Policy Updates

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-3 Rest of World (2026-03)

The Department of State advanced the EB-3 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2023-06-01 to 2023-10-01 in the 2026-03 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

As a close regional ally, Colombia may be a candidate for the bilateral agreements mentioned in Section 3(b). This could lead to more transparent but also more rigorous criminal history checks for Colombian EB-3 applicants.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-3 Rest of World (2026-02)

The Department of State advanced the EB-3 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2023-04-22 to 2023-06-01 in the 2026-02 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

USCIS is expected to increase the frequency of site visits and employer audits for EB-3 petitions. Colombian professionals will need to ensure their U.S. sponsors are fully compliant with all labor and immigration regulations to avoid denials.

Colombia falls under the 'Rest of World' category. The fee increase represents a standard administrative adjustment that affects the budget of applicants and their employers.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-3 Rest of World (2026-01)

The Department of State advanced the EB-3 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2023-04-15 to 2023-04-22 in the 2026-01 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

The heightened scrutiny will likely focus on the continuity of the applicant's legal status in the U.S. and the legitimacy of the sponsoring entity's business operations.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-3 Rest of World (2025-12)

The Department of State advanced the EB-3 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2023-04-01 to 2023-04-15 in the 2025-12 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

The inflation-based fee increase will be implemented for all Colombian EB-3 filings starting in FY 2026. This raises the total cost of securing permanent residency through employment for Colombian nationals.

Colombian professionals in the EB-3 category are impacted by the court's decision on the fee rule, which dictates the current cost of filing the necessary I-140 immigrant petition.

For Colombian professionals, the new mandate simplifies the payment process by requiring digital transactions. This change eliminates the need for physical checks and is expected to streamline the overall filing timeline for the EB-3 category.

Colombian professionals will face a more stringent review process for EB-3 petitions. While not facing the same backlogs as India or China, the increased audit risk will slow down the path to a green card.

The mandate to prioritize high-salary earners will force Colombian EB-3 applicants to compete with higher-paid workers from other regions. Additionally, the $100,000 H-1B fee and revised prevailing wages will increase the total cost of recruitment for US companies hiring from Colombia.

Colombian professionals will face more stringent reviews of their PERM filings. The addition of special agents indicates that USCIS is moving toward a more investigative approach to ensure compliance with all labor market testing requirements.

Colombian applicants and their U.S. employers will find the electronic payment system more efficient than paper-based methods. This update reduces the risk of administrative errors that could lead to the rejection of an EB-3 petition.

Colombian professionals applying for EB-3 visas must ensure all employment records are accurate and verifiable. The policy signals a move toward more frequent site visits and employer audits to verify the legitimacy of the job offer.

Colombian professionals and skilled workers will need to ensure their public records and social media do not conflict with the new, broadly defined 'Anti-Americanism' standards.

Colombian applicants will find this policy helpful in maintaining the derivative status of their children, especially during fiscal year-end periods when visa numbers often become scarce.

Colombian nationals applying for EB-3 status are subject to the new USCIS fee schedule. The impact is consistent with other 'Rest of World' countries, representing an increase in the cost of the immigration benefit.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-3 Rest of World (2025-07)

The Department of State advanced the EB-3 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2023-02-08 to 2023-04-01 in the 2025-07 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

The update ensures that Colombian EB-3 applicants have the opportunity to rebut derogatory information, which helps in maintaining a smooth transition for professionals moving to the U.S. workforce.

Colombian EB-3 applicants benefit from the indefinite validity of Form I-693, providing a safeguard against any future retrogression in the 'Rest of World' category.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-3 Rest of World (2025-06)

The Department of State advanced the EB-3 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2023-01-01 to 2023-02-08 in the 2025-06 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-3 Rest of World (2025-04)

The Department of State advanced the EB-3 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2022-12-01 to 2023-01-01 in the 2025-04 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Colombian applicants will see a more streamlined medical examination process due to the removal of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate. This change facilitates a smoother transition to permanent residency for those with current priority dates.

The procedural change is a standard update for Colombian applicants. It does not affect the underlying eligibility or the current availability of visas for Colombian nationals in the EB-3 category.

Colombian nationals in the EB-3 pipeline will have their Jan. 9 appointments rescheduled. The impact is limited to the time required for USCIS to issue and conduct the new appointment.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-3 Rest of World (2025-01)

The Department of State advanced the EB-3 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2022-11-15 to 2022-12-01 in the 2025-01 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-3 Rest of World (2024-10)

The Department of State advanced the EB-3 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2020-12-01 to 2022-11-15 in the 2024-10 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Visa Bulletin Retrogression: EB-3 Rest of World (2024-09)

The Department of State retrogressed the EB-3 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2021-12-01 to 2020-12-01 in the 2024-09 bulletin. Some applicants who were previously eligible may need to wait longer.

Visa Bulletin Retrogression: EB-3 Rest of World (2024-07)

The Department of State retrogressed the EB-3 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2022-11-22 to 2021-12-01 in the 2024-07 bulletin. Some applicants who were previously eligible may need to wait longer.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-3 Rest of World (2024-04)

The Department of State advanced the EB-3 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2022-09-08 to 2022-11-22 in the 2024-04 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-3 Rest of World (2024-03)

The Department of State advanced the EB-3 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2022-09-01 to 2022-09-08 in the 2024-03 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-3 Rest of World (2024-02)

The Department of State advanced the EB-3 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2022-08-01 to 2022-09-01 in the 2024-02 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-3 Rest of World (2024-01)

The Department of State advanced the EB-3 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2021-12-01 to 2022-08-01 in the 2024-01 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-3 Rest of World (2023-10)

The Department of State advanced the EB-3 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2020-05-01 to 2021-12-01 in the 2023-10 bulletin. This may allow additional applicants to proceed with their petitions.

Visa Bulletin Retrogression: EB-3 Rest of World (2023-08)

The Department of State retrogressed the EB-3 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2022-02-01 to 2020-05-01 in the 2023-08 bulletin. Some applicants who were previously eligible may need to wait longer.

Visa Bulletin Retrogression: EB-3 Rest of World (2023-07)

The Department of State retrogressed the EB-3 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability from 2022-06-01 to 2022-02-01 in the 2023-07 bulletin. Some applicants who were previously eligible may need to wait longer.