US March Visa Bulletin: The Visa Bulletin is useful for anyone waiting to receive a green card in the United States. Foreign workers who work here also receive green cards.
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Green Card Waiting Time: Good news for Indian workers waiting for a Green Card in the US. The US State Department has released the Visa Bulletin for March 2026. Indian workers have received significant benefits in the employment-based Green Card category. The deadlines have been extended for almost every category of workers. Foreign workers receive a Green Card to permanently reside in the US. This card allows them to work in all types of jobs in the US and live wherever they choose.
Those who receive a Green Card also receive US citizenship within a few years. The goal of most Indian workers moving from India to the US is to obtain a Green Card. There are five categories for Green Cards. Indian workers primarily fall into four categories based on their employment. Let’s understand how to understand the Visa Bulletin and, based on the details provided in it, determine when Indian workers in different categories will be able to obtain a Green Card.
How to understand the Visa Bulletin?
Understanding the Visa Bulletin is important because it explains when foreign workers can change their immigration status. The Visa Bulletin serves as a guide on the journey to obtaining a green card. It contains two main sections. The first, “Dates for Filing,” indicates the dates by which foreign workers can apply for a change in their immigration status. Simply put, “Dates for Filing” indicates the date by which applicants can submit Form I-485.
Form I-485 is the official document used by those already residing in the United States to apply for a green card. It is formally known as the “Application for Permanent Resident Registration or Adjustment of Status.” Filing it allows them to remain in the United States permanently without having to leave, even if they haven’t yet received a green card. After filling these forms, one gets a work permit like ‘Employment Authorization Document’ (EAD) and a travel document like ‘Advance Payroll’ to do the job.
The second major section of the Visa Bulletin is the “Final Action Date,” which indicates when an applicant will receive their green card. This is essentially a line for green cards, based on visa category and nationality, that indicates the date they will receive their green card. If an applicant applied for a green card before the date listed in the “Final Action Date,” it means they are likely to receive it now. Their path to becoming a permanent resident is now clear.
When will workers in the first category receive their green cards?
The first category includes individuals such as outstanding professors, researchers, and executives or managers at multinational companies. This means that Indians teaching at American colleges or holding top positions at major tech companies like Google and Apple are part of this category. The final action date for this category is March 1, 2023, up from February 1, 2023. Similarly, the filing date has been moved to December 1, 2023, up from August 1, 2023.
When will workers in the second category receive their green cards?
The second category includes workers with advanced degrees, such as a master’s or a PhD. Workers with exceptional talent in their field are also included in this category. Indians working in research, athletics, arts, film, etc. fall into this category. The final action date for the second category is September 15, 2013, up from July 15, 2013. The filing dates have also changed, from December 1, 2013, to November 1, 2014.
When will workers in the third category receive their green cards?
Skilled workers, professionals, and some H-1B workers are part of this category. Tens of thousands of green cards are reserved for those performing unskilled work under this category. The ‘Final Action Date’ for workers in this category is November 15, 2013, which has remained unchanged. Similarly, the ‘Filing Dates’ are August 15, 2014, which has also remained unchanged.
When will workers in the fourth category receive green cards?
Religious workers, some employees of the U.S. Foreign Service, and those who have served in the U.S. military are also granted green cards. They are part of the fourth category, accounting for 7.1% of all green cards. The final action date for this category is July 15, 2021, up from January 1, 2021. The filing date has been moved to January 1, 2023, up from March 15, 2021.
