April 2026 Visa Bulletin: Significant Movement and Current EB-3 Categories

The Department of State has just issued the April 2026 Visa Bulletin. This blog post analyzes this month's Visa Bulletin.

Visa Bulletin

Table A: Final Action Dates -- Applications with these priority dates or earlier may be approved for their Green Card (Immigrant Visa):

Table B: Dates for Filing – Form I-485 Applications to Adjust Status with these priority dates or earlier may be filed with USCIS:

USCIS will continue to use Table B: Dates for Filing chart for I-485 employment-based filings in April 2026. See: USCIS Visa Bulletin Dates

MU Law Analysis

This month’s visa bulletin provides welcome relief from retrogression, as several categories became current for the first time in several years.

The most significant surges forward are for Adjustments of Status under the Dates for Filing Chart, where EB-3 categories for All Chargeability Areas and Mexico are current for the first time since April 2023, and EB-2 India moved forward five months to January 15, 2015.

Under the Final Action Dates chart, EB-2 All Chargeability Areas, Mexico, and Philippines are all current for the first time since November 2022. EB-3 All Chargeability Areas and Philippines moved forward 8 months, and EB-2 India moved forward 10 months.

As in March 2026, the visa bulletin again notes that the dates for filing and final action dates advanced significantly in April 2026 as a result of immigration restrictions put in place by the Trump administration. The visa bulletin notes that if immigration restrictions are later eased or if visa demand increases, retrogression could be necessary later in the fiscal year.

March 2026 Visa Bulletin: Movement Forward and Current EB-2 Categories

The Department of State has just issued the March 2026 Visa Bulletin. This blog post analyzes this month's Visa Bulletin.

Visa Bulletin

Table A: Final Action Dates -- Applications with these priority dates or earlier may be approved for their Green Card (Immigrant Visa):

Table B: Dates for Filing – Form I-485 Applications to Adjust Status with these priority dates or earlier may be filed with USCIS:

USCIS will continue to use Table B: Dates for Filing chart for I-485 employment-based filings in March 2026. See: USCIS Visa Bulletin Dates

MU Law Analysis

The most significant surges forward are for Adjustments of Status under the Dates for Filing Chart, where EB-2 categories for All Chargeability Areas, Mexico and the Philippines are current for the first time since November 2022, and EB-2 India moved forward nearly a year to November 1, 2014.

EB-1 China and India each moved forward 1 month. EB-3 All Chargeability Areas and Mexico moved forward 3 months, and EB-3 Philippines moved forward 2 months.

Interestingly, the visa bulletin confirms that the dates for filing and final action dates advanced significantly in March 2026 as a result of the various immigration restrictions put in place by the Trump administration. The visa bulletin notes that if immigration restrictions are later eased or if visa demand increases, retrogression could be necessary later in the fiscal year. 

DOS Freezes Visa Issuance to Nationals of 75 Countries

On January 14, 2026, the Department of State announced a visa freeze for nationals of 75 countries.

The pause applies only to consular Green Card issuances. This means it does not affect temporary visas issued abroad or Changes of Status or Adjustments of Status filed within the US.

Dual nationals who have citizenship in at least one non-paused country are exempt from the pause.

 

Pursuant to its pause, effective January 21, 2026, DOS will not issue immigrant visas to applicants who are nationals of the following countries:

 

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, The Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, and Yemen

 

DOS asserts the pause is required to ensure that immigrants from the affected countries do not become public charges in the US.

 

The DOS visa freeze is being enacted in addition to several other policies already in effect to restrict immigration, including the Travel Ban and USCIS's own Travel Ban restrictions.

 

If you are filing benefit requests as a national of one of the countries above, consult with your MU attorney to discuss your best strategies for filing.

January 2026 Visa Bulletin: More Forward Movement in All Categories

The Department of State has just issued the January 2026 Visa Bulletin. This blog post analyzes this month’s Visa Bulletin.

Visa Bulletin

Table A: Final Action Dates – Applications with these priority dates or earlier may be approved for their Green Card (Permanent Residency Card) or Immigrant Visa Appointment:

Employment- based	All Chargeability  Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA- mainland  born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
1st	C	01FEB23	01FEB23	C	C
2nd	01APR24	01SEP21	15JUL13	01APR24	01APR24
3rd	22APR23	01MAY21	15NOV13	22APR23	22APR23

Table B: Dates for Filing

Employment- based	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA- mainland  born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
1st	C	01AUG23	01AUG23	C	C
2nd	15OCT24	01JAN22	01DEC13	15OCT24	15OCT24
3rd	01JUL23	01JAN22	15AUG14	01JUL23	01JUL23

USCIS will use Table B: Dates for Filing chart for I-485 employment-based filings in January 2026. See: USCIS Visa Bulletin Dates

MU Law Analysis

EB-1: EB-1 China and EB-1 India each moved forward in the January 2026 Visa Bulletin. All other EB-1 categories remain current.

• EB-1 China: 1 week
• EB-1 India: 11 months

EB-2: EB-2 categories made the following progress forward in the January 2026 Visa Bulletin: 

• EB-2 All Chargeability, EB-2 India, EB-2 Mexico, and EB-2 Philippines: 2 months
• EB-2 China: 3 months 

EB-3: EB-3 categories made the following progress forward in the January 2026 Visa Bulletin:

• EB-3 All Chargeability, EB-3 Mexico, and EB-3 Philippines: 1 week
• EB-3 China: 1 month
• EB-3 India: 7 weeks

Department of State Will Review H-1B and H-4 Visa Applicants’ Social Media

The Department of State (DOS) has announced that effective December 15, 2025, it will review the online presence of all H-1B visa applicants and their dependents, H-4 visa applicants.

As this measure is being enacted by the DOS, it will apply to visa applicants applying for visas at embassies abroad and does not explicitly apply to H-1B or H-4 petitions filed within the US, such as amendments, extensions, transfers, and changes of status.

 

In June 2025, DOS announced it would begin to review social media of students applying for F, M and J visas. This December 2025 announcement expands that online vetting process to include H-1B and H-4 visa applicants.

 

If social media profile(s) exist for H-1B and H-4 visa applicants, DOS will instruct them to adjust the privacy settings to “public”.  

 

DOS’s stated purpose for social media review of applicants is national security and public safety.

 

DOS also notes that its social media review will include whether an applicant’s online information shows an intention “to engage in activities consistent with the terms for their admission”.

December 2025 Visa Bulletin: Movement Forward in All Categories

The Department of State has just issued the December 2025 Visa Bulletin. This blog post analyzes this month's Visa Bulletin.

Visa Bulletin

Table A: Final Action Dates -- Applications with these priority dates or earlier may be approved for their Green Card (Permanent Residency card) or Immigrant Visa appointment:

Table B: Dates for Filing

USCIS will use the Table B Dates for Filing chart for I-485 employment-based filings in December 2025. See: USCIS Visa Bulletin Dates

The Dates for Filing chart did not change from November 2025 to December 2025.

MU Law Analysis

EB-1: EB-1 China and EB-1 India each moved forward one month. All other EB-1 categories remain current.

EB-2: EB-2 categories made the following progress forward in the December 2025 visa bulletin:

• EB-2 All Chargeability, EB-2 China, EB-2 Mexico, and EB-2 Philippines: 2 months
• EB-2 India: 6 weeks

EB-3: EB-3 categories made the following progress forward in the December 2025 visa bulletin:

• EB-3 All Chargeability, EB-3 Mexico, and EB-3 Philippines: 2 weeks
• EB-3 China and EB-3 India: 1 month

November 2025 Visa Bulletin: No Movement for Employment-Based Categories

The Department of State has just issued the November 2025 Visa Bulletin. This blog post analyzes this month's Visa Bulletin.

Visa Bulletin

Table A: Final Action Dates -- Applications with these priority dates or earlier may be approved for their Green Card (Permanent Residency card) or Immigrant Visa appointment:

Table B: Dates for Filing

The USCIS will continue to use the Table B Dates for Filing chart for I-485 employment-based filings in November 2025. See: USCIS Visa Bulletin Dates

MU Law Analysis

EB-1, EB-2, EB-3: The Visa Bulletin for categories EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 made no movement from October 2025 in either the Final Action Dates or Dates of Filing chart.

DOS Will Now Require Proof of Residence from Green Card Applicants

As discussed in an MU blog post last month, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) announced that, effective November 1, 2025, the National Visa Center (NVC) will only schedule immigrant visa (Green Card) interviews in an applicant’s country of residence or, if requested, country of nationality.

Related to the new policy, late last week, many Green Card applicants began receiving notices from DOS requesting proof of their residence.

The notices also explain that applicants may interview outside their country of residence and/or nationality only if experiencing special circumstances, which must be communicated to the NVC in specific terms before an interview can be scheduled. The DOS notices clarify that traveling to or residing temporarily in a third country in order to apply for a U.S. visa does not constitute a special circumstance.

Finally, although the notices request proof of residency, the notices indicate that applicants who interview outside their country of nationality may experience delayed visa processing.

MU is continuing to monitor DOS processes and trends related to its interview policy. If you have questions about your Green Card interview location or the evidence required by DOS, contact your MU legal team for assistance.

Government Shutdown: How it Could Affect Your Immigration Case

The US government is facing an impending shutdown at midnight on Wednesday, October 1, 2025. However, even in a “shutdown”, not all immigration processes will halt immediately.

Immigration cases proceed through several different government agencies. A shutdown will affect certain agencies (and thus their processes) differently than others. 

What will Halt as of an October 1 Shutdown?

DOL

Most significant to employment-based immigration cases, the Department of Labor (DOL) will not operate during a government shutdown.

Labor Condition Applications (LCAs), required for H-1B and E-3 filings, and Permanent Labor Certifications (PERMs), required for I-140 filings, cannot be drafted or filed during a government shutdown, and pending LCAs and PERMs will not be issued during a shutdown.

Further, the full FLAG online filing system will be disabled during a government shutdown. LCA and PERM records cannot be accessed online or printed from the FLAG system during a shutdown.

Finally, DOL may allow flexibility for employers who miss filing deadlines due to the government shutdown; if such guidance is issued, MU will update its blog accordingly.

What May Proceed after an October 1 Shutdown?

USCIS

Cases that will be filed with or are currently pending with US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will continue to be accepted and processed during a shutdown. In past shutdowns, USCIS has accepted late immigration filings that could not be timely-filed due to the government shutdown.

DOS

Embassy services, such as visa appointments, are run by the Department of State and are also unlikely to be affected during a shutdown.

CBP

Entries to the US, including Canadian TN appointments, are handled by Customs and Border Protection and are also unlikely to be affected by a shutdown.

Clients with questions or concerns are encouraged to contact their MU attorney for best strategies during the potential government shutdown.

October 2025 Visa Bulletin: Modest Movement Forward for Most Categories

The Department of State has just issued the October 2025 Visa Bulletin, the first of the new Fiscal Year. This blog post analyzes this month's Visa Bulletin. 

Visa Bulletin

Table A: Final Action Dates -- Applications with these priority dates or earlier may be approved for their Green Card (Permanent Residency card) or Immigrant Visa appointment:

Table B: Dates of Filing

The USCIS will use the Table B Dates of Filing chart for I-485 employment-based filings in October 2025. See: USCIS Visa Bulletin Dates

MU Law Analysis

EB-1: EB-1 Philippines, Mexico, and Rest of World remain current. Only EB-1 China moved forward by roughly 5 weeks.

EB-2: EB-2 India, Philippines, Mexico, and Rest of World all moved forward 3 months. EB-2 China moved forward nearly 4 months.

EB-3: EB-3 Rest of World and Mexico did not move forward. EB-3 Philippines moved forward nearly 2 months. EB-3 China and India moved forward 3 months.

Green Card Interviews to be Scheduled in Country of Residence

The U.S. Department of State has announced that, effective November 1, 2025, the National Visa Center (NVC) will only schedule immigrant visa (Green Card) interviews in an applicant’s country of residence or, if requested, country of nationality.

Existing immigrant visa appointments scheduled through the NVC will generally remain in place and will not be automatically canceled or rescheduled based on this new policy.

If you have questions about your Green Card interview location, contact your MU legal team for assistance.

September 2025 Visa Bulletin: No Movement and No Retrogression So Far

The Department of State has just issued the September 2025 Visa Bulletin. This blog post analyzes this month's Visa Bulletin.

Visa Bulletin

Table A: Final Action Dates -- Applications with these dates may be approved for their Green Card (Permanent Residency card) or Immigrant Visa appointment:

Table B: Adjustment of Status Filing Chart

USCIS will continue to use the Table A Final Action chart for I-485 employment-based filings in September 2025. See: USCIS Visa Bulletin Dates

MU Law Analysis

There was no movement forward for any employment-based category, and as of August 18, 2025, no category has retrogressed.

The Visa Bulletin notes that there has been a steady increase in visa demand throughout the fiscal year. If, at any time before September 30, 2025, the annual limit of any category is reached, the Department of State will immediately make the preference category “unavailable”, and no further requests for visas will be honored.

End of Fiscal Year FAQ

Q.  Why do visa categories often retrogress in September?

A. The Department of State has a limited number of immigrant visas it may issue each fiscal year, which runs from October 1 – September 30. The Department of State must avoid issuing excess immigrant visa numbers before the end of the fiscal year or else it violates federal law. 

The issuance totals in some categories are approaching the annual limit for FY-2025, which could require the Visa Bulletin’s retrogression in order to slow down issuance rates. 

Q. Does this mean that certain categories will permanently be retrogressed?

A.  No. This would be a temporary retrogression in effect for the remainder of the fiscal year (i.e. until September 30, 2025). The Department of State generally advances final action dates in October each year, when the new fiscal year begins.

Q.  If I have an interview, but my priority date retrogresses in September, will I still be able to get my green card?

A.  If you have an interview before your category retrogresses, you will be able to get your green card.  However, if the Department of State updates your category to “unavailable” prior to your interview date, the interview may be postponed until your priority date becomes current again, which could be as early as October 1, 2025.

If you have questions on this month’s Visa Bulletin, please reach out to your MU attorney directly or Contact Us.

Department of State to Require In-Person Interviews for Most Visa Applicants

On July 25, 2025, the Department of State (DOS) announced in an Interview Waiver Update  that it will reduce significantly the categories of visas eligible for a waiver of an in-person visa interview.

Effective September 2, 2025, DOS will require all nonimmigrant visa applicants (including E, F, H, J, K, L, M, O, P, and R visa applicants) to appear for in-person interviews with consular officers. In-person interviews will be required for both initial and renewal applications.

DOS will waive the in-person interview requirement for very limited visa types, including certain B visa applicants and some diplomatic, official, and NATO visa applicants.

Previously, the Biden administration allowed visa interview waivers for renewals of all nonimmigrant visas that had expired within the previous 48 months. In February 2025, the Trump administration restricted the rule to allow for waivers only within 12 months of previous visa expiry.

Employers should consider the additional time required for interview scheduling and completion based on this update.

Immigrant Caregivers are Crucial to Staff Direct Care Industry

President Trump’s “immigration crackdown” has elicited a warning from the direct care industry: immigrants are essential.

Although immigrants comprise 17% of the total American labor force, they make up 31% of the home care workforce and 21% of the residential care aide and nursing assistant workforce, according to a 2024 report from Leading Age, an organization representing nonprofit aging services providers.

 

A recent article by USA TODAY highlights the severity and scope of the direct care worker shortage, which is set to reach critical levels as the US faces even higher demand to care for aging Baby Boomers.

 

In 2020, 55.8 million people in the US were 65 and over, according to census data. A study in Health Services Research estimates that number will reach nearly 70 million by 2030.

 

From 2022 to 2037, a National Center for Health Workforce Analysis estimated the demand for home health aides will rise 35%, the demand for personal care aides will rise 38%, and the demand for nursing assistants will rise 41%.

 

Articles by Axios and AP News echo the essentiality of immigrant caregivers in US nursing homes, and warn of the effect President Trump’s immigration policies are already having on nursing home staffing in the US.

 

AP News reports:

 

“The aging of the massive Baby Boom generation is poised to fuel even more demand for caregivers, both in institutional settings and in individuals’ homes. BLS projects more growth among home health and personal care aides than any other job, with some 820,000 new positions added by 2032.”

 

Due to high demand and Department of State backlogs, immigrant nursing aides who qualify for a Green Card are currently waiting more than three years to enter the U.S. after their cases are approved.

 

Because of lengthy backlogs, staffing companies employing nursing assistants and nurse aides are best equipped to withstand immigration delays in their business models; however, meeting the demand for direct caregiving in the US in the coming years will require policies to extend temporary work authorization for direct care workers and policies to alleviate Department of State backlogs for permanent immigration solutions.

Department of State Shortens Validity of Temporary Visas for over 50 Countries

On July 17, 2025, NAFSA, a nonprofit policy advocate, released a report detailing the Department of State’s (DOS) recent actions to shorten temporary visa validity periods. DOS’s changes will affect multiple temporary visa types for nationals of over 50 countries.  

In most cases, DOS has shortened temporary visa validity to only 3 months and a single entry. In practice, this means applicants receiving a shortened visa must enter the US within 3 months of their visa issuance and will have to reapply for a visa before each entry to the US.

A full list of the more than 50 affected countries can be found in NAFSA’s report; the list includes Afghanistan, Cameroon, Ghana, Haiti, Iran, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe.

With some variations, affected visa types include B, F, H, J, M, O, and P visas.

F visas are utilized by international students in the US. The H-1B visa is open to employees filling US positions that require Bachelor’s degrees, which include healthcare occupations such as Medical Technologists, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, and even Registered Nurses.

Although DOS did not make an announcement of its sweeping temporary visa limitations, individual visa validity periods by country are updated on the DOS’s visa reciprocity website. Speak with an MU attorney if you have questions about your visa validity.

August 2025 Visa Bulletin: Slight Movement Forward for EB-3 India, Slight Retrogression for Others

The Department of State has just issued the August 2025 Visa Bulletin. This blog post analyzes this month's Visa Bulletin.

Visa Bulletin

Table A: Final Action Dates -- Applications with these priority dates or earlier may be approved for their Green Card (Permanent Residency card) or Immigrant Visa appointment:

Table B: Dates for Filing

USCIS will continue to use the Table A Final Action Dates chart for I-485 employment-based filings in August 2025. See: USCIS Visa Bulletin Dates

MU Law Analysis

EB-3 India was the only category to progress forward in August 2025, with forward movement of 1 month.  

EB-2 All Other, EB-2 Mexico, and EB-2 Philippines all retrogressed 6 weeks.  

All remaining categories stayed steady and made no progress.

As August is the penultimate month of the fiscal year, slight retrogression is typical and not a cause for concern. September 2025’s visa bulletin is unlikely to make progress forward and may slow or even retrogress again before the start of the fiscal year in October.