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January 2026 Visa Bulletin Moves EB Categories, Leaves Family Queues Largely Frozen

USCIS will soon announce whether I-485 filings can use the Dates for Filing chart, shaping immediate strategies for some applicants.

Overview

  • EB‑1 for India and China advances to February 1, 2023, giving India roughly a 10–11 month jump on Final Action.
  • India’s EB‑2 moves to July 15, 2013, and EB‑3 to November 15, 2013, with China also posting incremental gains in EB‑2 and EB‑3.
  • EB‑5 Unreserved for India advances to May 1, 2022, while the EB‑5 set‑aside categories remain current for all nationalities.
  • EB‑4 and certain religious workers move to January 1, 2021, and the religious worker program is only renewed through January 29, 2026.
  • Family‑sponsored Final Action dates for India remain unchanged, and attorneys note a short EB‑2‑to‑EB‑3 downgrade window for some Indian applicants as USCIS readies its filing‑chart decision.