The 2026 Visa Bulletin EB-3 advancement for entrepreneurs is already one of the most searched immigration topics this year. If you are building a company in the U.S. under EB-3, February 2026 could affect your green card timeline in a big way.
I’ve worked with founders and business owners who rely on the EB-3 category to secure long-term stability. One month of movement in the Visa Bulletin can mean the difference between filing adjustment of status or waiting another year. Let’s break this down in simple terms.
The Visa Bulletin is released monthly by the U.S. Department of State. It shows which priority dates are current for green card categories. If your priority date is earlier than the listed cutoff date, you can move forward with:
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Filing Change of Status (Form I-485)
Consular processing
Receiving final green card approval.
For entrepreneurs using EB-3 (often through employer sponsorship in their own or partner businesses), timing is everything.
Most monthly bulletins are released between the 8th and 15th of the previous month. So:
Visa Bulletin February 2026: When Will It Come Out?
Expect it around January 10–15, 2026
This pattern has been consistent for years. Still, check the official site in mid-January to avoid delays.
Let’s get into realistic expectations.
Over the past year, EB-3 has shown:
Slow but steady forward movement for ROW (Rest of World).
Minor retrogression risk for India.
Careful advancement for China.
Occasional stagnation when demand surges.
Based on prior February movement patterns, here are grounded predictions.
Prediction: Likely small advancement (2–6 weeks)
February historically brings modest forward movement if Q1 demand is stable. Unless USCIS reports heavy I-485 filings in January, we may see continued progress.
Who benefits most?
Entrepreneurs with priority dates within 1–2 months of the cutoff
Founders are planning to file adjustments quickly.
Risk: If demand spikes in January filings, movement may pause.
Prediction: Possible minimal movement or temporary hold. India often faces heavy demand. February sometimes slows down after fiscal recalculations in January. From experience, entrepreneurs from India should prepare for:
Conservative advancement (1–3 weeks)
Or no movement at all.
Important reality: Large jumps are unlikely without legislative changes.
Prediction: Small but cautious advancement
China usually tracks between ROW and India in movement pace. Expect limited forward progress unless visa usage declines significantly.
Many founders assume EB-2 is always better. That’s not true. I’ve seen entrepreneurs choose EB-3 based on careful consideration because:
It sometimes moves faster than EB-2 India.
It avoids NIW complexities.
It reduces RFE risk in certain business structures.
February often signals the tone for the rest of Q2.
Last year, one founder I worked with had a priority date 18 days behind the EB-3 cutoff. The February bulletin advanced 5 weeks. That allowed him to:
File I-485
Apply for EAD.
Apply for Advance Parole
Within 4 months, he had work authorization independent of his H-1B.
That flexibility changed how he ran his company.
Small movements can create major operational freedom.
1. Often more stable than EB-2 India, in certain years, EB-3 has moved faster.
2. Clear employer-sponsored structure. Less discretionary analysis than EB-2 NIW.
3. Predictable demand cycles. Historical trends help with planning.
1. Long wait times for India and China. This is the biggest drawback.
2. Risk of retrogression: Movement can reverse suddenly.
3. Business dependency risk: If your company struggles, your case may suffer.
Will EB-3 retrogress in February 2026?
Not possible to remove the adverb. Possible stagnation for India. Rare but possible retrogression if usage exceeds projections.
Should entrepreneurs upgrade from EB-3 to EB-2?
It depends. Upgrade makes sense if:
You meet the qualifications for EB-2 NIW with exceptional merit.
You have advanced degrees.
You can document national impact.
Stay in EB-3 if:
Your PERM is already approved.
Your priority date is close to the current.
You want lower RFE exposure.
Can filing early hurt my case?
No. But incomplete documentation can. I’ve seen founders rush I-485 filings as soon as the dates became current. Missing tax records or incomplete corporate documentation caused delays.
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Preparation matters more than speed.
Here’s what I recommend entrepreneurs do now.
Confirm:
Exact PERM filing date
Category classification (EB-3 Skilled vs Professional)
Small mistakes create false hope.
Have ready:
Medical exam (consider timing)
Updated employment verification letter
Latest company financials
Tax returns
Pay stubs
Do not wait until the bulletin drops.
If you own or co-own the sponsoring company:
Ensure payroll consistency.
Maintain the ability to pay wages.
Avoid sudden compensation drops.
Immigration officers review financial credibility carefully.
It is not. Visa allocation depends on:
Annual caps
Country demand
USCIS processing pace
Spillover from other categories.
Do not:
Quit stable employment.
Restructure ownership prematurely.
Stop maintaining non-immigrant status
Until the I-485 is filed and receipted, you need backup status.
Unused EB-1 and EB-2 visas sometimes spill into EB-3. But this is not predictable month to month.
February sits in the second month of the fiscal year. By then:
USCIS has better data on demand.
Visa usage is clearer.
Corrections often occur.
The Visa Bulletin predictions for February 2026 are a bit more reliable than those from earlier fiscal months.
Here’s a realistic action plan.
Prepare the full I-485 package now.
Get the medical exam ready, but time it carefully.
Speak with your attorney about rapid filing.
You need to move fast if advancement happens.
Track monthly movement trends
Avoid emotional decision-making.
Consider the parallel EB-2 strategy only if there is a strong case.
Expect patience. Build long-term immigration resilience.
Maintain H-1B extensions.
Protect business payroll compliance.
Consider cross-chargeability if eligible.
Yes — but only if structured correctly. EB-3 works well when:
The company is stable.
Wage levels are compliant.
PERM is clean.
Documentation is consistent.
It is not ideal if:
The business revenue fluctuates wildly.
Ownership structures are unclear.
There are payroll inconsistencies.
Use predictions for preparation. Never use them for promises. The 2026 Visa Bulletin for EB-3 may show small progress for ROW. India and China might see slow advancements. The safest mindset:
Prepare as if it will move. Plan as if it might not.
That balance protects both your immigration case and your business.
Confirm priority date.
Review the company's financial strength.
Update immigration documents.
Maintain non-immigrant status
Stay calm during bulletin-release week.
Small monthly changes can unlock major opportunities.
Entrepreneurs who win in immigration are not the ones who guess the best. They are the ones who prepare the best. If February advances your date, you file with assurance.
If it doesn’t, your business keeps growing without panic. That’s the real strategy behind the Visa Bulletin February 2026 predictions.