The U.S. Department of State has released the August 2026 Visa Bulletin, and for family-sponsored green card applicants, the news is overwhelmingly positive.
The bulletin delivers some of the biggest advances this year for family-sponsored green card applicants.
In contrast, employment-based visas saw far more limited progress, with some categories remaining unavailable for applicants from India because annual visa limits have already been reached.
With only two months remaining in Fiscal Year 2026, this bulletin underscores the diverging fortunes of family-based and employment-based applicants — and carries important filing instructions that every green card hopeful should understand.
Family-Based Categories: Significant Forward Movement
The August bulletin's family-sponsored preference categories saw some of the most encouraging advances in recent memory.
Family-based categories moved forward across several preferences in August. F1 advanced by 5.5 months for most countries, F2B moved ahead 7 months, F3 advanced 3 months, and F4 progressed 3.5 months for most countries and China.
Here is a closer look at each category:
F1 (Unmarried Adult Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens)
For All Areas, China, and India, the Final Action Date advanced to December 15, 2018 — a jump of about 10 months and 2 weeks.
Mexico's cutoff advanced by one month, to December 1, 2007.
The Philippines' final action date didn't change from last month.
On the Dates for Filing chart,
dates for filing for all other countries advanced by roughly six months, to June 15, 2019.
F2A (Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents)
This was the standout category for August.
For most countries, the final action date advanced from January 1, 2025, to July 22, 2026
— a massive leap of approximately 18 months and three weeks.
Mexico also saw significant progress, moving from January 1, 2024, to July 22, 2025.
The F2A Dates for Filing chart remains current worldwide, allowing eligible applicants to continue submitting their applications without waiting for a priority date.
This is especially good news for spouses and young children of green card holders, who can now move through the process with minimal delay.
F2B (Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Permanent Residents, Age 21+)
F2B moved to January 1, 2018, for most countries.
On the Dates for Filing chart, F2B advanced from June 8, 2018, to January 1, 2019, for All Areas, China, and India.
F3 (Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens) and F4 (Siblings of U.S. Citizens)
F3 advanced by one month for most countries on Final Action Dates.
F4's final action date moved to September 1, 2009, for most countries
— an advance of 8 months.
The F4 category has the longest wait times in the family-based system, often stretching beyond 15 to 20 years depending on the country of chargeability.
Employment-Based Categories: Modest at Best
The employment-based side of the August bulletin tells a very different story.
The bulletin reflects only modest forward movement in most employment-based categories, while confirming that demand for employment-based immigrant visas remains exceptionally high.
EB-1 (Priority Workers)
China will advance by one month to July 1, 2023.
India will remain at October 15, 2022.
The EB-1 category remained current for all countries except China and India.
Importantly, the Department of State issued a stark warning:
the EB-1 India date could become unavailable in the coming weeks if demand keeps pace.
EB-2 (Advanced Degree Professionals)
EB-2 India remains unavailable after reaching India's per-country limit for FY 2026.
EB-2 China remains unchanged at September 1, 2021, while EB-2 remains current for all other chargeability areas.
The Department warns that growing demand in the EB-2 category may require additional retrogression or temporary unavailability in upcoming months.
EB-3 (Skilled Workers and Professionals)
China will advance by more than one week to January 1, 2022. India will remain at January 1, 2014. The Philippines will remain at August 1, 2023, and all other countries will advance by one month to September 1, 2024.
EB-5 (Investors)
For the EB-5 Unreserved categories, China will remain at December 1, 2016, and India will remain unavailable. All other countries will remain current. The EB-5 set-aside categories (Rural, High Unemployment, and Infrastructure) will also remain current.
Which Chart Should Applicants Use?
This is a critical detail that applicants must not overlook.
For Adjustment of Status filings in August 2026, USCIS has confirmed that applicants in all employment-based preference categories must use the Final Action Dates chart, while applicants in all family-sponsored preference categories must use the Dates for Filing chart to determine filing eligibility.
Applicants should review the USCIS filing chart guidance each month, as the agency's filing instructions may change.
The distinction between Chart A (Final Action Dates) and Chart B (Dates for Filing) can mean the difference between being able to file your I-485 this month or having to wait.
What This Means for Applicants
The changes are important because the Visa Bulletin determines when applicants can move forward in the green card process. When priority dates advance, more people become eligible to either receive a green card or to submit paperwork toward one.
For family-based applicants, August presents a significant opportunity — particularly those in the F2A category, where the nearly 19-month leap in final action dates could make thousands of additional cases eligible for processing. If your priority date has become current, now is the time to work with your immigration attorney to prepare your adjustment of status application or ensure your consular processing documents are in order.
For employment-based applicants — particularly those from India — the picture remains challenging.
There is optimism for October 2026, when the new fiscal year begins; historically, this resets the annual visa quota and can lead to fresh advancements in priority dates.
Looking Ahead: End-of-Year Risks
DOS cautioned that additional retrogression or temporary unavailability may become necessary before the end of the fiscal year if demand exceeds the remaining visa numbers.
With only two months remaining in fiscal year 2026, applicants will now be watching to see whether the State Department can maintain these advances or whether growing demand forces cut-off dates to move backward again before new visa numbers become available in October.
Applicants who are close to having current priority dates should act quickly and consult with an experienced immigration attorney. The window between now and the September 30 end of the fiscal year is a period of heightened uncertainty, and being prepared to file promptly could make a meaningful difference.
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This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For guidance on your specific immigration case, please consult with a qualified immigration attorney.