January 2026 Visa Bulletin Update – USCIS to Honor Dates for Filing for Employment-Based Categories

To be eligible to file an employment-based adjustment of status application in January, foreign nationals must have a priority date that is earlier than the date listed below for their preference category and country.

USCIS has chosen the Dates for Filing chart listed in next month’s State Department Visa Bulletin for employment-based applications.

Dates for Filing January 2026

EB-1
China: August 1, 2023
India: August 1, 2023
All other countries: Current             

EB-2  
China: January 1, 2022
India: December 1, 2013
All other countries: October 15, 2024

EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers  
China: January 1, 2022
India: August 15, 2014
All other countries: July 1, 2023

EB-3 Other Workers 
China: October 1, 2019
India: August 15, 2014
All other countries: December 1, 2021

EB-4 (except SR Certain Religious Workers)
All countries: March 15, 2021

EB-4 SR Certain Religious Workers
All countries: March 15, 2021

EB-5 Unreserved (Regional Center and Non-Regional Center)
China: August 22, 2016
India: May 1, 2024
All other countries: Current

EB-5 Set-Asides
Rural: Current for all countries
High Unemployment: Current for all countries
Infrastructure: Current for all countries