EB-3 Visa Bulletin: skilled workers and professionals, every cut-off since 2002
EB-3 is for skilled workers (two years of training or experience) and professionals with a bachelor's degree. In the October 2026 bulletin the final action date is May 15, 2024 for most countries, Jan 8, 2022 for China, Jan 1, 2014 for India, May 15, 2024 for Mexico, Aug 15, 2023 for Philippines.
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EB-3 by country: dates, speed and wait
| Country | Final action | Dates for filing | Last move | Wait now | Speed 1 / 3 / 5 yr | Retrogressions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All other countries | May 15, 2024 | Aug 1, 2024 | −3.6 mo | 2.4 yr | 13.5 mo/yr · 10.1 mo/yr · 6.9 mo/yr | 11 |
| China (mainland-born) | Jan 8, 2022 | Apr 1, 2024 | +7 d | 4.7 yr | 10.3 mo/yr · 8.3 mo/yr · 7.2 mo/yr | 9 |
| India | Jan 1, 2014 | Jan 15, 2015 | 12.7 yr | 4.3 mo/yr · 6.9 mo/yr · 0.0 mo/yr | 9 | |
| Mexico | May 15, 2024 | Aug 1, 2024 | −3.6 mo | 2.4 yr | 13.5 mo/yr · 10.1 mo/yr · 6.9 mo/yr | 11 |
| Philippines | Aug 15, 2023 | Jan 1, 2024 | +14 d | 3.1 yr | 4.5 mo/yr · 7.0 mo/yr · 4.2 mo/yr | 12 |
Wait now = bulletin month minus the cut-off. Speed = months of priority dates cleared per year (12 = keeps pace with time, 6 = a year of the queue takes two years); current months are left out of the speed.
EB-3 final action dates since 2002
Final action date (y) in each month's bulletin (x). When a line is current it is drawn at the bulletin month itself.
EB-3 month by month
| Bulletin | All countries | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | May 15, 2024−3.6 mo | Jan 8, 2022+7 d | Jan 1, 2014 | May 15, 2024−3.6 mo | Aug 15, 2023+14 d |
| September 2026 | Sep 1, 2024 | Jan 1, 2022 | Jan 1, 2014 | Sep 1, 2024 | Aug 1, 2023 |
| August 2026 | Sep 1, 2024+31 d | Jan 1, 2022+10 d | Jan 1, 2014 | Sep 1, 2024+31 d | Aug 1, 2023 |
| July 2026 | Aug 1, 2024+2.0 mo | Dec 22, 2021+4.7 mo | Jan 1, 2014+17 d | Aug 1, 2024+2.0 mo | Aug 1, 2023 |
| June 2026 | Jun 1, 2024 | Aug 1, 2021+47 d | Dec 15, 2013+30 d | Jun 1, 2024 | Aug 1, 2023 |
| May 2026 | Jun 1, 2024 | Jun 15, 2021 | Nov 15, 2013 | Jun 1, 2024 | Aug 1, 2023 |
| April 2026 | Jun 1, 2024+8.0 mo | Jun 15, 2021+45 d | Nov 15, 2013 | Jun 1, 2024+8.0 mo | Aug 1, 2023 |
| March 2026 | Oct 1, 2023+4.0 mo | May 1, 2021 | Nov 15, 2013 | Oct 1, 2023+4.0 mo | Aug 1, 2023+2.0 mo |
| February 2026 | Jun 1, 2023+40 d | May 1, 2021 | Nov 15, 2013 | Jun 1, 2023+40 d | Jun 1, 2023+40 d |
| January 2026 | Apr 22, 2023+7 d | May 1, 2021+30 d | Nov 15, 2013+54 d | Apr 22, 2023+7 d | Apr 22, 2023+7 d |
| December 2025 | Apr 15, 2023+14 d | Apr 1, 2021+31 d | Sep 22, 2013+31 d | Apr 15, 2023+14 d | Apr 15, 2023+14 d |
| November 2025 | Apr 1, 2023 | Mar 1, 2021 | Aug 22, 2013 | Apr 1, 2023 | Apr 1, 2023 |
| October 2025 | Apr 1, 2023 | Mar 1, 2021+3.0 mo | Aug 22, 2013+3.0 mo | Apr 1, 2023 | Apr 1, 2023+52 d |
| September 2025 | Apr 1, 2023 | Dec 1, 2020 | May 22, 2013 | Apr 1, 2023 | Feb 8, 2023 |
| August 2025 | Apr 1, 2023 | Dec 1, 2020 | May 22, 2013+30 d | Apr 1, 2023 | Feb 8, 2023 |
| July 2025 | Apr 1, 2023+52 d | Dec 1, 2020+9 d | Apr 22, 2013+7 d | Apr 1, 2023+52 d | Feb 8, 2023 |
| June 2025 | Feb 8, 2023+38 d | Nov 22, 2020+21 d | Apr 15, 2013 | Feb 8, 2023+38 d | Feb 8, 2023+38 d |
| May 2025 | Jan 1, 2023 | Nov 1, 2020 | Apr 15, 2013+14 d | Jan 1, 2023 | Jan 1, 2023 |
| April 2025 | Jan 1, 2023+31 d | Nov 1, 2020+3.0 mo | Apr 1, 2013+59 d | Jan 1, 2023+31 d | Jan 1, 2023+31 d |
| March 2025 | Dec 1, 2022 | Aug 1, 2020+31 d | Feb 1, 2013+48 d | Dec 1, 2022 | Dec 1, 2022 |
| February 2025 | Dec 1, 2022 | Jul 1, 2020+30 d | Dec 15, 2012+14 d | Dec 1, 2022 | Dec 1, 2022 |
| January 2025 | Dec 1, 2022+16 d | Jun 1, 2020+2.0 mo | Dec 1, 2012+23 d | Dec 1, 2022+16 d | Dec 1, 2022+16 d |
| December 2024 | Nov 15, 2022 | Apr 1, 2020 | Nov 8, 2012+7 d | Nov 15, 2022 | Nov 15, 2022 |
| November 2024 | Nov 15, 2022 | Apr 1, 2020 | Nov 1, 2012 | Nov 15, 2022 | Nov 15, 2022 |
Every EB-3 retrogression since 2002
- All other countries: April 2009 (26.0 months), June 2014 (18.0 months), September 2018 (21.0 months), August 2019 (36.0 months), March 2020 (37.0 months), May 2023 (10.0 months), July 2023 (3.9 months), August 2023 (21.1 months), July 2024 (11.7 months), September 2024 (12.0 months), October 2026 (3.6 months)
- China (mainland-born): June 2014 (72.0 months), April 2015 (9.7 months), August 2015 (87.0 months), June 2016 (43.4 months), July 2017 (33.0 months), July 2018 (28.9 months), September 2019 (30.0 months), November 2021 (9.6 months), October 2024 (5.0 months)
- India: January 2005 (35.0 months), August 2006 (14 days), December 2013 (21 days), October 2015 (9.5 months), September 2018 (72.0 months), August 2019 (42.0 months), September 2019 (6.0 months), November 2021 (23.6 months), July 2023 (41.4 months)
- Mexico: April 2009 (5.5 months), June 2014 (18.0 months), September 2018 (21.0 months), August 2019 (36.0 months), March 2020 (37.0 months), May 2023 (10.0 months), July 2023 (3.9 months), August 2023 (21.1 months), July 2024 (11.7 months), September 2024 (12.0 months), October 2026 (3.6 months)
- Philippines: January 2005 (35.0 months), April 2009 (26.0 months), May 2015 (87.0 months), June 2015 (29.9 months), September 2018 (7.0 months), August 2019 (36.0 months), March 2020 (17.0 months), May 2023 (10.0 months), July 2023 (3.9 months), August 2023 (21.1 months), July 2024 (11.7 months), September 2024 (12.0 months)
Who can use EB-3
EB-3 is the employment-based preference for skilled workers (two years of training or experience) and professionals with a bachelor's degree. Its annual limit is 28.6 % of the employment limit (about 40,000) plus numbers EB-1 and EB-2 do not use; at most 10,000 of it for other workers. Most cases start with a PERM labor certification and Form I-140; the priority date is normally the PERM filing date, or the I-140 date where no labor certification is needed.
Your column is your country of chargeability, normally the country of birth. A green card in EB-3 becomes possible in the month the final action date for your column passes your priority date; until then the case waits at USCIS or the National Visa Center.
What the history says about the next months
A line's past speed is the best simple guide to its future, and the State Department itself plans with it. Over the last five years the EB-3 line for most countries cleared 6.9 mo/yr, while India cleared 0.0 mo/yr. Speeds change when demand changes – a surge of new petitions, a change in the law, unused numbers falling from another category in October – so treat any projection as a range, not a date.
EB-3 questions
What is the EB-3 final action date in October 2026?
All other countries: May 15, 2024; China (mainland-born): Jan 8, 2022; India: Jan 1, 2014; Mexico: May 15, 2024; Philippines: Aug 15, 2023.
Who qualifies for EB-3?
EB-3 is for skilled workers (two years of training or experience) and professionals with a bachelor's degree. Annual limit: 28.6 % of the employment limit (about 40,000) plus numbers EB-1 and EB-2 do not use; at most 10,000 of it for other workers.
How fast does EB-3 move?
All other countries: 13.5 mo/yr over the last year, 6.9 mo/yr over five years; China (mainland-born): 10.3 mo/yr over the last year, 7.2 mo/yr over five years; India: 4.3 mo/yr over the last year, 0.0 mo/yr over five years; Mexico: 13.5 mo/yr over the last year, 6.9 mo/yr over five years; Philippines: 4.5 mo/yr over the last year, 4.2 mo/yr over five years. "mo/yr" = months of priority dates the line clears in a year; 12 means it keeps pace with time.
Has EB-3 retrogressed?
All other countries: 11 times, last in October 2026; China (mainland-born): 9 times, last in October 2024; India: 9 times, last in July 2023; Mexico: 11 times, last in October 2026; Philippines: 12 times, last in September 2024.
How long is the EB-3 wait?
The longest EB-3 line in October 2026 is India, whose cut-off is 12.7 years behind the bulletin month. That is the wait people reaching the front now have had; if the line keeps its five-year speed (0.0 mo/yr), a priority date filed today would take longer than that. Use the calculator for your own date.
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Source: U.S. Department of State, Visa Bulletin (travel.state.gov), every monthly bulletin since 2003, parsed by 77.today. A bulletin can be revised after release; the State Department's page is the binding text. Not legal advice.