If your spouse or parent is a U.S. permanent resident and you have been waiting to file for your green card, the April 2026 Visa Bulletin may have just opened a significant window for you. The F2A category, which covers spouses and unmarried children under 21 of lawful permanent residents, is listed as current in the Dates for Filing chart this month. At Ahluwalia Law Offices, PC, we are advising eligible clients to evaluate their position right now.
What F2A Current Means in Plain Terms
The Visa Bulletin operates on two charts. The Final Action Date chart controls when a green card can actually be approved and issued. The Dates for Filing chart controls when an applicant can submit their I-485 Adjustment of Status application in advance, even before a visa number is technically available. When a category is listed as current in the Dates for Filing chart, it means any qualified applicant in that category can file regardless of their priority date.
For April 2026, F2A is current across all countries in the Dates for Filing chart. That includes applicants from India, China, Mexico, the Philippines, and every other country of chargeability. There is no priority date cutoff holding you back this month if USCIS authorizes use of that chart.
Always verify at www.uscis.gov/visabulletininfo whether USCIS has authorized the Dates for Filing chart before submitting any application.
Who This Applies To
This window is specifically for F2A beneficiaries: spouses of lawful permanent residents and unmarried children under the age of 21 of lawful permanent residents. If the sponsoring family member has already filed a Form I-130 petition on your behalf and that petition has been approved or is pending, you may be in a position to file I-485 this month depending on your specific circumstances.
This does not apply to F2B beneficiaries, which covers unmarried sons and daughters aged 21 and older of permanent residents. That category has its own separate date and is not current this month.
Why This Window May Not Last
The April 2026 Visa Bulletin includes an explicit caution from the Department of State: dates across multiple immigrant visa categories were advanced partly because visa issuance rates have slowed for certain countries under current administration policies. The bulletin directly flags that retrogression, meaning dates moving backward, may be necessary later in FY2026 as demand patterns shift. A current date today is not guaranteed to remain current next month.
Additionally, USCIS must independently authorize use of the Dates for Filing chart each month. That authorization is not automatic and must be confirmed before any filing is submitted.
The Time to Act Is Now
If you or a family member qualifies under F2A and has not yet filed, this is the month to have that conversation with an immigration attorney. The combination of current status, EAD eligibility, and Advance Parole access represents meaningful protection and flexibility for families navigating the permanent residency process.
