U.S. Visa Bulletin August 2026: Green Card Priority Dates Explained
The U.S. Visa Bulletin is one of the most important monthly resources for people waiting for an employment-based or family-sponsored immigrant visa or a U.S. green card.
The August 2026 Visa Bulletin shows when immigrant visa numbers are available in different preference categories and countries. It includes two important sets of dates:
Final Action Dates
Dates for Filing Applications
These dates help applicants understand whether their priority date is current and, depending on the applicant's situation, whether they may be able to move forward with the next stage of the immigration process.
The Visa Bulletin is issued by the U.S. Department of State, while USCIS separately determines which chart adjustment-of-status applicants should use when filing Form I-485.
Important: Visa Bulletin dates can change from month to month. Always check the latest official Department of State and USCIS information before taking action on an immigration case.
What Is the U.S. Visa Bulletin?
The Visa Bulletin is a monthly publication from the U.S. Department of State that provides information about immigrant visa availability.
It primarily covers numerically limited:
Family-sponsored preference visas
Employment-based preference visas
Diversity visas
The August 2026 bulletin explains the availability of immigrant visa numbers during August and provides both Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing Applications.
The official August 2026 bulletin was issued by the Department of State on July 15, 2026.
What Is a Priority Date?
A priority date is generally the date used to establish an applicant's place in the immigrant visa queue.
For many family-sponsored and employment-based cases, the priority date is connected to the date a qualifying immigrant petition was properly filed.
The priority date is important because applicants generally compare it with the applicable date in the Visa Bulletin.
For example, if a category has a Final Action Date of January 1, 2020, an applicant whose priority date is earlier than that date may have a visa number available, subject to the other requirements of the case.
A priority date being current does not by itself guarantee approval of a green card or immigrant visa.
Final Action Date vs. Dates for Filing
These two terms are easy to confuse.
Final Action Date
The Final Action Date is generally used to determine when an immigrant visa number may be authorized for issuance or when a case may be approved, subject to the applicable procedure and all other eligibility requirements.
The Department of State explains that numbers are generally authorized for applicants whose priority dates are earlier than the listed Final Action Date.
Dates for Filing
The Dates for Filing chart is generally an earlier-stage filing chart.
For consular processing, it can indicate when an applicant may begin submitting required documentation to the National Visa Center after receiving the appropriate notification.
For adjustment of status cases, however, applicants must follow the chart that USCIS designates for that particular month.
The Department of State specifically directs applicants to USCIS for the determination of which chart may be used for adjustment-of-status filings.
What Does "C" Mean?
In the Visa Bulletin, C means Current.
When a category is listed as current, immigrant visa numbers are available to qualified applicants in that category without a listed priority-date cutoff.
However, the applicant must still satisfy all other immigration requirements.
What Does "U" Mean?
U means Unauthorized.
This means immigrant visa numbers are not currently authorized for that category and country.
A category can become unavailable when the applicable annual or country-specific limit has been reached.
August 2026 Family-Sponsored Final Action Dates
The August 2026 Final Action Dates for family-sponsored preference categories are:
| Category | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | 15 Dec 2018 | 15 Dec 2018 | 15 Dec 2018 | 1 Dec 2007 | 1 May 2013 |
| F2A | 22 Jul 2026 | 22 Jul 2026 | 22 Jul 2026 | 22 Jul 2025 | 22 Jul 2026 |
| F2B | 1 Jan 2018 | 1 Jan 2018 | 1 Jan 2018 | 15 Feb 2009 | 1 Jun 2013 |
| F3 | 15 May 2012 | 15 May 2012 | 15 May 2012 | 1 Jul 2001 | 22 Feb 2006 |
| F4 | 1 Sep 2009 | 1 Sep 2009 | 1 Nov 2006 | 8 Apr 2001 | 1 Aug 2007 |
These dates are taken from the official August 2026 Department of State Visa Bulletin.
What Are the Family-Sponsored Categories?
F1: Unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens.
F2A: Spouses and children of lawful permanent residents.
F2B: Unmarried sons and daughters age 21 or older of lawful permanent residents.
F3: Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens.
F4: Brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens.
August 2026 Family-Sponsored Dates for Filing
The August 2026 Dates for Filing chart is:
| Category | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | 15 Jun 2019 | 15 Jun 2019 | 15 Jun 2019 | 1 Dec 2008 | 22 Apr 2015 |
| F2A | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| F2B | 1 Jan 2019 | 1 Jan 2019 | 1 Jan 2019 | 15 May 2010 | 1 Oct 2013 |
| F3 | 1 Mar 2013 | 1 Mar 2013 | 1 Mar 2013 | 15 Jul 2001 | 8 Aug 2006 |
| F4 | 22 Jun 2010 | 22 Jun 2010 | 15 Dec 2006 | 30 Apr 2001 | 22 Mar 2008 |
The Department of State lists these dates for August 2026 and explains that applicants with priority dates earlier than the applicable filing date may, where the applicable process permits, begin submitting required documentation.
Important USCIS Update for August 2026
This is especially important for people inside the United States who are considering Adjustment of Status.
For August 2026, USCIS states that applicants in all family-sponsored preference categories must use the Dates for Filing chart from the Department of State Visa Bulletin when determining whether they may file their adjustment-of-status applications.
This does not mean that every person with a date on the filing chart will automatically receive a green card.
Applicants must still satisfy the legal requirements for adjustment of status and all other applicable requirements.
August 2026 Employment-Based Final Action Dates
The August 2026 employment-based Final Action Dates are:
| Category | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | Current | 1 Jul 2023 | 15 Oct 2022 | Current | Current |
| EB-2 | Current | 1 Sep 2021 | U | Current | Current |
| EB-3 | 1 Sep 2024 | 1 Jan 2022 | 1 Jan 2014 | 1 Sep 2024 | 1 Aug 2023 |
| EB-3 Other Workers | 1 Apr 2022 | 1 May 2019 | 1 Jan 2014 | 1 Apr 2022 | 1 Dec 2021 |
| EB-4 | 15 Oct 2022 | 15 Oct 2022 | 15 Oct 2022 | 15 Oct 2022 | 15 Oct 2022 |
| Certain Religious Workers | 15 Oct 2022 | 15 Oct 2022 | 15 Oct 2022 | 15 Oct 2022 | 15 Oct 2022 |
| EB-5 Unreserved | Current | 1 Dec 2016 | U | Current | Current |
| EB-5 Rural Set-Aside | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| EB-5 High-Unemployment Set-Aside | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| EB-5 Infrastructure Set-Aside | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
The figures above come directly from the August 2026 Visa Bulletin.
What Does "U" Mean for India's EB-2 Category?
For August 2026, India's EB-2 Final Action Date is listed as U, meaning immigrant visa numbers are not authorized for that category at that time.
The Department of State also issued a separate notice explaining that all available FY2026 EB-2 immigrant visas for applicants chargeable to India had been used.
The State Department stated that the annual limits would reset with the beginning of FY2027 on October 1, 2026, after which visa issuance may resume for qualified applicants, subject to visa availability and the applicable rules.
This is an important distinction:
A category being unavailable in August does not necessarily mean that the underlying immigration category has been permanently eliminated.
Visa availability is affected by annual numerical limits and demand.
August 2026 Employment-Based Dates for Filing
The August 2026 Dates for Filing chart provides the following dates:
| Category | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | Current | 1 Dec 2023 | 1 Dec 2023 | Current | Current |
| EB-2 | Current | 1 Jan 2022 | 15 Jan 2015 | Current | Current |
| EB-3 | Current | 8 Jan 2022 | 15 Jan 2015 | Current | 1 Jan 2024 |
| EB-3 Other Workers | 1 Aug 2022 | 1 Oct 2019 | 15 Jan 2015 | 1 Aug 2022 | 1 Aug 2022 |
| EB-4 | 1 Jan 2023 | 1 Jan 2023 | 1 Jan 2023 | 1 Jan 2023 | 1 Jan 2023 |
| Certain Religious Workers | 1 Jan 2023 | 1 Jan 2023 | 1 Jan 2023 | 1 Jan 2023 | 1 Jan 2023 |
| EB-5 Unreserved | Current | 1 Mar 2017 | 1 May 2024 | Current | Current |
| EB-5 Rural Set-Aside | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| EB-5 High-Unemployment Set-Aside | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| EB-5 Infrastructure Set-Aside | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
These are the August 2026 Dates for Filing published by the Department of State.
What Are EB-1, EB-2 and EB-3?
EB-1
EB-1 is the employment-based first preference category.
It includes certain:
Priority workers
Persons of extraordinary ability
Outstanding professors and researchers
Certain multinational executives and managers
EB-2
EB-2 generally covers certain members of the professions holding advanced degrees and certain persons of exceptional ability.
EB-3
EB-3 generally covers:
Skilled workers
Professionals
Certain other workers
The exact eligibility requirements are governed by U.S. immigration law and the particular employment-based classification.
How Do You Check Your Priority Date?
Suppose your immigration documents show a priority date of June 10, 2019.
You would first identify:
Your preference category
Your country of chargeability
The appropriate Visa Bulletin chart
Your priority date
You then compare your priority date with the applicable cutoff date.
For example, if the relevant cutoff date is January 1, 2019, a priority date of June 10, 2019 would not be earlier than the cutoff.
If the category is listed as Current, there is no cutoff date for that category.
However, being current does not eliminate other immigration requirements.
Country of Chargeability Matters
Visa Bulletin calculations are not always based simply on citizenship.
Country-of-chargeability rules can affect which column applies to a case.
The August 2026 bulletin identifies several oversubscribed chargeability areas, including China-mainland born, India, Mexico and the Philippines.
Therefore, applicants should not assume that the country listed on their passport automatically determines the Visa Bulletin column that applies to them.
What Happens If Your Priority Date Becomes Current?
If your priority date becomes current, the next step depends on the type of immigration case.
For example, a person may be:
Processing an immigrant visa through a U.S. consulate
Applying for adjustment of status inside the United States
Waiting for USCIS action on an already filed application
Waiting for a visa number to become available
A current priority date does not automatically mean the applicant will receive a green card.
The applicant must still satisfy the applicable immigration requirements.
Adjustment of Status vs. Consular Processing
Adjustment of Status
Adjustment of status is generally used by eligible individuals who are already in the United States and seek to become lawful permanent residents without leaving the country for immigrant visa processing abroad.
USCIS determines which Visa Bulletin chart adjustment-of-status applicants should use for filing in a particular month.
Consular Processing
Consular processing generally involves applying for an immigrant visa through a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad.
For numerically limited immigrant visa categories, the National Visa Center and the Department of State use the Visa Bulletin to determine visa availability.
The State Department explains that an immigrant visa interview generally requires the priority date to be current under the applicable Final Action Date.
Does the Visa Bulletin Guarantee a Green Card?
No.
The Visa Bulletin only addresses visa-number availability.
A person may have a current priority date and still have issues involving:
Petition eligibility
Adjustment-of-status eligibility
Consular processing
Inadmissibility
Documentation
Background checks
Medical examination requirements
Other immigration requirements
Therefore:
Current priority date ≠ automatic green card approval.
Can Visa Bulletin Dates Move Backward?
Yes.
This is known as retrogression.
Retrogression occurs when demand for immigrant visa numbers becomes greater than the available supply.
A date that moves forward in one month can later move backward.
The Department of State specifically warns that retrogression may become necessary as additional demand develops and that categories can become unavailable if applicable annual limits are reached.
Important August 2026 Warning About Future Date Changes
The August 2026 Visa Bulletin states that increased demand could require changes to Final Action Dates and that some categories could become unavailable before the end of the fiscal year.
For example, the Department of State warned that high demand could affect India's EB-1 availability and that increased EB-2 demand could require retrogression or other availability changes.
Therefore, applicants should not assume that an August 2026 date will remain unchanged in September or later months.
Diversity Visa Information for August 2026
The August 2026 Visa Bulletin also provides Diversity Visa cut-off numbers for DV-2026.
For August, the published regional cut-offs include:
Africa: 60,000
Algeria: 51,250
Egypt: 36,000
Asia: 40,000
Nepal: 13,500
Europe: 29,000
Oceania: 2,050
South America and the Caribbean: 4,000
North America (Bahamas): Current
The Department of State states that DV-2026 eligibility ends on September 30, 2026, and DV visas cannot be issued after that date under the DV-2026 program.
Simple Example
Imagine an applicant from India has an employment-based immigration case in EB-3 with a priority date of January 1, 2014.
For August 2026, the India EB-3 Final Action Date is January 1, 2014.
Because Visa Bulletin rules generally require the priority date to be earlier than the listed Final Action Date, the exact priority date and applicable rules must be carefully checked rather than assuming that a date equal to the cutoff is automatically current.
This is why applicants should read the Visa Bulletin carefully and, when necessary, obtain qualified immigration advice.
What Should You Do Every Month?
If you are waiting for a family-sponsored or employment-based immigrant visa, consider checking:
Your priority date
Your preference category
Your country of chargeability
The latest Final Action Date
The latest Dates for Filing
USCIS's current adjustment-of-status filing-chart decision
Any new State Department or USCIS announcement affecting your category
Do not rely on an old screenshot or an outdated blog post.
The Visa Bulletin is updated monthly.
August 2026 Key Takeaways
The most important points are:
The Department of State has published the August 2026 Visa Bulletin.
The bulletin contains both Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing.
USCIS determines which chart adjustment-of-status applicants should use.
For August 2026, USCIS states that family-sponsored preference applicants should use the Dates for Filing chart.
India's EB-2 category is listed as Unavailable (U) for August Final Action purposes.
The State Department separately announced that India's FY2026 EB-2 annual allocation had already been reached.
The FY2027 annual limits reset on October 1, 2026.
Visa Bulletin dates can move forward, remain unchanged, retrogress or become unavailable.
A current priority date does not guarantee a green card.
Applicants should always verify the latest official information before filing or making important immigration decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the August 2026 Visa Bulletin?
It is the Department of State's monthly publication showing immigrant visa availability for August 2026, including family-sponsored, employment-based and diversity visa information.
What is a priority date?
A priority date generally establishes an applicant's place in the immigrant visa queue and is compared with the applicable Visa Bulletin date.
What is a Final Action Date?
It is the date used to determine visa-number availability for final action, subject to the applicable immigration process and other legal requirements.
What are Dates for Filing?
They are dates that can allow eligible applicants to begin the document-filing process earlier than the Final Action Date. The rules differ depending on whether the applicant is processing through a consulate or applying for adjustment of status.
Can I use the Dates for Filing chart for Form I-485?
For August 2026, USCIS states that all family-sponsored preference categories may use the Dates for Filing chart for adjustment-of-status filing purposes. Employment-based applicants should check the USCIS August 2026 guidance for the chart applicable to their category.
Is India's EB-2 category available in August 2026?
The August 2026 Final Action chart lists India's EB-2 category as U, meaning visa numbers are not authorized for that category at that time. The State Department separately announced that India's FY2026 EB-2 allocation had been reached.
Will India's EB-2 category become available again?
The State Department said the annual limits reset with the beginning of FY2027 on October 1, 2026, after which visa issuance may resume for qualified applicants, subject to availability and applicable law.
Can Visa Bulletin dates go backward?
Yes. This is called retrogression and can happen when demand increases or annual visa limits become constrained.
Does a current priority date guarantee a green card?
No. Visa availability is only one part of the immigration process. Applicants must satisfy all applicable eligibility and admissibility requirements.
Conclusion
The August 2026 Visa Bulletin is an important resource for people waiting for family-sponsored or employment-based immigrant visas and green cards.
The most important thing is to understand the difference between Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing, and to use the chart that applies to your particular immigration process.
Applicants should also remember that Visa Bulletin dates are not permanent. They can move forward, remain unchanged, retrogress or become unavailable depending on demand and annual numerical limits.
For that reason, checking the official Department of State Visa Bulletin and USCIS guidance each month is safer than relying on an older article, social-media post or unofficial chart.
Official Government Sources
U.S. Department of State — August 2026 Visa Bulletin
Official August 2026 Visa Bulletin — U.S. Department of State
USCIS — August 2026 Adjustment of Status Filing Charts
USCIS August 2026 Filing Chart Guidance
USCIS — Adjustment of Status Filing Charts
USCIS Adjustment of Status Filing Charts from the Visa Bulletin
U.S. Department of State — India EB-2 FY2026 Limit
India Per-Country Limit Reached in the EB-2 Category
U.S. Department of State — Immigrant Visa Scheduling Information
Immigrant Visa Scheduling Status Tool
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