The U.S. Department of State published the February 2026 Visa Bulletin on January 5, 2026. This bulletin provides current priority date information for foreign nationals awaiting immigrant visa availability in family-sponsored and employment-based preference categories.
USCIS February 2026 Adjustment of Status Filing Charts
IMPORTANT: Which Chart to Use for February 2026
For Family-Sponsored Filings: For all family-sponsored preference categories, you must use the Dates for Filing chart in the Department of State Visa Bulletin for February 2026.
For Employment-Based Preference Filings: For all employment-based preference categories, you must use the Dates for Filing chart in the Department of State Visa Bulletin for February 2026.
Source: USCIS Adjustment of Status Filing Charts
Understanding the Visa Bulletin
The Visa Bulletin contains two types of charts for each preference category:
Final Action Dates: These dates indicate when visa numbers are available for final processing and issuance. Applicants with priority dates earlier than the Final Action Date may have their cases finalized.
Dates for Filing Applications: These dates indicate when applicants may file their adjustment of status applications with USCIS or submit documentation to the National Visa Center. This chart typically shows dates that are later (more recent) than the Final Action Dates.
Each month, USCIS determines which chart applicants should use for filing adjustment of status applications. For February 2026, USCIS has specified that applicants in both employment-based and family-sponsored categories must use the Dates for Filing chart.
Employment-Based Categories
Final Action Dates for Employment-Based Preference Cases
| Employment-Based | All Areas | CHINA | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | C | 01FEB23 | 01FEB23 | C | C |
| 2nd | 01APR24 | 01SEP21 | 15JUL13 | 01APR24 | 01APR24 |
| 3rd | 01JUN23 | 01MAY21 | 15NOV13 | 01JUN23 | 01JUN23 |
| Other Workers | 01SEP21 | 08DEC18 | 15NOV13 | 01SEP21 | 01SEP21 |
| 4th | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 |
| Certain Religious Workers | U | U | U | U | U |
| 5th Unreserved | C | 15AUG16 | 01MAY22 | C | C |
| 5th Rural | C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th High Unemployment | C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Infrastructure | C | C | C | C | C |
Note: ‘C’ means Current (numbers available to all qualified applicants). ‘U’ means Unavailable (no numbers authorized for issuance).
Dates for Filing Employment-Based Visa Applications
| Employment-Based | All Areas | CHINA | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | C | 01AUG23 | 01AUG23 | C | C |
| 2nd | 15OCT24 | 01JAN22 | 01DEC13 | 15OCT24 | 15OCT24 |
| 3rd | 01OCT23 | 01JAN22 | 15AUG14 | 01OCT23 | 01OCT23 |
| Other Workers | 01DEC21 | 01OCT19 | 15AUG14 | 01DEC21 | 01DEC21 |
| 4th | 15MAR21 | 15MAR21 | 15MAR21 | 15MAR21 | 15MAR21 |
| Certain Religious Workers | U | U | U | U | U |
| 5th Unreserved | C | 22AUG16 | 01MAY24 | C | C |
| 5th Rural | C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th High Unemployment | C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Infrastructure | C | C | C | C | C |
Family-Sponsored Categories
Final Action Dates for Family-Sponsored Preference Class
| Family-Sponsored | All Areas | CHINA | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | 08NOV16 | 08NOV16 | 08NOV16 | 22DEC06 | 01MAR13 |
| F2A | 01FEB24 | 01FEB24 | 01FEB24 | 01FEB23 | 01FEB24 |
| F2B | 01DEC16 | 01DEC16 | 01DEC16 | 15FEB09 | 22DEC12 |
| F3 | 08SEP11 | 08SEP11 | 08SEP11 | 01MAY01 | 01MAR05 |
| F4 | 08JAN08 | 08JAN08 | 01NOV06 | 08APR01 | 22JUL06 |
Dates for Filing Family-Sponsored Visa Applications
| Family-Sponsored | All Areas | CHINA | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | 01SEP17 | 01SEP17 | 01SEP17 | 01DEC07 | 22APR15 |
| F2A | 22JAN26 | 22JAN26 | 22JAN26 | 22JAN26 | 22JAN26 |
| F2B | 15MAR17 | 15MAR17 | 15MAR17 | 15FEB10 | 01OCT13 |
| F3 | 22JUL12 | 22JUL12 | 22JUL12 | 01JUL01 | 01FEB06 |
| F4 | 01MAR09 | 01MAR09 | 15DEC06 | 30APR01 | 15JAN08 |
Diversity Visa Program
For February 2026, immigrant numbers in the DV category are available to qualified DV-2026 applicants with rank numbers below the specified cutoffs:
| Region | All DV Areas | Exceptions |
|---|---|---|
| AFRICA | 45,000 | Algeria: 37,000 Egypt: 21,000 |
| ASIA | 30,000 | Nepal: 6,500 |
| EUROPE | 11,000 | |
| NORTH AMERICA (BAHAMAS) | 25 | |
| OCEANIA | 1,175 | |
| SOUTH AMERICA, and the CARIBBEAN | 2,000 |
Important: The year of entitlement for all DV-2026 applicants ends September 30, 2026. Visas may not be issued after that date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is a priority date?
A: A priority date is the date when your immigrant visa petition (Form I-130 or Form I-140) was filed with USCIS. This date determines your place in line for an immigrant visa number.
Q: How do I know if my priority date is current?
A: Your priority date is current if it is earlier than the date listed in the applicable chart. For February 2026, you should check the Dates for Filing chart, as USCIS has specified this is the chart to use for adjustment of status applications.
Q: What does ‘C’ mean in the visa bulletin?
A: ‘C’ stands for Current, meaning that visa numbers are immediately available for all qualified applicants in that category, regardless of priority date.
Q: What does ‘U’ mean in the visa bulletin?
A: ‘U’ stands for Unavailable, meaning that no visa numbers are currently authorized for issuance in that category.
Q: Why are there different dates for different countries?
A: U.S. immigration law limits the number of immigrant visas that can be issued to nationals of any single country to 7% of the total annual allocation. Countries with high demand (China, India, Mexico, and the Philippines) often experience longer wait times due to these per-country limits.
Q: What is the difference between Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing?
A: Final Action Dates indicate when visa numbers are available for final case processing. Dates for Filing indicate when you can file your adjustment of status application, even if final processing cannot yet occur. USCIS determines each month which chart applicants should use.
Q: Can my spouse and children immigrate with me?
A: Yes. Spouses and unmarried children under 21 are considered derivative beneficiaries and are entitled to the same priority date and category as the principal applicant. They may accompany or follow to join the principal applicant.
Q: What should I do if my priority date becomes current?
A: If you are applying for adjustment of status in the United States, you may file Form I-485 with USCIS. If you are processing through a U.S. consulate abroad, the National Visa Center will contact you with instructions to submit your documentation. We recommend consulting with an immigration attorney to ensure all requirements are met.
Q: Why is the EB-4 Certain Religious Workers category showing ‘U’ for February 2026?
A: The EB-4 Certain Religious Workers program expired on January 30, 2026. Unless Congress passes legislation to extend this program, no additional visa numbers are available in this category.
Q: How often does the Visa Bulletin change?
A: The U.S. Department of State publishes a new Visa Bulletin each month, typically around the middle of the month, showing dates for the following month. Priority dates can move forward, remain the same, or occasionally retrogress (move backward).
Need Assistance?
Understanding the Visa Bulletin and determining your eligibility to file can be complex. The attorneys at Ahluwalia Law Offices regularly assist clients with adjustment of status applications, consular processing, and visa bulletin analysis. We help clients understand their priority dates, prepare comprehensive applications, and navigate the green card process.
For personalized guidance regarding your specific immigration matter, we encourage you to schedule a consultation with our office to discuss your case and develop an appropriate strategy.
