What changed in the August 2026 bulletin
Compared with last month, 17 of 50 employment-based cut-off dates moved forward, 0 moved back and 33 stayed put. The biggest advances: EB-3 for most countries (+31 days to 01 Sep 2024), EB-3 Mexico (+31 days to 01 Sep 2024), EB-3 Other Workers for most countries (+31 days to 01 Apr 2022) and EB-3 Other Workers Mexico (+31 days to 01 Apr 2022).[1]
Against last month: 12 family-sponsored dates advanced, 0 retrogressed, 13 held. The biggest advances: F2B for most countries (+7 months to 01 Jan 2019), F2B China (+7 months to 01 Jan 2019), F2B India (+7 months to 01 Jan 2019) and F1 for most countries (+5 months to 15 Jun 2019).
| Category | Country | Before | August | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F2B | Rest of world | 08 Jun 2018 | 01 Jan 2019 | ▲ 7 months |
| F2B | China | 08 Jun 2018 | 01 Jan 2019 | ▲ 7 months |
| F2B | India | 08 Jun 2018 | 01 Jan 2019 | ▲ 7 months |
| F1 | Rest of world | 01 Jan 2019 | 15 Jun 2019 | ▲ 5 months |
| F1 | China | 01 Jan 2019 | 15 Jun 2019 | ▲ 5 months |
| F1 | India | 01 Jan 2019 | 15 Jun 2019 | ▲ 5 months |
| F4 | Rest of world | 01 Mar 2010 | 22 Jun 2010 | ▲ 4 months |
| F4 | China | 01 Mar 2010 | 22 Jun 2010 | ▲ 4 months |
| F3 | Rest of world | 08 Dec 2012 | 01 Mar 2013 | ▲ 3 months |
| F3 | China | 08 Dec 2012 | 01 Mar 2013 | ▲ 3 months |
August 2026 employment-based dates
Arrows compare each date with July 2026, the month before. EB-2 India held at Unavailable. Category history: EB-2, EB-3, EB-2 India.
| Category | Rest of world | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | C■ | 01 Jul 2023▲ advanced 30 days | 15 Oct 2022■ | C■ | C■ |
| EB-2 | C■ | 01 Sep 2021■ | U■ | C■ | C■ |
| EB-3 | 01 Sep 2024▲ advanced 31 days | 01 Jan 2022▲ advanced 10 days | 01 Jan 2014■ | 01 Sep 2024▲ advanced 31 days | 01 Aug 2023■ |
| EB-3 Other Workers | 01 Apr 2022▲ advanced 31 days | 01 May 2019▲ advanced 30 days | 01 Jan 2014■ | 01 Apr 2022▲ advanced 31 days | 01 Dec 2021■ |
| EB-4 | 15 Oct 2022▲ advanced 30 days | 15 Oct 2022▲ advanced 30 days | 15 Oct 2022▲ advanced 30 days | 15 Oct 2022▲ advanced 30 days | 15 Oct 2022▲ advanced 30 days |
| Certain Religious Workers | 15 Oct 2022▲ advanced 30 days | 15 Oct 2022▲ advanced 30 days | 15 Oct 2022▲ advanced 30 days | 15 Oct 2022▲ advanced 30 days | 15 Oct 2022▲ advanced 30 days |
| EB-5 Unreserved | C■ | 01 Dec 2016■ | U■ | C■ | C■ |
The three EB-5 set-aside rows (rural, high unemployment, infrastructure) were current for every country in August 2026.
August 2026 family-sponsored dates
Family dates are compared with July 2026. F2A for most countries was current, unchanged. 29 cells were current (C). History: F2A; backlog in years: wait-time table.
| Category | Rest of world | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | 15 Jun 2019▲ advanced 5 months | 15 Jun 2019▲ advanced 5 months | 15 Jun 2019▲ advanced 5 months | 01 Dec 2008▲ advanced 2 months | 22 Apr 2015■ |
| F2A | C■ | C■ | C■ | C■ | C■ |
| F2B | 01 Jan 2019▲ advanced 7 months | 01 Jan 2019▲ advanced 7 months | 01 Jan 2019▲ advanced 7 months | 15 May 2010■ | 01 Oct 2013■ |
| F3 | 01 Mar 2013▲ advanced 3 months | 01 Mar 2013▲ advanced 3 months | 01 Mar 2013▲ advanced 3 months | 15 Jul 2001■ | 08 Aug 2006■ |
| F4 | 22 Jun 2010▲ advanced 4 months | 22 Jun 2010▲ advanced 4 months | 15 Dec 2006■ | 30 Apr 2001■ | 22 Mar 2008■ |
Fiscal year 2026 context
August 2026 falls in the last quarter of fiscal year 2026. This is when categories that have used their annual limit can be marked U (unavailable) until October. USCIS used a different employment chart in October 2025, so the year-to-date comparison is not like for like. In August 2026, 2 cells were marked U: EB-2 India, EB-5 Unreserved India.
USCIS's choice of chart matters as much as the dates: in August 2026 it accepted Final Action Dates for employment-based I-485s.[3] The chart history page lists every month's choice since 2015.
- Previous month: visa bulletin July 2026
- Next month: visa bulletin September 2026
- Check your own date: priority date calculator
Frequently asked questions
Did EB-2 India move in the August 2026 visa bulletin?
No. EB-2 India stayed at Unavailable on the Final Action Dates chart, the same as July 2026.
Which chart did USCIS accept for August 2026?
For employment-based adjustment of status, USCIS accepted Final Action Dates; for family-sponsored cases, Dates for Filing. Applicants whose category is current on the Final Action Dates chart may also file under it.
Was any category unavailable in August 2026?
Yes: EB-2 (India), EB-5 Unreserved (India) showed U, meaning no visa numbers could be used that month.
When was the August 2026 visa bulletin in effect?
From August 1 to August 31, 2026. The State Department publishes each bulletin in the middle of the previous month.
Sources
- When to File Your Adjustment of Status Application for Family-Sponsored or Employment-Based Preference Visas: August 2026
- When to File Your Adjustment of Status Application for Family-Sponsored or Employment-Based Preference Visas: July 2026
- Adjustment of Status Filing Charts from the Visa Bulletin
- The Visa Bulletin (monthly publication and archive)