What changed in the latest Visa Bulletin — and why priority dates matter
The Visa Bulletin is the monthly “availability map” for U.S. immigrant visas in numerically limited categories. If you’re in a family preference (F1–F4) or employment preference (EB-1–EB-5), your priority date becomes “current” only when it is earlier than the published cut-off date for your category and country of chargeability. That is the moment a visa number is considered available for a final decision (or, depending on the process, for filing).
February 2026 is a classic “mostly stable” month — with one clear employment-based highlight: EB-3 moved forward for most countries (Final Action + Dates for Filing), while EB-4 Certain Religious Workers (SR) is listed as Unavailable due to program expiration language in the bulletin.
Quick definition (so the tables make sense)
- Final Action Dates = when an immigrant visa can be issued (consular processing) or a green card can be approved (AOS) if otherwise eligible.
- Dates for Filing = when applicants may begin submitting documents to NVC (consular) and, if USCIS allows for that month, when AOS filings can be submitted.
- C = current (no cut-off). U = unavailable (no numbers authorized).
- Dates are shown in dd-mmm-yy format in the official bulletin.
Largest employment shift
EB-3 (ROW/MX/PH) advanced
Largest constraint
EB-4 SR: Unavailable
Family-based movement
Mostly Mexico-only
On-page navigation
Official table logic (plain English): a listed cut-off date means the category is oversubscribed, and numbers are authorized only for applicants with priority dates earlier than that date; “C” means current; “U” means unauthorized.
Employment-based priority dates (EB) — what moved in February 2026
The February 2026 bulletin keeps most employment cut-offs steady — but it creates a clearer window in EB-3 for All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed (often called “Rest of World” or ROW), plus Mexico and Philippines.
Note: China-mainland and India EB-3 cut-offs did not move in February 2026 (based on the official tables).
Final Action Dates (employment-based) — changes from January → February 2026
| Category / country group | January 2026 | February 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| EB-3 (ROW / Mexico / Philippines) | 22APR23 | 01JUN23 | Forward (~40 days) |
| EB-3 (China-mainland) | 01MAY21 | 01MAY21 | No change |
| EB-3 (India) | 15NOV13 | 15NOV13 | No change |
| EB-4 Certain Religious Workers (SR) | 01JAN21 | U | Availability stopped |
“ROW” here corresponds to the bulletin’s “All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed” column — i.e., applicants not chargeable to China-mainland, India, Mexico, or Philippines.
Dates for Filing (employment-based) — why February matters even if Final Action is behind
For many applicants, the filing chart is the practical “action” line: it determines when consular applicants can move their case to document submission at NVC, and it may also control whether an AOS filing window exists if USCIS chooses the filing chart for that month. February 2026 keeps EB-1 and EB-2 filing cut-offs stable — but EB-3 filing moved by three months for ROW/MX/PH.
| Category / country group | January 2026 | February 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| EB-3 (ROW / Mexico / Philippines) | 01JUL23 | 01OCT23 | Forward (~92 days) |
| EB-4 Certain Religious Workers (SR) | 15MAR21 | U | Unavailable |
Chart — EB-3 (ROW/MX/PH) forward movement in February 2026 (days)
Chart fallback (data summary): EB-3 Final Action advanced ~40 days (22APR23 → 01JUN23); EB-3 Dates for Filing advanced ~92 days (01JUL23 → 01OCT23).
What the EB-4 “SR Unavailable” line means (in plain terms)
In February 2026, the bulletin lists EB-4 Certain Religious Workers (SR) as U (Unavailable) for all countries and explains that the category is tied to time-limited legislative authorization. In practice, “U” means visa numbers cannot be issued and final action cannot be taken in that subcategory unless and until it becomes available again through legislative extension (as described in the bulletin’s note).
- EB-4 (non-SR) remains date-based and continues to be processed under the standard EB-4 cut-offs.
- SR is treated separately in the table and can switch to U when the program authorization lapses.
Family-based priority dates — February 2026 changes are modest (and mostly Mexico-specific)
Family preference categories typically move in smaller increments because demand patterns can be dense and predictable. In February 2026, the bulletin shows limited movement in the family tables, with the most visible forward shifts appearing in Mexico F1 and Mexico F2B (both in Final Action and in Dates for Filing).
Mexico highlights (Feb 2026): Final Action dates advanced for F1 (Unmarried adult children of U.S. citizens) and F2B (Unmarried adult children of LPRs). Filing dates for those Mexico categories also advanced.
Final Action Dates (family-based) — changes from January → February 2026
| Category (Mexico) | January 2026 | February 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| F1 (Unmarried sons/daughters 21+ of U.S. citizens) | 01SEP06 | 22DEC06 | Forward (~112 days) |
| F2B (Unmarried sons/daughters 21+ of LPRs) | 15NOV08 | 15FEB09 | Forward (~92 days) |
Outside Mexico, February 2026 family Final Action cut-offs are largely unchanged from January for most categories (based on the official tables).
Dates for Filing (family-based) — where filing windows widened
The filing chart indicates which priority dates are far enough along for document collection at NVC and, depending on USCIS monthly guidance, may also control AOS filing eligibility. In February 2026, the most visible filing shifts again appear for Mexico in F1 and F2B, and there is a small step forward in F2A filing for all countries.
| Category (Mexico) | January 2026 | February 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| F1 (Dates for Filing) | 01SEP07 | 01DEC07 | Forward (~91 days) |
| F2B (Dates for Filing) | 15NOV09 | 15FEB10 | Forward (~92 days) |
| Category | January 2026 | February 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| F2A (Spouses/children under 21 of LPRs) | 22DEC25 | 22JAN26 | Forward (~31 days) |
Chart — Mexico family forward movement (Final Action) in February 2026 (days)
Chart fallback (data summary): Mexico F1 advanced ~112 days (01SEP06 → 22DEC06); Mexico F2B advanced ~92 days (15NOV08 → 15FEB09).
Why family movement can look “small” even when it matters
- Family categories are often sensitive to small demand changes; movement can cluster around specific oversubscribed countries.
- Even a few months of movement can open filing eligibility for a meaningful set of cases around that cut-off edge.
- Final Action and Filing dates can move differently because they serve different workload and inventory goals.
How to read the Visa Bulletin (without getting lost in tables)
The bulletin is dense because it compresses multiple systems into a single page: statutory caps, per-country limits, “chargeability” rules, and queue management. If you keep one mental model, make it this: the cut-off date is the line in the queue the government can reach this month.
Step-by-step: match your case to the right line
- Identify the category: family (F1–F4) or employment (EB-1–EB-5), plus any subcategory (e.g., EB-3 “Other Workers”, EB-5 “Unreserved”, EB-4 “SR”).
- Confirm the country of chargeability: it is usually your country of birth (not citizenship), with limited exceptions.
- Find your priority date: the bulletin tables don’t generate the date — they only tell you when that date can be reached.
-
Compare to the chart you need:
- Final Action answers “can the case be finalized/issued now?”
- Dates for Filing answers “can the process move into filing/document collection now?”
- Interpret C/U correctly: “C” means the line is open (no cut-off), while “U” means the line is closed (no numbers authorized).
Why February 2026 EB-3 movement is meaningful
EB-3 is one of the highest-demand work-based categories for many employers. When EB-3 Dates for Filing move forward by months, it can expand who is eligible to begin the “filing stage” (document processing for consular cases and, depending on USCIS monthly selection, potentially AOS filings). February’s change is concentrated in the ROW/MX/PH columns — with China-mainland and India staying fixed.
Practical reading tip: treat the ROW/MX/PH EB-3 shift as a “wider front edge,” not a guarantee of continuous monthly progress.
Why a category can turn “U” overnight
“U” is not a normal backlog signal — it is a legal authorization signal. In February 2026, the bulletin lists EB-4 Certain Religious Workers (SR) as Unavailable and explains that the program authorization is time-limited. That’s why SR can be open in one month and U in the next even if demand hasn’t changed.
If a program is extended legislatively, the bulletin indicates SR could become available immediately again, subject to the same EB-4 cut-offs.
Mini timeline: the SR expiration note in the February 2026 bulletin
| Event | Date | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Program authorization extended | To 30JAN26 | The bulletin explains SR availability is tied to this statutory end date. |
| SR listed as Unavailable | FEB 2026 | “U” indicates no SR visas/final action can be issued/taken under the bulletin for February. |
Common pitfalls (and how to avoid misreading February 2026)
- Mixing Final Action with Filing: EB-3 can look “behind” in Final Action but still show a larger Filing window. They answer different questions.
- Assuming “Mexico moved” means “everyone moved”: in family preferences, country-specific movement is common. February shows that pattern clearly.
- Reading “U” as a backlog: “U” is a legal availability flag; it is not the same thing as “many years of waiting.”
- Forgetting the date format: the official bulletin uses dd-mmm-yy. A quick visual check prevents month/day confusion.
FAQ: February 2026 Visa Bulletin (priority dates)
What exactly is a “priority date”?
A priority date is your place in line for a numerically limited immigrant visa category. In employment cases, it is usually tied to the date a labor certification was filed (if required) or the immigrant petition (e.g., I-140) was filed. In family cases, it is typically the date the petition (e.g., I-130) was properly filed. The Visa Bulletin tells you when that date can be reached.
In February 2026, what is the biggest employment-based change?
EB-3 advanced for applicants in the “All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed” column (ROW), as well as Mexico and the Philippines. The Final Action cut-off moved from 22APR23 to 01JUN23, and the Dates for Filing cut-off moved from 01JUL23 to 01OCT23.
Why is EB-4 Certain Religious Workers (SR) listed as “U” in February 2026?
The bulletin includes a note explaining that the SR subcategory is tied to time-limited legislative authorization and lists SR as Unavailable in February 2026. “U” indicates numbers are not authorized for issuance/final action in that subcategory for the month.
Did family-based categories move in February 2026?
The largest visible shifts are country-specific: Mexico advanced in F1 and F2B (both Final Action and Dates for Filing). Most other family cut-offs appear unchanged compared to January in the official tables.
Which chart should I use — Final Action or Dates for Filing?
Use Final Action to know when a visa can be issued or a case can be approved. Use Dates for Filing to know when the process may move into document submission/filing stages. For adjustment of status filings, USCIS publishes monthly guidance on which chart can be used for that month.
Official sources (government)
- U.S. Department of State — Visa Bulletin for February 2026 (HTML)
- U.S. Department of State — Visa Bulletin for February 2026 (PDF)
- U.S. Department of State — Visa Bulletin for January 2026 (HTML)
- U.S. Department of State — Visa Bulletin for January 2026 (PDF)
- USCIS — Visa Bulletin information (which chart to use for AOS filings)
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