The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a significant advancement in the January 2026 Visa Bulletin, creating a critical, narrow window for Indian professionals to file for permanent residency (Green Cards). Following a positive shift in December 2025, this new update offers a rare opportunity for those stuck in long backlogs to move their applications forward.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Major Breakthroughs in EB Categories
The January bulletin shows “sharp forward movement” in several employment-based (EB) categories. The gains are particularly striking for Indian nationals:
- EB-1 (Priority Workers): Advanced by nearly a full year.
- EB-5 (Investors): Jumped ahead by approximately two years.
- EB-2 & EB-3: Also saw progress, providing much-needed relief to high-skilled professionals.
Why This Window is Unique
For January, USCIS has confirmed that applicants can use the Dates for Filing chart rather than just the Final Action Dates. This expands eligibility to many professionals whose priority dates were previously considered “not current.”
Legal experts, including former USCIS official Michael Valverde, suggest this surge is an attempt by the agency to fill the pipeline with cases to ensure all available visas are used. However, they warn that these “leaps forward” are often temporary and frequently followed by retrogression (dates moving backward) later in the year.
Action Plan for Eligible Applicants
Lawyers are urging qualified individuals to act immediately, as the filing window is only open from January 1 to January 31, 2026.
- File “Medical-Ready”: Unlike in the past, USCIS now requires medical examination results to be submitted simultaneously with the Form I-485 (Adjustment of Status).
- Strengthen EB-1 Cases: For those in the EB-1A category, experts recommend a deep dive into professional records to document niche expertise and key achievements thoroughly.
- Avoid Delays: With the potential for dates to move backward in February or March, the mantra for January is “get it while you can.”
