
1,850
Notable: Africa cutoff doubled from 17,500 to 35,000. Asia increased by 50% (10,000 → 15,000). This suggests lower-than-expected interview attendance or higher visa availability. Nepal and Egypt limits remain unchanged.
February 2026 DV Cutoffs (Also Announced)
AFRICA
45,000
+10,000 from Jan
ASIA
30,000
+15,000 from Jan
EUROPE
11,000
+2,500 from Jan
February also shows: Algeria 37,000 | Egypt 21,000 | Nepal 6,500 | N. America 25 | Oceania 1,175 | S. America 2,000
ANALYSIS SUMMARY
Key Takeaways
POSITIVE TRENDS
- EB-1 India: +322 days — exceptional 10.7-month jump
- EB-3 Other Workers China: +365 days — exactly 1 year forward
- EB-5 India Unreserved: +304 days — ~10 months progress
- F3 Philippines: +628 days — ~1.7 years forward
- DV Africa: Cutoff doubled to 35,000
CONCERNS & ALERTS
- F4 Philippines: -501 days — ~1.4 year retrogression
- EB-4 SR expires January 30, 2026 — act immediately
- F2A/F2B remain stagnant for most countries
- Mexico F3/F4 backlogs exceed 24 years
- DV-2026 entitlement ends September 30, 2026
DISCLAIMER
This comparison is based on official U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletins (Publication 9514). December 2025 bulletin was published November 3, 2025; January 2026 bulletin was published December 2, 2025. Always verify current dates at travel.state.gov and check uscis.gov/visabulletininfo for applicable filing charts. Consult with a qualified immigration attorney for case-specific advice.