EB-3 China Green Card Wait Time
Skilled Workers and Professionals, chargeability China (mainland born). Every Visa Bulletin from January 2005 to September 2026.
How the EB-3 China cutoff date has moved
The last twelve bulletins
| Bulletin | Final action date | Moved | Date for filing |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | Jan 1, 2022 | ▲ +10 days | Jan 8, 2022 |
| July 2026 | Dec 22, 2021 | ▲ +143 days | Jan 1, 2022 |
| June 2026 | Aug 1, 2021 | ▲ +47 days | Jan 1, 2022 |
| May 2026 | Jun 15, 2021 | no movement | Jan 1, 2022 |
| April 2026 | Jun 15, 2021 | ▲ +45 days | Jan 1, 2022 |
| March 2026 | May 1, 2021 | no movement | Jan 1, 2022 |
| February 2026 | May 1, 2021 | no movement | Jan 1, 2022 |
| January 2026 | May 1, 2021 | ▲ +30 days | Jan 1, 2022 |
| December 2025 | Apr 1, 2021 | ▲ +31 days | Jan 1, 2022 |
| November 2025 | Mar 1, 2021 | no movement | Jan 1, 2022 |
| October 2025 | Mar 1, 2021 | ▲ +90 days | Jan 1, 2022 |
| September 2025 | Dec 1, 2020 | no movement | Dec 22, 2020 |
When this category went backwards
The cutoff date for EB-3 China has retrogressed 12 times in the published record. A retrogression means the State Department pulled the date back, so people who were about to become eligible went back into the queue.
| Bulletin | From | To | Days lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 2024 | Sep 1, 2020 | Apr 1, 2020 | ▼ -153 days |
| November 2021 | Jan 8, 2019 | Mar 22, 2018 | ▼ -292 days |
| September 2019 | Jul 1, 2016 | Jan 1, 2014 | ▼ -912 days |
| July 2018 | Jun 1, 2015 | Jan 1, 2013 | ▼ -881 days |
| July 2017 | Oct 1, 2014 | Jan 1, 2012 | ▼ -1004 days |
| June 2016 | Aug 15, 2013 | Jan 1, 2010 | ▼ -1322 days |
| August 2015 | Sep 1, 2011 | Jun 1, 2004 | ▼ -2648 days |
| April 2015 | Oct 22, 2011 | Jan 1, 2011 | ▼ -294 days |
| June 2014 | Oct 1, 2012 | Oct 1, 2006 | ▼ -2192 days |
| May 2009 | Mar 1, 2003 | Unavailable | became unavailable |
| July 2008 | Mar 22, 2003 | Unavailable | became unavailable |
| July 2005 | Jun 1, 2002 | Unavailable | became unavailable |
Where these numbers come from
Final action dates and dates for filing are taken from the monthly Visa Bulletin published by the U.S. Department of State. Each bulletin is parsed into a machine-readable record and checked against the published page before it is committed, so the series here is the bulletin's own wording, not a restatement of it. The movement and backlog columns are arithmetic on those dates and are described on the methodology page.
Source
Every date on this page comes from the September 2026 Visa Bulletin published by the U.S. Department of State. Nothing here is estimated, interpolated or filled in, and the designations Current and Unavailable are reproduced exactly as printed.
Backlog years, pace and projections are arithmetic on those dates and are described on the methodology page. Corrections: data@visabacklog.com.
VisaBacklog is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of State or USCIS, and nothing on this site is legal advice.