Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Department of State has officially released the August 2026 Visa Bulletin (Volume XI, No. 17). This monthly update outlines the availability of immigrant visa numbers for both family-sponsored and employment-based green cards, serving as a key guide for applicants tracking their “Final Action Dates” and “Dates for Filing.”
Here is a breakdown of the critical changes, priority dates, and official warnings for the upcoming month.
1. Key Highlights & Global Limits
- Annual Limits (Fiscal Year 2026): The worldwide limit for family-sponsored preference visas remains at 226,000, while the limit for employment-based preference visas is set at a minimum of 140,000. Under Section 202 of the INA, no single country can exceed 7% (25,620) of these combined limits.
- Oversubscribed Countries: High-demand countries including mainland China, India, Mexico, and the Philippines continue to face independent cutoff dates due to per-country limits.
- Policy Adjustments & Retrogression Risk: Reduced visa issuance rates in certain countries—resulting from national security and public safety measures—have led the Department of State to advance cutoff dates across several categories in recent months to ensure maximum usage of available FY 2026 visa numbers. However, officials warn that visa retrogression may occur before the fiscal year ends if demand spikes.
2. Family-Sponsored Preference Categories
The “Final Action Dates” determine when an immigrant visa can be officially issued or an Adjustment of Status application approved.
Key Final Action Dates for August 2026:
- F1 (Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens): Advances to December 15, 2018, for most areas; December 1, 2007, for Mexico; and May 1, 2013, for the Philippines.
- F2A (Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents): Set at July 22, 2026 for all chargeability areas except Mexico, which is set at July 22, 2025.
- F2B (Unmarried Sons and Daughters [21+] of Permanent Residents): World/China/India: January 1, 2018; Mexico: February 15, 2009.
- F3 (Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens): World/China/India: May 15, 2012; Mexico: July 1, 2001.
- F4 (Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens): World/China: September 1, 2009; India: November 1, 2006; Mexico: April 8, 2001.
USCIS Adjustment of Status Filing Note: Applicants residing inside the U.S. must check the official USCIS Visa Bulletin Info Page to confirm whether USCIS is accepting the “Dates for Filing” chart or requiring the “Final Action Dates” chart for August.
3. Employment-Based Preference Categories
While employment categories show steady processing for most regions, the Department of State has issued specific warnings for high-demand areas:
Category Breakdown:
- EB-1 (Priority Workers): Remains Current (“C”) for most countries. Mainland China stands at July 1, 2023, and India at October 15, 2022.
- EB-2 (Advanced Degree / Exceptional Ability): Current for most chargeability areas, but listed as Unauthorized/Unavailable (“U”) for India. Mainland China is at September 1, 2021.
- EB-3 (Skilled Workers & Professionals): World/Mexico: September 1, 2024; China: January 1, 2022; India: January 1, 2014.
⚠️ Official Department Alerts:
- EB-1 India Availability: Heavy usage may force the EB-1 India category to become “Unavailable” in the coming weeks if India reaches its prorated limit before FY 2026 ends.
- EB-2 Potential Retrogression: High demand in the EB-2 category may make it necessary to retrogress final action dates or declare the category unavailable in the near future to stay within annual limits.
4. Diversity Visa Program (DV-2026)
Due to legislative adjustments under the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and NACARA, the total available Diversity Visas for FY 2026 have been reduced to approximately 52,000.
- Strict Deadline: All DV-2026 visa issuances and derivative status approvals must be completed by September 30, 2026. Numbers may be exhausted before this deadline.
- Regional Cut-off Numbers for August & September:
- South America & Caribbean: 4,000 in August; increases to 4,750 in September.
- Europe: 29,000 in August; increases to 47,500 in September.
- North America (Bahamas): Current for both months.
💡 Action Steps for Applicants
- Check Your Priority Date: Compare the priority date on your Form I-797 (Notice of Action) against the relevant chart.
- NVC Submissions: If your priority date is earlier than the date listed in the “Dates for Filing” chart, gather your civil and financial documents for submission to the National Visa Center.
- Monitor USCIS Monthly: If applying via Adjustment of Status (Form I-485) within the U.S., verify monthly which chart USCIS authorizes for filing.