Visa Bulletin: March 2026 Update

EB-2 is listed as current in the March 2026 visa bulletin.

Federico Hurtado Gonima and Katya Mirsky

Summary: The March 2026 Visa Bulletin marks a notable shift as the EB-2 category

becomes “Current” in Chart B. This development may allow eligible applicants to move forward more quickly with filings and adjudications, creating a meaningful opportunity for both pending and new cases.

Key Takeaways:

• EB-2 listed as “Current” in Chart B.

• Eligible applicants may proceed without priority date delays.

• Concurrent filing (I-140 + I-485) may be available.

• Potential for faster adjudication timelines.

The March 2026 Visa Bulletin brings significant news for employment-based applicants: the EB-2 category is now labeled as “Current” in Chart B. For many foreign nationals and practitioners, this marks a meaningful shift after years of retrogression, long backlogs, and uncertainty.

But what does “Current” actually mean, and why is this development so important?

When a category is marked as “Current” (C) in the Visa Bulletin, immigrant visas are considered immediately available to all qualified applicants in that category.

In practical terms, this means:

• Applicants with approved EB-2 petitions can immediately move forward with adjustment of status (Form I-485), if otherwise eligible.

• Applicants outside the United States can begin consular processing without waiting for a priority date to become current.

• Individuals who were previously stuck in retrogressed categories may now see their cases advance rapidly.

This development is especially significant given that EB-2 has been retrogressed since December 2022 and has remained so until now.

When visa numbers are available, USCIS is no longer limited by quota constraints at the final stage of adjudication. In many cases, this helps remove a key bottleneck and can shorten overall processing timelines for both adjustment and consular cases.

Why This Is Also Good News for New Filings

This change doesn’t just benefit applicants already in the system; it also creates a real opportunity for those planning to file a new EB-2 petition.

When the EB-2 category is “Current” at the time of filing, applicants may be able to submit the I-140 and I-485 together. That can significantly speed up the overall process from petition to green card, assuming the case is approved. Furthermore, under these circumstances, there is no need to wait years for priority date movement.

A Tech-Forward Approach to Filing

In a “Current” visa environment, timing and case quality both matter. Combining strong evidentiary support with efficient case preparation can make a meaningful difference. By pairing ProfVal’s high-level expert evidence with Immiblocks’ AI-driven administrative efficiency, both law firms and petitioners will benefit.  

• ProfVal for Evidentiary Strength: Since USCIS often applies more consistent standards when visa supply is high, the quality of your evidence is critical. ProfVal provides research-based Expert Opinion Letters (EOLs) and Immigration Professional and Business Plans that are essential for EB-2 NIW petitions. Our evaluations from university professors and industry experts help bridge the gap between a candidate's credentials and the "National Importance" requirement.

• Immiblocks for Intelligent Case Management: Navigating the "blocks" of visa availability requires speed and precision. Immiblocks leverages AI to streamline the filing process by automatically extracting critical information from complex immigration documents and generating tailored cover letters. This allows applicants to move from "Current" status to a "Ready-to-File" petition in record time, ensuring they submit their visa applications before the window of availability potentially shifts.

The Bigger Picture: Supply and Demand at Work

The employment-based immigration system operates within strict annual limits. Movement in the Visa Bulletin reflects the government’s ongoing effort to balance several factors, including:

• Annual statutory caps

• Per-country limits

• Spillover from other categories

• Real-time demand 

When the EB-2 visa category becomes “Current,” it typically means one of the following:

• Visa supply has increased (through rollover mechanisms),

• Demand has stabilized or declined, or

• The Department of State has recalibrated allocation forecasts.

Regardless of the underlying cause, the practical result is the same: visa numbers are available, and eligible applicants can move forward without delay. We’ve also observed that when demand stabilizes, USCIS tends to apply more consistent adjudication standards.

In short, the March 2026 update is a meaningful development for both pending and prospective applicants. For those already in the process, it removes a major bottleneck. For those considering filing, it creates a valuable window of opportunity. In a system shaped not only by legal criteria but also by numerical limits, moments like this—when supply and demand align—can have a real impact on how quickly a case moves forward.