What the Visa Bulletin Being "Current" Means

Recently, the U.S. Department of State published the Visa Bulletin for March 2026. The Visa Bulletin is usually released a couple of weeks before the month actually begins, but the dates it contains only become effective on the first day of that month. For many people in the employment-based second preference category, including NIW applicants, this March 2026 bulletin represents a dramatic change.

For several years, there has been a backlog in the second preference category. As recently as February 2026, the gap between a person's priority date and the cut-off date in the Visa Bulletin was approximately 16 months. In spring and summer of 2025, some applicants were facing waits that were nearly two years before they could move forward to the next stage of their green card process. Then, for March 2026, the Visa Bulletin showed a major progression and declared the second preference category "current."

What does "current" actually mean?

When a category is "current," it means that there is no cut-off date. In practical terms, this means that once an NIW I-140 petition is approved, the applicant may immediately move forward with either consular processing or Adjustment of Status, depending on where they are located. There is no additional waiting period for the priority date to become eligible.

However, "current" does not mean that a green card is automatically issued. The I-140 must still be approved. Applicants must still complete all required steps, submit full documentation, undergo background checks, and attend interviews if required. "Current" simply removes the historically long waiting line created by priority date backlogs.

Consular Processing When the Category Is Current

For individuals outside the United States, consular processing is the next step after I-140 approval. Even if the Visa Bulletin is published in mid-February, the case cannot move forward until March actually begins. Once the month starts and the category is current, the National Visa Center (NVC) will begin issuing Welcome Letters.

The Welcome Letter contains the NVC case number and invoice number. It is sent to the contact information listed on the Form G-28 and the I-140 petition. This may arrive by email or physical mail and can take some time to be issued.

After receiving the Welcome Letter, the required visa application fees must be paid. Only after the fees are processed can the DS-260 immigrant visa application be properly started.

It is also important to remember that even when a category is current, interview scheduling depends on the capacity and backlog at the U.S. Embassy. In some locations, interview wait times can still be significant. For the U.S. Embassy located in Seoul, wait times are 25 months as of February 2026.

Adjustment of Status When the Category Is Current

For applicants inside the United States, being "current" is especially significant. Each month, the Department of State publishes two charts: the Final Action Dates chart and the Dates for Filing chart. USCIS announces which chart Adjustment of Status applicants may use for that month.

For March 2026, USCIS announced that applicants may use the Dates for Filing chart. Because the second preference category is current, individuals with approved NIW petitions may file Form I-485 as soon as March begins.

This is a major development. Over the past few years, many applicants had to wait many months after I-140 approval before filing Adjustment of Status. For applicants who were in the United States but had to leave because their visa status expired before they could adjust status, significant further delays arose from having to seek permission to switch to consular processing. Now, in the course of a single month in early 2026, many applicants who were previously waiting can suddenly proceed to the next step of the green card process.

Why This Matters So Much

When the Visa Bulletin is current, timing becomes critical. For those in the United States, filing Adjustment of Status before their underlying visa status expires can allow them to remain in the country during the green card process. This can help them avoid leaving the United States and facing potentially long immigrant visa interview scheduling times abroad.

At the same time, it is important to understand that visa bulletin movements can change. Retrogression is always possible. If the category retrogresses in a future month, Adjustment of Status cases or consular processing cases may pause until the priority date becomes current again. This does not cancel the case, but it can delay final approval.

The sudden progression in March 2026 represents a significant moment for NIW applicants. After years of backlog and waiting, many individuals may now move forward almost immediately after approval. Understanding what "current" means — and what it does not mean — is essential for making the right decisions at the right time.