The March edition of the US Visa Bulletin has been released by the United States Department of State — and there’s some positive movement for Indian green card applicants.
Several employment-based categories have moved forward, bringing many applicants one step closer to permanent residency.
However, officials have also warned that retrogression could happen later in the year if demand rises sharply.
Here’s what it means in simple terms.
Why Visa Bulletin Movement Matters
When priority dates move forward in the Visa Bulletin, it usually means the backlog is shrinking.
If your priority date becomes current under “Final Action Dates,” you can move ahead with your green card process.
Those applying for adjustment of status must use the Final Action Dates chart to determine eligibility.
However, the Department of State has cautioned that if applications exceed the annual visa limit, dates may move backward.
This is known as retrogression and happens when demand crosses the monthly quota.
The government also adjusts visa availability between countries to stay within annual caps.
Employment-Based Green Card Limits Explained
Every year, at least 140,000 employment-based green cards are available worldwide.
There is also a per-country limit of 7% of the total annual family-sponsored and employment-based numbers.
That works out to 25,620 visas per country annually.
Smaller dependent areas have a 2% limit.
Employment-based visas are divided into five major categories:
EB-1: Priority Workers (28.6%)
EB-2: Advanced Degree Professionals or Exceptional Ability (28.6%)
EB-3: Skilled Workers and Professionals (28.6%)
EB-4: Special Immigrants (7.1%)
EB-5: Investors (7.1%), with portions reserved for rural, high-unemployment, and infrastructure projects
Big Gains for India in March
Indian applicants saw forward movement in key employment categories.
For Final Action Dates:
EB-1 moved from February 1, 2023 to March 1, 2023.
EB-2 advanced from July 15, 2013 to September 15, 2013.
EB-3 saw no change and remains at November 15, 2013.
EB-4 moved forward from January 1, 2021 to July 15, 2021.
EB-5 (unreserved) remains unchanged at May 1, 2022.
For Dates for Filing:
EB-1 advanced from August 1, 2023 to December 1, 2023.
EB-2 made a major jump from December 1, 2013 to November 1, 2014.
EB-3 and Other Workers saw no change.
EB-4 advanced from March 15, 2021 to January 1, 2023.
EB-5 (unreserved) remains at May 1, 2024.
What About Family-Sponsored Categories?
There was no movement in Final Action Dates for family-sponsored categories for Indian applicants. All remain unchanged.
However, in the Dates for Filing chart, the F2A category (spouses and children of permanent residents) moved slightly forward to February 22, 2026 from January 22, 2026.
Family-based green cards are also divided into multiple categories such as F1 (unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens), F2A, F2B, F3 (married children of U.S. citizens), and F4 (siblings of adult U.S. citizens), each with specific annual limits.
What Applicants Should Keep in Mind
While the March bulletin shows progress, the Department of State has warned that retrogression may become necessary later in the fiscal year to stay within legal visa limits.
If you are waiting in the EB-1 or EB-2 category, the forward movement is encouraging.
But applicants should continue tracking monthly updates closely, as dates can change based on demand.
For many Indian applicants, March brings cautious optimism — but the green card journey still requires patience.
