As the U.S. government's new fiscal year approaches on October 1, it's an important time for international healthcare professionals pursuing permanent residency through the EB-3 visa.
While visa processing can often feel unpredictable, the start of a new fiscal year brings one significant change: a fresh allocation of employment-based immigrant visas becomes available.
After recent changes to U.S. immigration, this blog explores what the new fiscal year could mean for EB-3 applicants, with insights from immigration attorney Maria T. Schneider, Partner at Musillo Unkenholt , on the potential impact on visa availability and how applicants can stay prepared.
What does the new fiscal year mean?
Each fiscal year, the U.S. government allocates a set number of employment-based immigrant visas, including EB-3 visas. When a new fiscal year begins, a new supply of visa numbers becomes available, which can lead to forward movement in the Visa Bulletin.
For fiscal year 2027, there is some additional good news. Along with the usual annual allocation of 140,000 employment-based visas, the Department of State has recently announced that an additional 46,317 visas will be available. This brings the total number of employment-based visas available in 2027 to 186,317.
While the additional visa numbers are welcome news for employment-based applicants, increased supply does not necessarily mean immediate or significant movement in visa availability. Demand for employment-based visas is expected to increase following a recent court ruling. The ruling ended a policy that had suspended immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries.
As a result, competition for available visa numbers may remain high. While the additional visas could create opportunities for EB-3 applicants, it is important to have realistic expectations about timing and stay prepared for changes in the Visa Bulletin.
How does this affect the monthly visa bulletin?
Your priority date determines your place in line for an immigrant visa, and movement in the Visa Bulletin determines when applicants become eligible to move to the next stage of the process.
While the start of a new fiscal year can create opportunities for movement, it doesn't guarantee that dates will advance. As Maria explains: “Employment-based visa categories are subject to annual limits, and Visa Bulletin dates may move forward, stay the same, or occasionally move backward depending on demand.”
For international healthcare professionals waiting in the EB-3 queue, that means October may bring renewed hope, but it's important to be prepared for movement in either direction.
What you can do to stay ahead
The biggest takeaway is simple: you can only benefit from visa availability if you're already in the process.
Starting your EB-3 journey early puts you in the queue and positions you to benefit when your priority date becomes current. And for those already in the process, being prepared can help ensure you don't miss an opportunity when one arises.
Maria recommends that applicants whose priority dates are already current take action: “Applicants whose priority dates are already current should ensure that all required applications and supporting documents are ready and should respond promptly to any requests from USCIS, the National Visa Center, or the U.S. consulate, as additional visa numbers may allow some pending cases to move forward more quickly.”
For many international healthcare professionals, working in the United States is more than just a career move, it's the realization of a lifelong dream. Starting the process today puts you one step closer to making that dream a reality, and ready to move forward when the opportunity comes.
