February 2026: USCIS allowed applicants to use Dates for Filing (Chart B) to file Form I-485 for both family-sponsored preference and employment-based preference categories. This can open a filing window earlier than Final Action Dates for some applicants.
Key idea: in February 2026, Dates for Filing is about whether you can submit the I-485 packet (and related forms, if applicable), while Final Action Dates is about when USCIS can issue a final approval once a visa number becomes available.
Accuracy note: Visa Bulletin tables discussed here apply to preference categories. Immediate relatives (for example, spouse/parent of a U.S. citizen and an unmarried child under 21 of a U.S. citizen) generally do not follow the same preference-category queue mechanics.
Which chart USCIS accepts in February 2026 and what it changes in practice
Each Visa Bulletin month publishes two tables for each group (family-sponsored and employment-based): Final Action Dates (Chart A) and Dates for Filing (Chart B). For filing I-485 inside the U.S., it’s not enough to “see the dates” — you must confirm which chart USCIS allows for filing that month.
USCIS selection for February 2026: use Dates for Filing (Chart B) to file Form I-485 for all family-sponsored preference and all employment-based preference categories.
What this means for applicants
If your priority date is earlier than the Chart B date, you can file I-485 in February 2026 (assuming you meet AOS eligibility requirements), even if Chart A is not yet current for you.
Chart A still matters: a final I-485 approval generally requires visa number availability under Final Action Dates. Filing under Chart B is an earlier entry into the process — not an instant final decision.
Why USCIS does this: when USCIS expects more visa numbers to be available in the fiscal year than “known demand,” it may open a broader early-filing window to build a stable processing pipeline.
Careful wording on risk: if you use the wrong chart or your date does not qualify, USCIS may reject or return an I-485 package — typically resulting in lost time and momentum.
February 2026 cheat sheet
| Category group | Chart to file I-485 | How to read it |
|---|---|---|
| Family-Sponsored (F1/F2A/F2B/F3/F4) | Dates for Filing (B) | Compare your priority date to Chart B; use Chart A to track when final approval can occur. |
| Employment-Based (EB-1/EB-2/EB-3/EB-4/EB-5) | Dates for Filing (B) | Filing window is often broader than Chart A; differences can be substantial for certain countries. |
Next: a clean explanation of what Chart A vs Chart B actually represents — and the specific traps that lead to contradictory advice online.
Final Action Dates vs Dates for Filing: what each chart actually means
You’ll see posts saying “use Chart B — you can file.” That statement is only correct when USCIS explicitly allows Chart B for I-485 filing in that month. February 2026 is one of those months, but it is not a safe universal rule.
Final Action Dates (Chart A) — the cut-off that governs when a visa number can be assigned and a case can reach a final decision.
Dates for Filing (Chart B) — an earlier cut-off that reflects when applicants can often begin procedural steps,
and that USCIS sometimes authorizes specifically for filing Form I-485 in a given month.
Diagram: what Chart A controls vs what Chart B controls
In February 2026 USCIS allowed Chart B for I-485 filing. Many readers interpret that as “the queue accelerated.” A more accurate framing: you may file earlier, while the final stage still follows Chart A.
Priority date: make sure you compare the right date
Your priority date is your place in line, and it must match how your category is defined in your records. For family preference cases, it is often the filing date of the underlying petition (for example, an I-130). For employment preference, in PERM-based routes it is commonly tied to the PERM filing date; in other routes it can be tied to the petition filing date (for example, I-140), depending on the specific basis. The practical point: compare the official priority date for your case to the correct chart and column.
February 2026 examples: how Chart B can be “later” than Chart A
The samples below illustrate the mechanism (they are not a substitute for checking your exact category and chargeability column). In many categories, the Dates for Filing date is “later” than the Final Action date — meaning it can open filing earlier.
| Category | Chargeability | Final Action (A) | Dates for Filing (B) |
|---|---|---|---|
| EB-2 | India | 15JUL13 | 01DEC13 |
| EB-3 | India | 15NOV13 | 15AUG14 |
| EB-3 | Worldwide | 01JUN23 | 01OCT23 |
| EB-1 | China | 01FEB23 | 01AUG23 |
| Category | Chargeability | Final Action (A) | Dates for Filing (B) |
|---|---|---|---|
| F2A | All chargeability | 01FEB24 | 22JAN26 |
| F1 | Mexico | 22DEC06 | 01DEC07 |
| F4 | Philippines | 22JUL06 | 15JAN08 |
The decision “Can I file I-485?” always depends on this three-part match: your category + your chargeability column + the chart USCIS allows for filing in that month.
Why bloggers confuse Final Action vs Dates for Filing (and how to validate advice fast)
The Visa Bulletin (DOS) is a global monthly publication, but the chart you can use to file Form I-485 inside the U.S. is determined by USCIS each month. That split is the core reason you’ll find two confident but conflicting takes online.
The main reason for the mix-up: the Visa Bulletin explains that AOS generally uses Final Action Dates by default, but USCIS may authorize Dates for Filing when visa availability supports it — and USCIS posts that monthly decision on its own page. February 2026 is one of those months where USCIS opened Chart B for filing.
Common mistakes in “Can I file I-485 now?” posts
- Assuming Chart B always applies without checking the USCIS monthly chart selection.
- Mixing AOS and consular processing: “Dates for Filing” can describe early document steps, not final availability.
- Confusing filing eligibility with final approval: Chart B is not the same as final action eligibility.
- Ignoring chargeability and reading the wrong column (Worldwide vs India/China, etc.).
- Using the wrong section (family vs employment) after a screenshot repost.
- Not explaining C/U (current/unavailable), leading to incorrect conclusions.
Diagram: where the confusion usually comes from
How to spot incomplete advice
| How the advice sounds | What’s missing | How to verify properly | What it costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| “Always use Dates for Filing” | USCIS can change the filing chart month to month. | Check USCIS chart selection for the month first, then compare dates. | Lost time and momentum if a package is filed outside the permitted window. |
| “If you pass Chart B, your green card is soon” | Chart B does not equal final availability. | Track Chart A separately for your category and column. | Unrealistic timeline expectations and poor status planning. |
| “EB-2 is at X” (no country) | Chargeability columns differ significantly. | Confirm India/China/Mexico/Philippines vs Worldwide. | Wrong “can file / can’t file” conclusion. |
| “Just check one table” | Family and employment have separate tables. | Use your correct section and category. | Comparing against the wrong dataset. |
Quick “Is this answer reliable?” filter
Filter 1: Did they state which chart USCIS selected for the month? If not, it’s incomplete.
Filter 2: Did they specify category + chargeability column, not a generic “Worldwide” date?
Filter 3: Did they separate “file now” from “final approval timing”? If they merge them, expectations will be wrong.
Next: a 60-second checklist you can repeat every month (USCIS chart selection → Visa Bulletin comparison).
60-second check: “Can I file Form I-485 in February 2026?” (and how to repeat this monthly)
Step 1. Identify your group: family-sponsored preference or employment-based preference. Write down the exact category (for example, EB-2, EB-3, F2A) and your chargeability column.
Step 2. Confirm on the USCIS site which chart is allowed for I-485 filing that month. In February 2026, USCIS allows Dates for Filing (Chart B) for both groups.
Step 3. Open the February 2026 Visa Bulletin and compare your priority date to Chart B for your category and column. If your date is earlier, the filing window is open (subject to AOS eligibility).
Step 4. Separately check Chart A to understand final-action timing. This keeps “can file” and “can be finally approved” distinct.
Checklist table: no-miss verification
| What to verify | Where to verify | What must match in February 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| USCIS chart selection | USCIS Visa Bulletin info / filing chart page | USCIS allows Dates for Filing (B) for family-sponsored and employment-based preference. |
| Category + chargeability | Your case basis + the correct Visa Bulletin column | Compare against your column (for example, India/China), not a generic Worldwide date. |
| Priority date | Your official case records | Priority date earlier than Chart B cut-off → filing window is open. |
| Final action expectations | Chart A (Final Action Dates) | Final approval generally aligns with Chart A becoming current for your priority date. |
February 2026 in one line: use Dates for Filing to decide if you can file I-485, and use Final Action Dates to track when the case can reach a final decision.
FAQ: the most common “I-485 chart February 2026” questions
If I can file under Dates for Filing in February 2026, does that mean USCIS will approve quickly?
Why does the Visa Bulletin talk about Final Action, but USCIS allows Dates for Filing?
Is the February 2026 chart selection the same for family-sponsored and employment-based categories?
What do people most often misunderstand when asking “Final Action or Dates for Filing”?
If my priority date qualifies under Chart B but not under Chart A, is that normal?
What if I’m reading this at the end of February 2026 or in a later month?
Where is the safest place to verify the chart selection?
Primary sources to bookmark (monthly verification)
These links answer the two core questions: which chart USCIS allows for filing, and what the Visa Bulletin dates are for the month.
USCIS — Visa Bulletin information (monthly filing chart selection)
USCIS posts which chart to use for Adjustment of Status filing (Final Action vs Dates for Filing) for the month.
Open pageDOS — Visa Bulletin for February 2026 (Chart A and Chart B tables)
Official Final Action and Dates for Filing tables for family-sponsored and employment-based categories for February 2026.
Open bulletinDOS — Visa Bulletin hub (current + archive)
Useful for switching to the next month: the latest bulletin and archived issues are available here.
Open hubUSCIS — “When to File” (how USCIS ties filing to monthly charts)
A USCIS explainer page that supports the monthly filing logic and helps connect “when to file” with chart selection.
Open pageSecondary check: AILA monthly update (not a substitute for USCIS/DOS)
A convenient public summary that mirrors the monthly USCIS filing chart selection. Use it as a “second screen,” but base decisions on primary sources.
Open update