Highlights:
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The EB1 category for India advances nearly 11 months, now set at February 1, 2023.
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In EB2, India’s cutoff date moves forward by two months to July 15, 2013.
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For EB3, the cutoff date for Indian applicants progresses to November 15, 2013.
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A slight advancement is seen in EB4, with India’s cutoff date reaching January 1, 2021.
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The EB5 category for India jumps to a cutoff date of May 1, 2022.
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Applicants from other countries mostly continue to have current status across major employment-based categories.
The US Department of State released the January 2026 Visa Bulletin, providing updated cutoff dates for employment-based immigrant visas. These cutoff dates determine when applicants can file required documents or complete the final steps of their green card application process through the National Visa Center. The bulletin covers applications with demand received on or before December 2, 2025.
For Indian professionals facing long wait times in the US green card backlog, the January 2026 US visa bulletin brings some notable forward movement, particularly in major employment-based visa categories. Meanwhile, most other countries remain current, meaning no backlog exists for their applicants in these categories.
US Visa Bulletin January 2026: Green Card Progress for Indian Applicants
Employment-Based First Preference (EB1):
Indian applicants in the EB1 category, which covers priority workers including outstanding researchers and multinational executives, see a significant advance. The cutoff date moves forward nearly 11 months, from March 15, 2022, to February 1, 2023. This shift means Indian applicants with priority dates before February 2023 can now proceed closer to green card approval.
For all other countries, the EB1 category remains current, indicating immediate visa availability and no backlog.
Employment-Based Second Preference (EB2):
EB2, which includes professionals holding advanced degrees, shows slower but positive progress for India. The cutoff date advances by two months, from May 15, 2013, to July 15, 2013. While the movement is modest, it represents continued forward momentum after prolonged delays.
Applicants from other countries see a much larger advancement in EB2, with the cutoff date moving to April 1, 2024.
Employment-Based Third Preference (EB3) and Other Workers:
India’s EB3 category, covering skilled workers and professionals, moves forward by almost two months, from September 22, 2013, to November 15, 2013. For all countries, the EB3 cutoff is now April 22, 2023.
In the EB3 other workers subcategory, which applies to unskilled labor, India matches its EB3 cutoff date of November 15, 2013. Other countries, however, remain significantly behind, with a cutoff date of September 1, 2021.
Employment-Based Fourth and Fifth Preference Updates (EB4 and EB5):
The EB4 category, reserved for special immigrants such as religious workers and certain other groups, moves slightly forward to January 1, 2021, from September 1, 2020.
India’s EB5 investor visa cutoff date advances by nearly ten months, from July 1, 2021, to May 1, 2022. EB5 remains current for all other countries, including for visas set aside for rural, high-unemployment, and infrastructure projects.
US Visa Limits and Filing Guidelines for 2026
For fiscal year 2026, the US government has set a cap of 226,000 family-sponsored immigrant visas and a minimum of 140,000 employment-based immigrant visas. The per-country limit remains 7 percent of the total visas available, which equals 25,620 visas per country.
Unless otherwise directed by USCIS, applicants filing adjustment of status petitions must follow the Final Action Dates chart in the Visa Bulletin to determine their eligibility to file or proceed.
What the January 2026 US Visa Bulletin Means for Indian Applicants
The January 2026 US visa bulletin provides cautious optimism for Indian applicants waiting in long green card queues. The notable advances in the EB1, EB2, EB3, and EB5 categories suggest some easing of wait times, although the overall backlog challenges persist.
Meanwhile, other countries mostly maintain current status across categories, reflecting smaller or no backlogs for their applicants.
For those following the US visa bulletin closely, especially Indian professionals navigating the complex green card system, the January 2026 update marks a meaningful step forward in their immigration journey.
