EB-3 Priority Date by Country

Priority dates, work visas, and labor market data

EB-3 Priority Date by Country

EB-3: Skilled Workers, Professionals · based on the September 2026 U.S. Visa Bulletin.

The EB-3 priority date is the U.S. Visa Bulletin cutoff that determines when a green card in the EB-3 category can be issued, and it differs by country of chargeability. As of the September 2026 Visa Bulletin, the EB-3 Final Action Dates are India January 1, 2014, China January 1, 2022, Mexico September 1, 2024, Philippines August 1, 2023, All Other Countries September 1, 2024.

Country of chargeability Final Action Date Dates for Filing This month
India January 1, 2014 January 15, 2015 was unchanged from the prior month
China January 1, 2022 January 8, 2022 was unchanged from the prior month
Mexico September 1, 2024 Current (no backlog) was unchanged from the prior month
Philippines August 1, 2023 January 1, 2024 was unchanged from the prior month
All Other Countries September 1, 2024 Current (no backlog) was unchanged from the prior month

Final Action Dates determine when the green card can be issued; Dates for Filing determine when you may submit the application. Click a country for its full EB-3 history, chart, and predictions.

Frequently asked questions

What is the EB-3 priority date right now?

EB-3 priority dates differ by country of chargeability. As of the September 2026 U.S. Visa Bulletin, the EB-3 Final Action Dates are India: January 1, 2014, China: January 1, 2022, Mexico: September 1, 2024, Philippines: August 1, 2023, All Other Countries: September 1, 2024. The Final Action Date determines when the green card can be issued.

Which country has the longest EB-3 green-card backlog?

India has the most retrogressed EB-3 Final Action Date (January 1, 2014), meaning the longest wait.

What is the difference between Final Action and Dates for Filing?

Final Action Dates govern when USCIS or the consulate can approve the green card. Dates for Filing govern when you may submit the application (Form I-485 / DS-260) and are usually ahead of Final Action Dates.

Other priority dates

EB-1 priority dates · EB-2 priority dates