February 2026 Visa Bulletin: EB-1 Advances Significantly

Key Changes in February 2026

The February 2026 Visa Bulletin released by the U.S. Department of State brings welcome news for employment-based immigration applicants. The most notable change is a significant advancement in EB-1 priority dates, particularly for applicants born in mainland China and India who have historically faced the longest backlogs.

This bulletin reflects continued efforts by USCIS to process the employment-based green card inventory more efficiently, and the data suggests that applicants who filed petitions in recent years may see faster movement toward their green card interviews or adjustments of status.

Employment-Based Categories

EB-1: Priority Workers

The EB-1 category has advanced by approximately three months for China-born applicants, moving from October 2022 to January 2023 in the Final Action Dates chart. This is one of the largest single-month jumps we've seen in recent years. For applicants from all other countries (except India), EB-1 remains current, meaning no backlog exists.

For EB-1A (Extraordinary Ability) and EB-1B (Outstanding Professors and Researchers) petitioners born in China, this means that individuals with approved I-140 petitions and priority dates before January 2023 can now proceed with I-485 adjustment of status or consular processing.

EB-2: Advanced Degree / NIW

The EB-2 category for China-born applicants has moved forward by approximately six weeks, advancing from March 2020 to mid-April 2020. While progress is slower than EB-1, the steady advancement is encouraging. NIW (National Interest Waiver) applicants fall under this category and should monitor these dates closely.

For applicants from the rest of the world (excluding India), EB-2 remains current, providing an immediate path to permanent residency once the I-140 is approved.

EB-3: Skilled Workers

EB-3 for China-born applicants has also seen modest advancement, moving forward by about one month. The backlog in this category remains significant, but the direction is positive.

What This Means for Chinese-Born Applicants

The EB-1 advancement is particularly significant for our clients in the technology and research sectors. Many Chinese-born professionals who filed EB-1A extraordinary ability petitions or EB-1B outstanding researcher petitions in 2022 can now move forward with the final stage of their green card process.

For NIW applicants, the slower EB-2 movement means that strategic timing of your petition filing remains important. Applicants with strong profiles should consider whether an EB-1A petition might be a faster path, as the EB-1 category continues to move more quickly than EB-2 for China-born individuals.

Action Items

• If your EB-1 priority date is now current, file your I-485 adjustment of status application immediately or contact the National Visa Center for consular processing
• Review whether you qualify for the Dates for Filing chart (which may be more advanced than Final Action Dates), as USCIS sometimes opens filing based on this chart
• If you have a pending NIW and also qualify for EB-1A, consider filing a concurrent EB-1A petition to take advantage of faster EB-1 movement
• Gather all required documents for I-485 filing: medical exam (I-693), passport photos, civil documents, and employment verification
• Consult with your attorney about premium processing availability for pending petitions

Looking Ahead

Based on current trends, we anticipate continued forward movement in the EB-1 category through the spring of 2026. The Department of State has indicated a desire to fully utilize all available employment-based visa numbers this fiscal year, which historically leads to more generous advancement in the summer months.

We will continue to monitor the monthly Visa Bulletin releases and provide updated analysis. If you have questions about how these changes affect your specific case, we encourage you to schedule a strategy session with our office.