If you’re in the middle of a U.S. immigrant visa process or adjustment of status (Green Card) through family sponsorship, employment, or the Diversity Visa (DV) lottery, the February 2026 Visa Bulletin sets the pace for the month. It shows when visas can be issued (Final Action Dates) and when it makes sense to prepare/submit documents (Dates for Filing), based on your category and priority date.
Official source: Visa Bulletin for February 2026 (travel.state.gov)
The most important takeaways (plain English, no jargon)
1) Two different charts—and they aren’t used the same way
- Final Action Dates: show the cutoff priority date up to which the government can issue an immigrant visa or take final action on an adjustment of status case.
Key rule: you move forward only if your priority date is earlier than the date listed in the chart. - Dates for Filing: show when applicants may be able to assemble and submit documents to the National Visa Center (NVC)—and sometimes USCIS may allow use of this chart for adjustment filings in a given month.
For adjustment of status with USCIS: unless USCIS says otherwise, you must use Final Action Dates. The bulletin directs applicants to: www.uscis.gov/visabulletininfo
2) What “C” and “U” mean
- C (Current): visa numbers are available for all priority dates (if you’re otherwise eligible).
- U (Unauthorized / Unavailable): visa numbers are not authorized for that category this month.
3) Why “cutoff dates” exist
The Department of State allocates immigrant numbers in priority-date order, using demand reported through January 5.
When demand in a category/country exceeds the available annual limits, it becomes oversubscribed, and a cutoff date is set to control number use.
Statutory limits referenced (FY 2026)
- Family-sponsored preference annual limit: 226,000
- Employment-based worldwide annual level: at least 140,000
- Per-country limit (preference visas): 7% of the combined family + employment totals = 25,620
- Dependent area limit: 2% = 7,320
- Chargeability areas currently affected by prorating (oversubscription context): China (mainland born), India, Mexico, and the Philippines
A) Family-Sponsored Preferences
Categories (quick refresher)
- F1: Unmarried sons and daughters (adult) of U.S. citizens
- F2A: Spouses and children of lawful permanent residents
- F2B: Unmarried sons and daughters (21+) of lawful permanent residents
- F3: Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens
- F4: Brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens
A.1 Final Action Dates — Family (February 2026)
Final action is available only if your priority date is earlier than the date shown:
| Category | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed* | China (Mainland Born) | 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 |
*“All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed.”
Important F2A note (February 2026)
The bulletin distinguishes F2A numbers exempt vs. subject to the per-country limit:
- F2A EXEMPT from per-country limit: authorized for applicants from all countries with priority dates earlier than 01FEB23.
- F2A SUBJECT to per-country limit: authorized for applicants chargeable to all countries except Mexico, with priority dates beginning 01FEB23 and earlier than 01FEB24.
- Mexico (F2A): all F2A numbers provided for Mexico are exempt from the per-country limit.
A.2 Dates for Filing — Family (February 2026)
These dates indicate when you may be able to submit documents to the NVC (and only if USCIS authorizes it for AOS, they could be used for filing with USCIS):
| Category | All Chargeability Areas | China (Mainland Born) | 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 |
B) Employment-Based Preferences
Categories (what each one covers)
- EB-1 (1st): Priority Workers
- EB-2 (2nd): Advanced Degree Professionals or Persons of Exceptional Ability
- EB-3 (3rd): Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers
- EB-4 (4th): Certain Special Immigrants
- EB-5 (5th): Employment Creation (investment), including:
- Set-Aside: Rural (20%)
- Set-Aside: High Unemployment (10%)
- Set-Aside: Infrastructure (2%)
- plus Unreserved (68%)
B.1 Final Action Dates — Employment (February 2026)
| Category | All Chargeability Areas | China (Mainland Born) | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | C | 01FEB23 | 01FEB23 | C | C |
| EB-2 | 01APR24 | 01SEP21 | 15JUL13 | 01APR24 | 01APR24 |
| EB-3 | 01JUN23 | 01MAY21 | 15NOV13 | 01JUN23 | 01JUN23 |
| EB-3 Other Workers | 01SEP21 | 08DEC18 | 15NOV13 | 01SEP21 | 01SEP21 |
| EB-4 | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 |
| EB-4 Certain Religious Workers (SR) | U | U | U | U | U |
| EB-5 Unreserved | C | 15AUG16 | 01MAY22 | C | C |
| EB-5 Set-Aside: Rural | C | C | C | C | C |
| EB-5 Set-Aside: High Unemployment | C | C | C | C | C |
| EB-5 Set-Aside: Infrastructure | C | C | C | C | C |
Legal note on EB-3 “Other Workers” (NACARA)
The bulletin explains that, due to NACARA provisions, the “Other Workers” annual limit has been reduced in prior years, and that for FY 2026 the reduction will be limited to approximately 150.
B.2 Dates for Filing — Employment (February 2026)
| Category | All Chargeability Areas | China (Mainland Born) | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | C | 01AUG23 | 01AUG23 | C | C |
| EB-2 | 15OCT24 | 01JAN22 | 01DEC13 | 15OCT24 | 15OCT24 |
| EB-3 | 01OCT23 | 01JAN22 | 15AUG14 | 01OCT23 | 01OCT23 |
| EB-3 Other Workers | 01DEC21 | 01OCT19 | 15AUG14 | 01DEC21 | 01DEC21 |
| EB-4 | 15MAR21 | 15MAR21 | 15MAR21 | 15MAR21 | 15MAR21 |
| EB-4 Certain Religious Workers (SR) | U | U | U | U | U |
| EB-5 Unreserved | C | 22AUG16 | 01MAY24 | C | C |
| EB-5 Set-Aside: Rural | C | C | C | C | C |
| EB-5 Set-Aside: High Unemployment | C | C | C | C | C |
| EB-5 Set-Aside: Infrastructure | C | C | C | C | C |
C) Diversity Visa (DV) — DV-2026
DV in February 2026: availability and key warnings
The bulletin notes the law provides up to 55,000 DV visas per fiscal year, but:
- NACARA can divert up to 5,000 (and DV numbers made available to NACARA applicants in FY 2025 would reduce the DV‑2026 annual limit to approximately 54,850).
- An amendment referenced in the bulletin (NDAA FY 2024) further reduces DV‑2026 to approximately 52,000 (by deducting visas made available under that authority).
Critical calendar point: DV‑2026 eligibility ends September 30, 2026. DV‑2026 visas cannot be issued after that date, and derivatives (spouses/children) are subject to the same deadline. The bulletin warns numbers could be exhausted before September 30.
DV cutoffs that apply in February 2026
DV numbers are available only for regional rank numbers below the cutoff:
| Region | General cutoff | 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 & THE CARIBBEAN | 2,000 | — |
DV cutoffs that will apply in March 2026 (advance notice in the bulletin)
| Region | General cutoff | Exceptions |
|---|---|---|
| AFRICA | 45,000 | Algeria: 37,000; Egypt: 22,250 |
| ASIA | 30,000 | Nepal: 6,500 |
| EUROPE | 11,000 | — |
| NORTH AMERICA (BAHAMAS) | 30 | — |
| OCEANIA | 1,200 | — |
| SOUTH AMERICA & THE CARIBBEAN | 2,100 | — |
D) Critical notice: scheduled expiration of “Certain Religious Workers (SR)” (EB-4)
The bulletin states that H.R. 5371, signed November 12, 2025, extends the Employment Fourth Preference Certain Religious Workers (SR) category until January 30, 2026.
- No SR visas may be issued overseas, and no final action may be taken on adjustment cases, after midnight January 29, 2026.
- Visas issued before then are valid only until January 29, 2026, and admission must occur by that deadline.
- That’s why SR is listed as “U” (Unavailable) for all countries in February.
- If further legislation extends the category, the bulletin indicates it would likely become available immediately and follow the same EB‑4 dates by chargeability.
E) Note on SIVs for certain U.S. Government employees abroad
The bulletin notes the NDAA for FY 2024 (signed December 22, 2023) may affect certain current/former U.S. Government employees abroad (and certain surviving spouses/children) applying for SIVs or adjustment under INA 101(a)(27)(D).
It also states this does not affect certain Iraqis and Afghans applying for SQ and SI SIVs, and advises applicants to contact the consular section where Form DS‑1884 was filed.