If you’re in the middle of the green card process — or waiting for the right moment to file — the March 2026 Visa Bulletin has some genuinely encouraging news. USCIS has designated the Dates for Filing chart for both family and employment-based categories this month, and several preference categories have moved forward compared to February. At Scarborough Law, we want our clients to understand exactly what these changes mean so they can act confidently and strategically.
Two Charts, Two Very Different Purposes
The U.S. Department of State issues the Visa Bulletin each month to communicate priority date availability across immigrant visa categories. The Bulletin contains two separate priority date charts, and confusing one for the other is one of the most common — and costly — mistakes applicants make.
The Final Action Dates (FAD) chart is the controlling document for actual green card approval. For USCIS to approve an adjustment of status application, your priority date must be on or before the cut-off listed in the FAD chart for your preference category and country of birth. This is the hard finish line — nothing is finalized until you cross it.
The Dates for Filing (DFF) chart, on the other hand, governs when you are permitted to submit your I-485 application, even if the Final Action Date hasn’t yet been reached for your category. When USCIS authorizes use of the DFF chart — as it has done for March 2026 — eligible applicants gain the ability to file early and obtain interim benefits: specifically, a work authorization card (EAD) and advance parole for international travel. These benefits can make an enormous practical difference while you wait for your Final Action Date to mature.
In short: the DFF chart lets you get your foot in the door and secure work and travel rights; the FAD chart determines when the door fully opens and permanent residency is granted.
USCIS Instructions for March 2026
USCIS has issued clear guidance on which chart to use for adjustment of status filings this month:
- Family-Sponsored Applicants: Use the Dates for Filing chart from the March 2026 Visa Bulletin.
- Employment-Based Applicants: Use the Dates for Filing chart from the March 2026 Visa Bulletin.
This means you should be comparing your priority date to the DFF cut-offs — not the Final Action Dates — when determining whether you can submit your adjustment of status paperwork this month.
Notable Priority Date Movements in March 2026
Compared to the February 2026 Visa Bulletin, March has brought meaningful forward progress across several employment-based preference categories.
EB-2 Second Preference
For Worldwide chargeability (most countries outside of China and India), the Dates for Filing column is listed as current this month, giving eligible EB-2 applicants the green light to file their I-485 right now. The Final Action Date for this group is not yet current, so green card approval is not yet possible — but filing is, and that opens the door to EAD and advance parole benefits in the interim. For EB-2 India and EB-2 China applicants, both countries moved forward compared to February — India advanced by several months and China also progressed — expanding the pool of applicants who can now file or who are closer to final action eligibility.
EB-1 First Preference
India and China EB-1 applicants saw continued advancement in March, with movement of approximately four or more months relative to February. For some applicants in these categories, the Dates for Filing date has now moved ahead of where Final Action Dates sit, creating a new window to file that was not previously available. If you’re in an EB-1 India or EB-1 China category and haven’t been able to file, it’s worth taking a close look at your dates this month.
EB-3 and EB-4
EB-3 categories posted positive movement for most countries in both the Final Action and Dates for Filing charts. EB-4 (Certain Special Immigrants) also advanced this month — notable progress after extended periods with minimal movement in that category.
Three Things Every Employment-Based Applicant Should Understand
Filing under DFF is a genuine advantage, not a consolation prize. Being able to submit your I-485 early — even before your Final Action Date is current — allows you to lock in your place in line, apply for work authorization, and travel internationally while your case works its way through the system. For many clients, that means months or even years of additional legal work authorization that they otherwise would have had to wait for.
Approval still depends on the Final Action Date. Even if you file today under the DFF chart, USCIS will not issue your green card until your Final Action Date becomes current. The two events — filing and approval — are separate and may be separated by a significant amount of time depending on your category and country of chargeability.
For EB-2 India and China applicants, this momentum is significant. These categories carry some of the longest backlogs in the entire U.S. immigration system. Any forward movement represents real progress toward a finish line that can feel impossibly distant. If you’ve been in one of these queues for years, March 2026 is a month worth paying close attention to.
What to Do Next
- Look up your priority date and compare it to both the Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing charts in the March 2026 Visa Bulletin.
- If your priority date is earlier than the DFF cut-off for your category, start preparing your adjustment of status filing — this month’s window may be the right one to move forward.
- Monitor the Visa Bulletin in the coming months as Final Action Dates continue to evolve — that’s when actual permanent residency approvals become possible.
Green card timing matters, and missing a filing window can set you back months. Our team at Scarborough Law is here to guide you through every step of the process. Call us today at (678) 252-6661 or book a consultation online to talk through your options.