Understanding the Difference Between a
When you plan to move
The January 2026 Visa Bulletin
The January 2026 Visa Bulletin outlines the availability of immigrant visas for family-sponsored, employment-based, and Diversity Visa categories for the month. Issued by the U.S. Department of State, it helps applicants understand when they can proceed with final processing or file their applications. This bulletin directly affects individuals waiting for green cards based on family relationships, employment sponsorship, or the DV lottery, especially those from high-demand countries.
In this update for January 2026, family-sponsored categories show limited movement overall, with most backlogs continuing for oversubscribed countries.
The F2A category for spouses and children of permanent residents remains a key focus. While some chargeability areas stay relatively close to recent dates, countries like India, China, Mexico, and the Philippines continue to face longer waits due to high demand.
The F3 category for married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens remains heavily backlogged, with priority dates still several years behind for most countries.
The F4 category, covering siblings of U.S. citizens, also shows no meaningful forward movement, particularly for India, Mexico, and the Philippines.
Overall, most family-based categories either stayed stagnant or advanced only marginally, reinforcing the importance of tracking monthly bulletins closely.
EB-1, often used by priority workers and multinational executives, remains current for most countries, which means visas are immediately available for eligible applicants. This continues to make EB-1 one of the fastest employment-based pathways.
EB-2 and EB-3, however, remain challenging for applicants from India and China. Backlogs persist due to high demand and annual numerical limits. Priority dates for these categories are still significantly behind the current calendar year, meaning long waiting periods for many professionals.
For EB-5 investors, unreserved categories remain backlogged for certain countries, while set-aside categories such as rural and infrastructure investments continue to be current.
In simple terms, a category marked “current” allows applicants to proceed without waiting for a cutoff date, while a listed cutoff date means only those with earlier priority dates can move forward.
The DV-2026 program remains active for January, with regional cutoff numbers published across Africa, Asia, Europe, and other regions. Africa and Asia continue to have higher cutoffs compared to smaller regions like Oceania.
Country-specific limits still apply, meaning no single country can exceed its annual share of diversity visas. DV applicants should remember that selection does not guarantee a visa. Processing is strictly time sensitive, and all DV-2026 visas must be issued by September 30, 2026.
The January 2026 Visa Bulletin highlights steady backlogs but also clear opportunities in select categories. Since visa availability can change monthly, staying informed is essential. Regular updates, careful planning, and timely preparation can make a significant difference. Keeping track of each bulletin helps applicants move forward with confidence and realistic expectations. In order to check specific dates mentioned in the bulletin, you can check here. And, for expert guidance, Immigration Vision is always ready to assist. Just contact us and let us handle all the visa-related matters for you.
When you plan to move
The January 2026 Visa Bulletin
Immigration sponsorship allows a U.S.
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