For Indian professionals who have spent years—often decades—waiting in line to file their Adjustment of Status applications, March 2026 marks one of the most consequential moments in recent memory. The March 2026 Visa Bulletin delivered an abrupt and unexpected shift, with EB-2 India filing dates moving forward by approximately eleven months in a single bulletin. For many, this was not incremental progress; it was a door opening that few believed would open so quickly.

As one looks at the reaction across the Indian professional community, the sentiment is clear: “This is not just date movement; this is the system acknowledging that the backlog has been stretched beyond reason.” Filing dates do not move nearly a year forward unless USCIS and the Department of State see real visa number availability. This movement signals that something meaningful has changed behind the scenes.

Equally important is USCIS’s decision to allow employment-based applicants to use the Dates for Filing chart for March 2026. For those newly eligible, this means the ability to finally file Form I-485 and step into a different phase of the immigration process. Filing Adjustment of Status brings with it employment authorization, advance parole, and—perhaps most importantly—a sense of stability after years of living in temporary, renewable status. As many applicants are now realizing, “Filing the I-485 does not end the journey, but it fundamentally changes the journey.”

An eleven-month jump in filing dates does not occur in isolation. It reflects structural realities built into U.S. immigration law. When family-based immigrant visas go unused in a fiscal year, those numbers automatically spill over into the employment-based system. In recent years, family-based visa issuance has consistently fallen short due to consular backlogs and processing delays abroad. Those unused numbers do not vanish; they are redirected. When that happens, EB-2 India—because of the sheer size of its backlog—is often the first category to show visible movement. Simply put, “When extra visa numbers appear, India feels the impact first.”

For those waiting to file Adjustment of Status, the next year should be approached with realism rather than euphoria. Filing an I-485 does not guarantee immediate approval, and future visa bulletins may still slow down or pause. But once USCIS opens a wide filing window, it typically relies on those filings to manage visa allocation over the rest of the fiscal year and beyond. This is why preparation matters more than prediction. Medical exams, dependent documentation, and employer coordination should be handled promptly so that this opportunity is not missed.

The broader message coming out of March 2026 is unmistakable. “The green card line for Indians is not disappearing, but for the first time in years, it is clearly moving.” For thousands who have been waiting simply to file Adjustment of Status, this moment represents progress that is both real and actionable. It does not promise the end of the backlog, but it offers something just as important—momentum.

By: Rahul Reddy

Rahul Reddy is the founding partner of Reddy Neumann Brown PC. He founded our firm in 1997 and has over 28 years of experience practicing employment-based immigration. Rahul‘s vast knowledge of the complex immigration system makes him an invaluable resource and an expert in the field. His personal experience with the immigration system has made him empathetic to each of his clients’ cases and empowered him to help others achieve the American Dream.

Rahul‘s dedication to serving the immigrant community is evident, from his daily free conference calls to his weekly immigration Q&As on Facebook and YouTube Live. He is an active member of the immigrant community and one of the founders of ITServe Alliance. He has been a member of American Immigration Lawyers Association since 1995.