The March 2026 Visa Bulletin predictions reveal a mixed landscape: while most employment-based and family-sponsored categories remain frozen at their February 2026 levels, a handful of categories show meaningful forward progress. This detailed comparative analysis breaks down every change between the February 2026 Visa Bulletin (official) and the March 2026 Visa Bulletin predictions, covering all employment-based and family-sponsored preference categories across every chargeability area.
The February 2026 Visa Bulletin was published by the Department of State on January 5, 2026 (Volume XI, Number 11). The March 2026 predictions are based on quantitative analysis of the January → February 2026 movement patterns, with the actual bulletin expected to be released around February 8–12, 2026.
February 2026 vs. March 2026 Visa Bulletin: What Changed?
Side-by-side comparison of every employment-based and family-sponsored category. February 2026 data is official (CA/VO: Jan 5, 2026). March 2026 figures are data-driven predictions based on observed movement patterns.
How to Read This Comparison
The “Feb 2026” column shows official dates from the Department of State bulletin published January 5, 2026. The “Mar 2026 Pred” column shows predicted dates for March based on observed January → February movement patterns. “Change” shows the day count difference between the two months. Green rows indicate categories with forward movement.
Employment-Based Final Action Dates: February vs. March 2026
The Final Action Dates chart determines when USCIS or the National Visa Center can make a final decision on your green card application. For March 2026, the only employment-based category predicted to advance is EB-3 for All Other countries, Mexico, and Philippines — moving forward by 40 days. All other employment-based categories remain frozen at their February 2026 levels.
| Category | Country | Feb 2026 (Official) | Mar 2026 (Predicted) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | All Other | Current | Current | No change |
| China | Feb 1, 2023 | Feb 1, 2023 | 0 days | |
| India | Feb 1, 2023 | Feb 1, 2023 | 0 days | |
| Mexico | Current | Current | No change | |
| Philippines | Current | Current | No change | |
| EB-2 | All Other | Apr 1, 2024 | Apr 1, 2024 | 0 days |
| China | Sep 1, 2021 | Sep 1, 2021 | 0 days | |
| India | Jul 15, 2013 | Jul 15, 2013 | 0 days | |
| Mexico | Apr 1, 2024 | Apr 1, 2024 | 0 days | |
| Philippines | Apr 1, 2024 | Apr 1, 2024 | 0 days | |
| EB-3 | All Other | Jun 1, 2023 | Jul 11, 2023 | +40 days |
| China | May 1, 2021 | May 1, 2021 | 0 days | |
| India | Nov 15, 2013 | Nov 15, 2013 | 0 days | |
| Mexico | Jun 1, 2023 | Jul 11, 2023 | +40 days | |
| Philippines | Jun 1, 2023 | Jul 11, 2023 | +40 days | |
| Other Workers | All Other | Sep 1, 2021 | Sep 1, 2021 | 0 days |
| China | Dec 8, 2018 | Dec 8, 2018 | 0 days | |
| India | Nov 15, 2013 | Nov 15, 2013 | 0 days | |
| Mexico | Sep 1, 2021 | Sep 1, 2021 | 0 days | |
| Philippines | Sep 1, 2021 | Sep 1, 2021 | 0 days | |
| EB-4 | All Countries | Jan 1, 2021 | Jan 1, 2021 | 0 days |
| SR (Religious) | All Countries | Unavailable | Unavailable | Expired |
| EB-5 Unreserved | All Other | Current | Current | No change |
| China | Aug 15, 2016 | Aug 15, 2016 | 0 days | |
| India | May 1, 2022 | May 1, 2022 | 0 days | |
| Mexico | Current | Current | No change | |
| Philippines | Current | Current | No change |
EB-5 Set-Aside Categories: No Change
All EB-5 Set-Aside categories — Rural (20%), High Unemployment (10%), and Infrastructure (2%) — remain Current for all countries in both February and March 2026. There is no backlog for these categories.
Employment-Based Dates for Filing: February vs. March 2026
The Dates for Filing chart determines when applicants can submit their initial I-485 adjustment of status application or DS-260 immigrant visa application. Note that USCIS must authorize use of this chart each month — always check uscis.gov/visabulletininfo for the current month’s determination. The biggest mover here is EB-3 for All Other/Mexico/Philippines, predicted to advance 92 days.
| Category | Country | Feb 2026 (Official) | Mar 2026 (Predicted) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | All Other | Current | Current | No change |
| China | Aug 1, 2023 | Aug 1, 2023 | 0 days | |
| India | Aug 1, 2023 | Aug 1, 2023 | 0 days | |
| Mexico | Current | Current | No change | |
| Philippines | Current | Current | No change | |
| EB-2 | All Other | Oct 15, 2024 | Oct 15, 2024 | 0 days |
| China | Jan 1, 2022 | Jan 1, 2022 | 0 days | |
| India | Dec 1, 2013 | Dec 1, 2013 | 0 days | |
| Mexico | Oct 15, 2024 | Oct 15, 2024 | 0 days | |
| Philippines | Oct 15, 2024 | Oct 15, 2024 | 0 days | |
| EB-3 | All Other | Oct 1, 2023 | Jan 1, 2024 | +92 days |
| China | Jan 1, 2022 | Jan 1, 2022 | 0 days | |
| India | Aug 15, 2014 | Aug 15, 2014 | 0 days | |
| Mexico | Oct 1, 2023 | Jan 1, 2024 | +92 days | |
| Philippines | Oct 1, 2023 | Jan 1, 2024 | +92 days | |
| Other Workers | All Other | Dec 1, 2021 | Dec 1, 2021 | 0 days |
| China | Oct 1, 2019 | Oct 1, 2019 | 0 days | |
| India | Aug 15, 2014 | Aug 15, 2014 | 0 days | |
| Mexico | Dec 1, 2021 | Dec 1, 2021 | 0 days | |
| Philippines | Dec 1, 2021 | Dec 1, 2021 | 0 days | |
| EB-4 | All Countries | Mar 15, 2021 | Mar 15, 2021 | 0 days |
| SR (Religious) | All Countries | Unavailable | Unavailable | Expired |
| EB-5 Unreserved | All Other | Current | Current | No change |
| China | Aug 22, 2016 | Aug 22, 2016 | 0 days | |
| India | May 1, 2024 | May 1, 2024 | 0 days | |
| Mexico | Current | Current | No change | |
| Philippines | Current | Current | No change |
India & China: Country-Specific EB Comparison
Indian and Chinese applicants face continued stagnation across all employment-based categories between February and March 2026. No movement is expected in either the Final Action Dates or the Dates for Filing charts. This is typical for mid-fiscal year, when the Department of State conserves visa numbers to avoid exceeding annual limits.
🇮🇳 India: Feb → Mar Comparison
🇨🇳 China: Feb → Mar Comparison
India EB-2 vs EB-3 Gap: Only 4 Months
The Final Action Date gap between EB-2 India (Jul 15, 2013) and EB-3 India (Nov 15, 2013) remains just 123 days (approximately 4 months) in both February and March 2026. Downgrading from EB-2 to EB-3 only benefits applicants with a priority date between July 15, 2013 and November 15, 2013.
Family-Sponsored Final Action Dates: February vs. March 2026
Family-sponsored categories show the most movement concentrated in Mexico-specific categories. F1 Mexico is predicted to advance by 112 days — the largest single-category movement in this comparison. F2B Mexico also advances significantly at 92 days. All other family-sponsored categories and countries remain frozen between the two months.
| Category | Country | Feb 2026 (Official) | Mar 2026 (Predicted) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | All Other | Nov 8, 2016 | Nov 8, 2016 | 0 days |
| China | Nov 8, 2016 | Nov 8, 2016 | 0 days | |
| India | Nov 8, 2016 | Nov 8, 2016 | 0 days | |
| Mexico | Dec 22, 2006 | Apr 13, 2007 | +112 days | |
| Philippines | Mar 1, 2013 | Mar 1, 2013 | 0 days | |
| F2A | All Other | Feb 1, 2024 | Feb 1, 2024 | 0 days |
| China | Feb 1, 2024 | Feb 1, 2024 | 0 days | |
| India | Feb 1, 2024 | Feb 1, 2024 | 0 days | |
| Mexico | Feb 1, 2023 | Feb 1, 2023 | 0 days | |
| Philippines | Feb 1, 2024 | Feb 1, 2024 | 0 days | |
| F2B | All Other | Dec 1, 2016 | Dec 1, 2016 | 0 days |
| China | Dec 1, 2016 | Dec 1, 2016 | 0 days | |
| India | Dec 1, 2016 | Dec 1, 2016 | 0 days | |
| Mexico | Feb 15, 2009 | May 18, 2009 | +92 days | |
| Philippines | Dec 22, 2012 | Dec 22, 2012 | 0 days | |
| F3 | All Other | Sep 8, 2011 | Sep 8, 2011 | 0 days |
| China | Sep 8, 2011 | Sep 8, 2011 | 0 days | |
| India | Sep 8, 2011 | Sep 8, 2011 | 0 days | |
| Mexico | May 1, 2001 | May 1, 2001 | 0 days | |
| Philippines | Jul 22, 2006 | Jul 22, 2006 | 0 days | |
| F4 | All Other | Jan 8, 2008 | Jan 8, 2008 | 0 days |
| China | Mar 1, 2005 | Mar 1, 2005 | 0 days | |
| India | Jan 8, 2008 | Jan 8, 2008 | 0 days | |
| Mexico | Nov 1, 2006 | Nov 1, 2006 | 0 days | |
| Philippines | Apr 8, 2001 | Apr 8, 2001 | 0 days |
Family-Sponsored Dates for Filing: February vs. March 2026
The Dates for Filing chart for family-sponsored categories shows three key movements between February and March 2026. F2A (all countries) continues its steady monthly advancement, while Mexico-specific categories in F1 and F2B show strong forward progress.
| Category | Country | Feb 2026 (Official) | Mar 2026 (Predicted) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | All Other / China / India | Sep 1, 2017 | Sep 1, 2017 | 0 days |
| Mexico | Dec 1, 2007 | Mar 2, 2008 | +91 days | |
| Philippines | Apr 22, 2015 | Apr 22, 2015 | 0 days | |
| F2A | All Countries | Jan 22, 2026 | Feb 22, 2026 | +31 days |
| F2B | All Other / China / India / Phil | Mar 15, 2017 | Mar 15, 2017 | 0 days |
| Mexico | Feb 15, 2010 | May 18, 2010 | +92 days | |
| F3 | All Other / China / India | Jul 22, 2012 | Jul 22, 2012 | 0 days |
| Mexico | Oct 1, 2013 | Oct 1, 2013 | 0 days | |
| Philippines | Jan 15, 2008 | Jan 15, 2008 | 0 days | |
| F4 | All Other / India | Mar 1, 2009 | Mar 1, 2009 | 0 days |
| China | Feb 1, 2006 | Feb 1, 2006 | 0 days | |
| Mexico | Dec 15, 2006 | Dec 15, 2006 | 0 days | |
| Philippines | Apr 30, 2001 | Apr 30, 2001 | 0 days |
F2A Filing Date Approaching Current Date
The F2A Dates for Filing is predicted to advance to February 22, 2026 for March — meaning this date is nearly current. Spouses and minor children of permanent residents who recently filed I-130 petitions should monitor this category closely, as it may become “Current” in the coming months.
Religious Workers (SR) Category: Status Update
The Employment Fourth Preference Certain Religious Workers (SR) category expired on January 30, 2026 under H.R. 5371. This category appeared as “Unavailable” in the February 2026 bulletin and is expected to remain Unavailable in March 2026 unless Congress passes new extension legislation.
SR Category Remains Expired
The SR category expired January 30, 2026. No SR visas may be issued overseas, and no final action may be taken on adjustment of status cases. Both the February 2026 bulletin and the March 2026 predictions list this category as “Unavailable” for all countries. If Congress extends the program, the category would immediately become available with the same dates as EB-4 (currently Jan 1, 2021 for Final Action).
Diversity Visa (DV-2026): February vs. March Cut-Offs
The February 2026 Visa Bulletin published the official DV-2026 cut-off numbers for both February and March. These are confirmed figures from the Department of State. Most regions held steady between February and March, with small increases in a few categories.
| Region | Feb 2026 (Official) | Mar 2026 (Official) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFRICA | 45,000 | 45,000 | No change |
| — Algeria (except) | 37,000 | 37,000 | No change |
| — Egypt (except) | 21,000 | 22,250 | +1,250 |
| ASIA | 30,000 | 30,000 | No change |
| — Nepal (except) | 6,500 | 6,500 | No change |
| EUROPE | 11,000 | 11,000 | No change |
| NORTH AMERICA (Bahamas) | 25 | 30 | +5 |
| OCEANIA | 1,175 | 1,200 | +25 |
| SOUTH AMERICA & CARIBBEAN | 2,000 | 2,100 | +100 |
DV-2026 Deadline Reminder
All DV-2026 visas must be used by September 30, 2026. Diversity visa availability cannot be taken for granted — numbers could be exhausted before the fiscal year ends. DV-2026 selectees should complete their processing as soon as their case number becomes current.
Complete Summary: All Changes at a Glance
Out of all the categories and country combinations tracked across both the Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing charts, only a small number show movement between February and March 2026. The vast majority of categories remain completely frozen. Here is a consolidated view of every category that changed.
📊 February → March 2026: By the Numbers
Categories Advancing
8 category/country pairs
Categories Frozen
~80+ category/country pairs
Categories Expired
1 (SR Religious Workers)
All Advancing Categories (Feb → Mar 2026)
| Category | Chart Type | Country | Feb 2026 | Mar 2026 Pred | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Final Action | Mexico | Dec 22, 2006 | Apr 13, 2007 | +112 days |
| EB-3 | Filing | ROW / Mexico / Philippines | Oct 1, 2023 | Jan 1, 2024 | +92 days |
| F2B | Final Action | Mexico | Feb 15, 2009 | May 18, 2009 | +92 days |
| F2B | Filing | Mexico | Feb 15, 2010 | May 18, 2010 | +92 days |
| F1 | Filing | Mexico | Dec 1, 2007 | Mar 2, 2008 | +91 days |
| EB-3 | Final Action | ROW / Mexico / Philippines | Jun 1, 2023 | Jul 11, 2023 | +40 days |
| F2A | Filing | All Countries | Jan 22, 2026 | Feb 22, 2026 | +31 days |
What This Means for Applicants
If your category is advancing: Ensure your documentation is ready. For EB-3 ROW applicants with priority dates before July 11, 2023 — your case may become eligible for final action in March. For Mexico family-sponsored applicants — check if your priority date now falls before the new cutoff dates.
If your category is frozen: No immediate action is needed. Mid-fiscal-year stagnation is normal. The Department of State typically accelerates dates in the summer months (July–September) to use remaining visa numbers before fiscal year end.
📚 Official Sources & References
- February 2026 Visa Bulletin: Volume XI, Number 11 (CA/VO: January 5, 2026) — U.S. Department of State
- March 2026 Visa Bulletin Predictions — Based on quantitative analysis of January → February 2026 movement patterns
- USCIS Visa Availability and Priority Dates
- H.R. 5371 — Employment Fourth Preference Certain Religious Workers (SR) category extension (expired January 30, 2026)
Disclaimer: The February 2026 data in this analysis is from the official U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin (Volume XI, Number 11, CA/VO: January 5, 2026). March 2026 figures are predictions based on quantitative analysis and may differ from the actual March bulletin. The actual March 2026 Visa Bulletin is expected to be released around February 8–12, 2026. Always verify current visa availability on the official Department of State website. This analysis is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
