August 2026 Visa Bulletin: Modest Movement for Employment-Based Final Action Dates, Big Wins for Family-Sponsored Categories

We are pleased to report that the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs has published the August 2026 Visa Bulletin.

In this blog post, we breakdown the movement of the employment-based and family-sponsored categories in the coming month.

Adjustment of Status Chart

For adjustment of status filings to permanent residence in the month of August, USCIS will continue using the Dates for Filing Chart for family-sponsored categories only.

For employment-based categories, USCIS will also continue using the Final Action Dates Chart.

Highlights of the August 2026 Visa Bulletin

At a Glance

What can we expect to see in the month of August?

Employment-Based Categories

Final Action Advancements

EB-1 Aliens of extraordinary ability, Outstanding Professors and Researchers, and Certain Multinational Managers or Executives

EB-1 China will advance 1 month to July 1, 2023
Except for India, all other countries will remain current

EB-1 India Visa Bulletin Note: High demand and number use by those chargeable to India in the EB-1 visa category may require making the category unavailable in the coming weeks

EB-2 Members of the Professions and Aliens of Exceptional Ability

EB-2 India remains unavailable
Except for China, all other countries will remain current

EB-2 Visa Bulletin Note: Sufficient demand and increased number use in the EB-2 visa category may make it necessary to retrogress the final action date or make the category unavailable in the coming months

EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers

EB-3 China will advance 10 days to January 1, 2022
Worldwide and Mexico will advance 1 month to September 1, 2024

EB-3 Other Workers

EB-3 China will advance 1 month to May 1, 2019
Worldwide, Mexico will advance 1 month to April 1, 2022

EB-4 Special Immigrants and Religious Workers

All countries will advance 1 month to October 15, 2022

EB-5 Unreserved Categories (C5, T5, I5, and R5)

EB-5 India remains unavailable

Dates for Filing Advancements

EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers

EB-3 China will advance by 7 days to January 8, 2022

Family-Sponsored Categories

Final Action Advancements

F-1 Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens

F1 Mexico will advance 3.3 weeks to December 1, 2007
(Worldwide, China, and India) will advance 10.4 months to December 15, 2018

F-2A Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents

F2A Mexico will advance by 1 year 6.7 months to July 22, 2025
F2A All other countries will advance by 1 year 6.6 months to July 22, 2026

F-2B Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents

F2B Philippines will advance by 2.4 weeks to June 1, 2013
(Worldwide, China, India) will advance 1.3 months to January 1, 2018

F3 Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens

(Worldwide, China, India) will advance 1 month to May 15, 2012

F-4 Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens

(Worldwide and China) will advance 8 months to September 1, 2009

Dates for Filing Advancements

F-1 Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens

F1 Mexico will advance 2 months to December 1, 2008
(Worldwide, China, India) will advance 5.4 months to June 15, 2019

F-2A Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents

All countries will remain current

F-2B Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents

(Worldwide, China, India) will advance 6.8 months to January 1, 2019

F3 Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens

(Worldwide, China, India) will advance 2.7 months to March 1, 2013

F-4 Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens

(Worldwide and China) will advance 3.7 months to June 22, 2010

Now let’s dive into our analysis

Employment-Based Categories

FINAL ACTION DATES FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES

The following Final Action cutoff dates will apply for employment-based categories in the month of August.

EB-1 Aliens of extraordinary ability, Outstanding Professors and Researchers, and Certain Multinational Managers or Executives

EB-1 China will advance 1 month to July 1, 2023
EB-1 India will remain at October 15, 2022
All other countries will remain current

EB-2 Members of the Professions and Aliens of Exceptional Ability

EB-2 India remains unavailable
EB-2 China will remain at September 1, 2021
All other countries (Worldwide, Mexico, Philippines) will remain current

EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers

EB-3 India will remain at January 1, 2014
EB-3 China will advance 10 days to January 1, 2022
EB-3 Philippines will remain at August 1, 2023
All other countries (Worldwide and Mexico) will advance 1 month to September 1, 2024

EB-3 Other Workers

EB-3 India will remain at January 1, 2014
EB-3 China will advance 1 month to May 1, 2019
EB-3 Philippines will remain at December 1, 2021
All other countries (Worldwide, Mexico) will advance 1 month to April 1, 2022

EB-4 Special Immigrants and Religious Workers

All countries will advance 1 month to October 15, 2022

EB-5 Unreserved Categories (C5, T5, I5, and R5)

EB-5 India remains unavailable
EB-5 China will remain at December 1, 2016
All other countries will remain current

EB-5 Set-Aside Categories (Rural, High Unemployment, and Infrastructure) will remain current

*The bold represents the Visa Bulletin advancements

Employment- based	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA- mainland born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
1st	C	01JUL23	15OCT22	C	C
2nd	C	01SEP21	U	C	C
3rd	01SEP24	01JAN22	01JAN14	01SEP24	01AUG23
Other Workers	01APR22	01MAY19	01JAN14	01APR22	01DEC21
4th	15OCT22	15OCT22	15OCT22	15OCT22	15OCT22
Certain Religious Workers	15OCT22	15OCT22	15OCT22	15OCT22	15OCT22
5th Unreserved (including C5, T5, I5, R5, NU, RU)	C	01DEC16	U	C	C
5th Set Aside: Rural (20%, including NR, RR)	C	C	C	C	C
5th Set Aside: High Unemployment (10%, including NH, RH)	C	C	C	C	C
5th Set Aside: Infrastructure (2%, including RI)	C	C	C	C	C

DATES FOR FILING FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES

The following Dates for Filing cutoff dates will apply in August.

*Except for EB-3 China, this chart remains unchanged since the May Visa Bulletin.

EB-1 Aliens of extraordinary ability, Outstanding Professors and Researchers, and Certain Multinational Managers or Executives

EB-1 India and China will remain at December 1, 2023
All other countries will remain current

EB-2 Members of the Professions and Aliens of Exceptional Ability

EB-2 India will remain at January 15, 2015
EB-2 China will remain at January 1, 2022
All other countries will remain current

EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers

EB-3 India will remain at January 15, 2015
EB-3 China will advance by 7 days to January 8, 2022
EB-3 Philippines will remain at January 1, 2024
All other countries (Worldwide and Mexico) will remain current

EB-3 Other Workers

EB-3 India will remain at January 15, 2015
EB-3 China will remain at October 1, 2019
All other countries (Worldwide, Mexico, and Philippines) will remain at August 1, 2022

EB-4 Special Immigrants and Religious Workers

EB-4 will remain at January 1, 2023

EB-5 Unreserved Categories (C5, T5, I5, and R5)

EB-5 India will remain at May 1, 2024
EB-5 China will remain at March 1, 2017
All other countries will remain current

EB-5 Set-Aside Categories (Rural, High Unemployment, and Infrastructure) will also remain current

*The bold represents the Visa Bulletin advancements

Employment- based	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA- mainland born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
1st	C	01DEC23	01DEC23	C	C
2nd	C	01JAN22	15JAN15	C	C
3rd	C	08JAN22	15JAN15	C	01JAN24
Other Workers	01AUG22	01OCT19	15JAN15	01AUG22	01AUG22
4th	01JAN23	01JAN23	01JAN23	01JAN23	01JAN23
Certain Religious Workers	01JAN23	01JAN23	01JAN23	01JAN23	01JAN23
5th Unreserved (including C5, T5, I5, R5)	C	01MAR17	01MAY24	C	C
5th Set Aside: (Rural: NR, RR – 20%)	C	C	C	C	C
5th Set Aside: (High Unemployment: NH, RH – 10%)	C	C	C	C	C
5th Set Aside: (Infrastructure: RI – 2%)	C	C	C	C	C

FINAL ACTION DATES FOR FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCE CASES

The following Final Action cutoff dates will apply for family-sponsored categories in the month of August.

F-1 Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens

F1 Mexico will advance 3.3 weeks to December 1, 2007
F1 Philippines will remain at May 1, 2013
(Worldwide, China, and India) will advance 10.4 months to December 15, 2018

F-2A Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents

F2A Mexico will advance by 1 year 6.7 months to July 22, 2025
F2A All other countries will advance by 1 year 6.6 months to July 22, 2026

F-2B Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents

F2B Mexico will remain at February 15, 2009
F2B Philippines will advance by 2.4 weeks to June 1, 2013
(Worldwide, China, India) will advance 1.3 months to January 1, 2018

F3 Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens

F3 Mexico will remain at June 1, 2001
F3 Philippines will remain at February 22, 2006
(Worldwide, China, India) will advance 1 month to May 15, 2012

F-4 Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens

F4 Mexico will remain at April 8, 2001
F4 Philippines will remain at August 1, 2007
F4 India will remain at November 1, 2006
(Worldwide and China) will advance 8 months to September 1, 2009

*The bold represents the Visa Bulletin advancements

Family- Sponsored	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA-mainland born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
F1	15DEC18	15DEC18	15DEC18	01DEC07	01MAY13
F2A	22JUL26	22JUL26	22JUL26	22JUL25	22JUL26
F2B	01JAN18	01JAN18	01JAN18	15FEB09	01JUN13
F3	15MAY12	15MAY12	15MAY12	01JUL01	22FEB06
F4	01SEP09	01SEP09	01NOV06	08APR01	01AUG07

DATES FOR FILING FOR FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCE CASES

The following Dates for Filing cutoff dates will apply for family-sponsored categories in the month of August.

F-1 Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens

F1 Mexico will advance 2 months to December 1, 2008
F1 Philippines will remain at April 22, 2015
(Worldwide, China, India) will advance 5.4 months to June 15, 2019

F-2A Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents

All countries will remain current

F-2B Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents

F2B Mexico will remain at May 15, 2010
F2B Philippines will remain at October 1, 2013
(Worldwide, China, India) will advance 6.8 months to January 1, 2019

F3 Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens

F3 Mexico will remain at July 15, 2001
F3 Philippines will remain at August 8, 2006
(Worldwide, China, India) will advance 2.7 months to March 1, 2013

F-4 Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens

F4 Mexico will remain at April 30, 2001
F4 Philippines will remain at March 22, 2008
F4 India will remain at December 15, 2006
(Worldwide and China) will advance 3.7 months to June 22, 2010

*The bold represents the Visa Bulletin advancements

Family- Sponsored	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA- mainland born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
F1	15JUN19	15JUN19	15JUN19	01DEC08	22APR15
F2A	C	C	C	C	C
F2B	01JAN19	01JAN19	01JAN19	15MAY10	01OCT13
F3	01MAR13	01MAR13	01MAR13	15JUL01	08AUG06
F4	22JUN10	22JUN10	15DEC06	30APR01	22MAR08

The Bottom Line

The largest employment-based Final Action Date advancements are one month for EB-3 Worldwide and Mexico, EB-1 China, EB-3 Other Workers Worldwide, Mexico, and China, and all EB-4 countries. The employment-based Dates for Filing chart shows no significant advancement.

The largest Family-Sponsored Final Action Date movement is in F-2A, advancing approximately 18.6 months for most countries and 18.7 months for Mexico. Other major advancements include F-1 Worldwide, China, and India moving forward 10.4 months and F-4 Worldwide and China advancing eight months.

In the Family-Sponsored Dates for Filing chart, the largest movements are F-2B Worldwide, China, and India advancing 6.8 months and F-1 Worldwide, China, and India advancing 5.4 months.

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