January 2026 bulletin published 17 Dec 2025
Visa Bulletin for January 2026
For January 2026, USCIS says employment-based applicants use the Dates for Filing chart to file an I-485.
Chart A · Final Action Dates
| # | Category | China | India | Mexico | Philippines | Rest of world |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | EB-1 priority workers (EB-1A extraordinary ability, EB-1B outstanding researchers, EB-1C multinational managers). | 1 Feb 2023 10 days | 1 Feb 2023 323 days | Current | Current | Current |
| 2 | EB-2 advanced degree or exceptional ability, including National Interest Waiver (NIW) cases. | 1 Sep 2021 92 days | 15 Jul 2013 61 days | 1 Apr 2024 60 days | 1 Apr 2024 60 days | 1 Apr 2024 60 days |
| 3 | EB-3 skilled workers and professionals. | 1 May 2021 30 days | 15 Nov 2013 54 days | 22 Apr 2023 7 days | 22 Apr 2023 7 days | 22 Apr 2023 7 days |
| 4 | EB-3 Other Workers jobs needing less than two years of training or experience. | 8 Dec 2018 365 days | 15 Nov 2013 54 days | 1 Sep 2021 31 days | 1 Sep 2021 31 days | 1 Sep 2021 31 days |
| 5 | EB-4 special immigrants, such as special immigrant juveniles, ministers of religion, broadcasters and Afghan or Iraqi translators. | 1 Jan 2021 122 days | 1 Jan 2021 122 days | 1 Jan 2021 122 days | 1 Jan 2021 122 days | 1 Jan 2021 122 days |
| 6 | EB-4 Religious Workers religious workers other than ministers. | 1 Jan 2021 122 days | 1 Jan 2021 122 days | 1 Jan 2021 122 days | 1 Jan 2021 122 days | 1 Jan 2021 122 days |
| 7 | EB-5 Unreserved investors outside the set-asides (C5, T5, I5, R5). | 15 Aug 2016 31 days | 1 May 2022 304 days | Current | Current | Current |
| 8 | EB-5 Rural investment in rural areas. | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| 9 | EB-5 High Unemployment investment in high-unemployment areas. | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| 10 | EB-5 Infrastructure infrastructure projects. | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
Chart B · Dates for Filing
| # | Category | China | India | Mexico | Philippines | Rest of world |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | EB-1 priority workers (EB-1A extraordinary ability, EB-1B outstanding researchers, EB-1C multinational managers). | 1 Aug 2023 78 days | 1 Aug 2023 108 days | Current | Current | Current |
| 2 | EB-2 advanced degree or exceptional ability, including National Interest Waiver (NIW) cases. | 1 Jan 2022 31 days | 1 Dec 2013 | 15 Oct 2024 92 days | 15 Oct 2024 92 days | 15 Oct 2024 92 days |
| 3 | EB-3 skilled workers and professionals. | 1 Jan 2022 | 15 Aug 2014 | 1 Jul 2023 | 1 Jul 2023 | 1 Jul 2023 |
| 4 | EB-3 Other Workers jobs needing less than two years of training or experience. | 1 Oct 2019 365 days | 15 Aug 2014 | 1 Dec 2021 | 1 Dec 2021 | 1 Dec 2021 |
| 5 | EB-4 special immigrants, such as special immigrant juveniles, ministers of religion, broadcasters and Afghan or Iraqi translators. | 15 Mar 2021 28 days | 15 Mar 2021 28 days | 15 Mar 2021 28 days | 15 Mar 2021 28 days | 15 Mar 2021 28 days |
| 6 | EB-4 Religious Workers religious workers other than ministers. | 15 Mar 2021 28 days | 15 Mar 2021 28 days | 15 Mar 2021 28 days | 15 Mar 2021 28 days | 15 Mar 2021 28 days |
| 7 | EB-5 Unreserved investors outside the set-asides (C5, T5, I5, R5). | 22 Aug 2016 31 days | 1 May 2024 761 days | Current | Current | Current |
| 8 | EB-5 Rural investment in rural areas. | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| 9 | EB-5 High Unemployment investment in high-unemployment areas. | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| 10 | EB-5 Infrastructure infrastructure projects. | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |