Skilled workers tracking North American immigration pathways received sharply contrasting signals this week, as U.S. and Canadian authorities released updates pointing in opposite directions. In Washington, the February 2026 Visa Bulletin confirmed a broad pause in employment-based green card movement, while in Ottawa, officials continued to fine-tune Canada’s Express Entry system around occupations facing acute labor shortages.
The updates, released on January 15, 2026, underscore how timing and strategy now matter more than ever for prospective immigrants deciding where—and how—to build their futures.
U.S. employment visas largely frozen
The U.S. Department of State’s February 2026 Visa Bulletin revealed that nearly all employment-based green card categories will remain unchanged next month, a rare near-total standstill that leaves thousands of applicants waiting. The only movement appears in the EB-3 Professionals category for applicants from countries other than China and India, which advances by 40 days to a new cutoff date of June 1, 2023.
All other employment-based categories show no forward progress. For “All Other Countries,” EB-1 remains current, but EB-2 stays fixed at April 1, 2024, while EB-3 Other Workers remains paused at September 1, 2021. For applicants from China, EB-1 is frozen at February 1, 2023, EB-2 at September 1, 2021, EB-3 Professionals at May 1, 2021, and EB-3 Other Workers at December 8, 2018. India’s backlog remains especially severe, with EB-1 stuck at February 1, 2023, EB-2 at July 15, 2013, and both EB-3 Professionals and Other Workers at November 15, 2013.
There is, however, limited relief for some applicants already in the United States. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services confirmed it will continue using the “Dates for Filing” chart in February rather than the stricter “Final Action Dates.” That decision allows certain applicants to submit I-485 adjustment of status applications months earlier, even though approvals must still wait.
Under this filing window, Chinese applicants gain up to six additional months in EB-1, four months in EB-2, eight months in EB-3 Professionals, and nearly ten months in EB-3 Other Workers. Indian applicants receive eight extra months in EB-1, four and a half months in EB-2, and nine months in both EB-3 categories. Applicants from all other countries can file up to six and a half months early in EB-2, four months in EB-3 Professionals, and three months in EB-3 Other Workers.
For those applying from abroad, the process remains less flexible. Applicants must wait for notification from the National Visa Center before submitting the DS-260 immigrant visa form, and U.S. embassies cannot issue visas until priority dates become current under the Final Action Dates chart. For many, February will bring little more than continued waiting.
Canada narrows its search for talent
While U.S. lines remain stalled, Canada is pressing ahead with a more targeted immigration strategy. According to CIC News, Canada’s Express Entry system continues to emphasize category-based selection aimed at filling labor gaps and addressing long-term demographic needs.
To qualify for these targeted draws, candidates must have at least six months of work experience in an eligible occupation within the past three years. Current categories include healthcare and social services, STEM fields, skilled trades, agriculture and agri-food, education, and a newly created stream for physicians with Canadian work experience.
Healthcare and social services dominated selections in 2025, with seven draws and Comprehensive Ranking System cut-off scores ranging from 462 to 510. The most recent draw in that category took place on December 11, 2025. Despite ongoing demand, STEM occupations saw no draws in 2025, with the last selection dating back to April 11, 2024, when CRS cut-offs ranged between 486 and 491.
Trades received just one draw in 2025, held on September 18, with a high CRS threshold of 505. Agriculture and agri-food saw no draws last year either, with its most recent round on February 16, 2024, and cut-off scores ranging from 354 to 437.
Education emerged as a new priority in 2025, with two draws and CRS scores between 462 and 479, reflecting Canada’s effort to strengthen schools and childcare services. The most recent policy shift is the introduction of a dedicated category for physicians who have accumulated at least 12 months of full-time Canadian work experience in the past three years. Invitations under this stream are expected to begin in early 2026, a move aimed squarely at easing persistent doctor shortages.
Eligibility hinges on Canada’s National Occupation Classification system, which requires applicants to match their actual job duties—not just titles—to listed responsibilities. Each occupation’s TEER level, covering training, education, experience, and responsibilities, also plays a key role. As CIC News has noted, successful applications depend on ensuring that documented work experience closely mirrors the NOC’s main duties.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada determines which categories to prioritize each year after consulting provinces, territories, and other stakeholders, and reports those decisions annually to Parliament. In 2025, priorities included Francophone immigration alongside health, trades, and education.
Together, the U.S. slowdown and Canada’s targeted approach illustrate diverging paths in North American immigration policy. For skilled workers weighing their options, the message is clear: while some doors remain firmly shut for now, others are being carefully reshaped to open where demand is greatest.
