March Visa Bulletin reflects meaningful forward movement across employment-based categories, and not just as a one-month anomaly. The recent bulletins indicate consistent forward progress, which is encouraging for beneficiaries and helpful for corporate programs. At the same time, the developments primarily expand filing opportunities rather than accelerating green card approvals. Mobility teams should view March as a constructive filing window supported by emerging trend signals, while continuing to monitor demand-driven adjustments later in the fiscal year.
Dates for Filing of Employment-Based Visa Applications
The chart below reflects dates for filing visa applications within a timeframe justifying immediate action in the application process. Applicants for immigrant visas who have a priority date earlier than the application date in the chart may assemble and submit required documents to the Department of State’s National Visa Center, following receipt of notification from the National Visa Center containing detailed instructions. The application date for an oversubscribed category is the priority date of the first applicant who cannot submit documentation to the National Visa Center for an immigrant visa. If a category is designated “current,” all applicants in the relevant category may file, regardless of priority date.
The “C” listing indicates that the category is current, and that 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 which is earlier than the listed date may file their application.
Visit www.uscis.gov/visabulletininfo for information on whether USCIS has determined that this chart can be used (in lieu of the chart in paragraph 5.A.) this month for filing applications for adjustment of status with USCIS.
| Employment-based | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | CHINA – mainland born | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | C | 01DEC23 | 01DEC23 | C | C |
| 2nd | C | 01JAN22 | 01NOV14 | C | C |
| 3rd | 15JAN24 | 01JAN22 | 15AUG14 | 15JAN24 | 01JAN24 |
| Other Workers | 22JUN22 | 01OCT19 | 15AUG14 | 22JUN22 | 22JUN22 |
| 4th | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 |
| Certain Religious Workers | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 |
| 5th Unreserved (including C5, T5, I5, R5) | C | 01OCT16 | 01MAY24 | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: (Rural: NR, RR – 20%) | C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: (High Unemployment: NH, RH – 10%) | C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: (Infrastructure: RI – 2%) | C | C | C | C | C |
Quick read on what moved and what did not
- EB-2 “Rest of World” (Dates for Filing) jumped to “Current” in March.
- EB-2 “Rest of World” (Final Action Date) advanced significantly from April 1, 2024, to October 15, 2024
- EB-3 “Rest of World” (Final Action Date) moved from June 1, 2023, to October 1, 2023
- EB-1 China and India filing dates continue slow forward movement
- Approval timelines are largely unchanged
Approvals vs filings
- Final Action Date movement = approval capacity improvement
- Dates for Filing movement = earlier entry into stability phase (EAD/AP, retention impact)
March delivers both, but the immediate corporate mobility value is clearly on the filing side.
The operational kicker
- USCIS is using the “Dates for Filing” chart for March 2026 (employment-based)
- This creates a practical filing window for employees already in the U.S.
- The biggest benefit is stability, not faster green card completion
A notable tactical shift: EB-2 vs EB-3 strategy for India
- EB-2 India is now ahead of EB-3 India
- This effectively removes the advantage of the EB-2 → EB-3 downgrade strategy (for now)
- Employers may need to reassess downgrade planning and long-term category positioning
What the government is signaling
The March bulletin itself emphasizes that recent government actions including Presidential Proclamation 10949, Presidential Proclamation 10998, and the Department of State’s Immigrant Visa Processing Updates reinforce that visa availability and issuance are being managed alongside broader operational and policy considerations.
The forward movement reflects ongoing demand and visa number management at agency level, noting that future advancement will depend on how quickly available numbers are used.
The bottom line
March delivers real progress that beneficiaries will appreciate, especially through expanded filing eligibility and modest approval improvement for ROW categories.
For case-specific strategy and compliance support, contact your Newland Chase advisor or email [email protected].
For further details, visit https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin.html.
This immigration update is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal or scenario-specific advice. Furthermore, it is important to note that immigration announcements are subject to sudden and unexpected changes. Readers are encouraged to reach out to Newland Chase for any case- or company-specific assessments.
