The August 2026 bulletin has been released. USCIS has confirmed that filings for family-sponsored preference categories must use the Dates for Filing chart (B), whereas filings for employment-based preference categories must use the Final Action Dates chart (A). For family-sponsored preference categories, the August 2026 Visa Bulletin shows forward movement across several categories for All Areas, China, India, Mexico, and the Philippines as shown below. For employment-based preference categories, the August 2026 Visa Bulletin shows forward movement in several categories for All Areas and China, while India EB-2 and EB-5 Unreserved remain Unavailable, as shown below.
Commentary
August 2026
Final Action Dates Update
For All Areas except India, China, Philippines, and Mexico: F1 category advances by approximately 10.5 months from February 01, 2018 to December 15, 2018; F2A category advances significantly by approximately 18 months from January 01, 2025 to July 22, 2026; F2B advances from November 22, 2017 to January 01, 2018; F3 category advances by one month from April 15, 2012 to May 15, 2012; F4 category advances by 8 months from January 01, 2009 to September 01, 2009; EB1 remains Current; EB2 remains Current; EB3 advances by one month from August 01, 2024 to September 01, 2024; Other Workers advances by one month from March 01, 2022 to April 01, 2022; EB4 advances by one month from September 15, 2022 to October 15, 2022.
For India only: F4 category remains the same at November 01, 2006; EB1 category remains the same at October 15, 2022; EB2 category remains Unavailable; EB3 category remains the same at January 01, 2014; Other Workers remains the same at January 01, 2014; EB5 Unreserved remains Unavailable; All other EB5 set-aside categories remain Current.
For China only: EB1 category advances by one month from June 01, 2023 to July 01, 2023; EB2 category remains the same at September 01, 2021; EB3 advances slightly from December 22, 2021 to January 01, 2022; Other Workers advances by one month from April 01, 2019 to May 01, 2019; EB5 Unreserved remains the same at December 01, 2016.
For Philippines only: F1 category remains the same at May 01, 2013; F2B category advances from May 15, 2013 to June 01, 2013; F3 category remains the same at February 22, 2006; F4 category remains the same at August 01, 2007; EB1 remains Current; EB2 remains Current; EB3 remains the same at August 01, 2023; Other Workers remains the same at December 01, 2021.
For Mexico only: F1 category advances slightly from November 08, 2007 to December 01, 2007; F2A advances significantly by approximately 18 months from January 01, 2024 to July 22, 2025; F2B remains the same at February 15, 2009; F3 category advances by one month from June 01, 2001 to July 01, 2001; F4 remains the same at April 08, 2001; EB3 advances by one month from August 01, 2024 to September 01, 2024.
Vietnam is not individually listed; please use the all countries category.
Dates for Filing Update
F1 category advances from January 01, 2019 to June 15, 2019 for All Areas, China, and India; Mexico advances from October 01, 2008 to December 01, 2008 and Philippines remains at April 22, 2015; F2A category remains Current for All Areas, China, India, Mexico, and Philippines; F2B advances from June 08, 2018 to January 01, 2019 for All Areas, China, and India; Mexico remains at May 15, 2010 and Philippines remains at October 01, 2013; F3 advances from December 08, 2012 to March 01, 2013 for All Areas, China, and India; Mexico remains at July 15, 2001 and Philippines remains at August 08, 2006; F4 advances from March 01, 2010 to June 22, 2010 for All Areas and China; India remains at December 15, 2006; Mexico remains at April 30, 2001; and Philippines remains at March 22, 2008.
EB-1 PDs remain Current for All Areas, Mexico, and Philippines; China remains at December 01, 2023; India remains at December 01, 2023. EB-2 PDs remain Current for All Areas, Mexico, and Philippines; EB-2 India remains at January 15, 2015; EB-2 China remains at January 01, 2022. EB-3 PDs remain Current for All Areas and Mexico; Philippines remains at January 01, 2024; EB-3 India remains at January 15, 2015; EB-3 China advances slightly from January 01, 2022 to January 08, 2022. EB-5 Unreserved China remains at March 01, 2017; EB-5 Unreserved India remains at May 01, 2024. All other EB-5 China remain Current. Vietnam is not individually listed and should use the All Areas category.
B. DIVERSITY IMMIGRANT (DV) CATEGORY FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST
Section 203(c) of the INA provides up to 55,000 immigrant visas each fiscal year to permit additional immigration opportunities for persons from countries with low admissions during the previous five years. The NACARA stipulates that beginning with DV-99, and for as long as necessary, up to 5,000 of the 55,000 annually allocated diversity visas will be made available for use under the NACARA program. Visa numbers made available to NACARA applicants in FY 2025 will result in reduction of the DV-2026 annual limit to approximately 54,850. Section 5104 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024 amended the NACARA’s provisions on the DV program such that the number of visas made available under the NDAA each fiscal year will be deducted from the 55,000 DVs annually allocated. These amendments will further reduce the DV-2026 annual limit to approximately 52,000. DVs are divided among six geographic regions. No one country can receive more than seven percent of the available diversity visas in any one year.
For August, immigrant numbers in the DV category are available to qualified DV-2026 applicants chargeable to all regions/eligible countries as follows. When an allocation cut-off number is shown, visas are available only for applicants with DV regional lottery rank numbers BELOW the specified allocation cut-off number:
| Region | All DV Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed Separately | Exceptions |
| AFRICA | 60,000 | Except: Algeria 51,250 Egypt 36,000 |
| ASIA | 40,000 | Except: Nepal 13,500 |
| EUROPE | 29,000 | |
| NORTH AMERICA (BAHAMAS) | Current | |
| OCEANIA | 2,050 | |
| SOUTH AMERICA, and the CARIBBEAN | 4,000 |
Entitlement to immigrant status in the DV category lasts only through the end of the fiscal (visa) year for which the applicant is selected in the lottery. The year of entitlement for all applicants registered for the DV-2026 program ends as of September 30, 2026. DV visas may not be issued to DV-2026 applicants after that date. Similarly, spouses and children accompanying or following to join DV-2026 principals are only entitled to derivative DV status until September 30, 2026. DV visa availability through the very end of FY-2026 cannot be taken for granted. Numbers could be exhausted prior to September 30.
C. THE DIVERSITY IMMIGRANT (DV) CATEGORY RANK CUT-OFFS WHICH WILL APPLY IN SEPTEMBER
For September, immigrant numbers in the DV category are available to qualified DV-2026 applicants chargeable to all regions/eligible countries as follows. When an allocation cut-off number is shown, visas are available only for applicants with DV regional lottery rank numbers BELOW the specified allocation cut-off number:
| Region | All DV Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed Separately | Exceptions |
| AFRICA | 101,250 | Except: Algeria 85,000 Egypt 50,000 |
| ASIA | 40,000 | Except: Nepal 13,500 |
| EUROPE | 47,500 | |
| NORTH AMERICA (BAHAMAS) | Current | |
| OCEANIA | 3,000 | |
| SOUTH AMERICA, and the CARIBBEAN | 4,750 |
D. AVAILABILITY OF FAMILY-SPONSORED AND EMPLOYMENT-BASED VISAS
Immigrant visa issuance rates for aliens from certain countries have decreased in light of various actions the administration has taken to protect national security and public safety, and to otherwise advance the interests of the United States (e.g. Presidential Proclamation 10949, Presidential Proclamation 10998, Immigrant Visa Processing Updates). Consequently, to make visas available in accordance with sections 201-203 of the INA to sufficient prospective immigrants from other countries to use immigrant visa numbers that are available in FY 2026, dates for filing and final action dates have been advanced across various immigrant visa categories throughout recent months. Note that as additional immigrant visa demand materializes, or administration actions are amended, retrogression may be necessary in the upcoming months to keep issuances within annual limits. Visa categories may become “Unavailable” prior to the end of the fiscal year if annual limits, category limits, or pro-rated per-country limits are reached. This situation is being continually monitored, and any necessary adjustments will be made accordingly.
E. VISA AVAILABILITY IN THE EMPLOYMENT-BASED FIRST PREFERENCE (EB-1) FINAL ACTION DATE FOR INDIA
High demand and number use by aliens chargeable to India in the EB-1 visa category may necessitate making the category unavailable in the coming weeks if India’s pro-rated limit in the EB-1 category is reached before the fiscal year ends. This situation will be continually monitored, and any necessary adjustments will be made accordingly.
F. VISA AVAILABILITY IN THE EMPLOYMENT-BASED SECOND PREFERENCE (EB-2) CATEGORY
Sufficient demand and increased number use in the EB-2 visa category may make it necessary to retrogress the final action date or make the category unavailable in the coming months to hold number use within the maximum allowed under the FY 2026 annual limit. This situation will be continually monitored, and any necessary adjustments will be made accordingly.
G. U.S. GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE SPECIAL IMMIGRANT VISAS (SIVs)
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024, signed into law on December 22, 2023, may affect certain current and former employees of the U.S. Government abroad, as well as certain surviving spouses and children of deceased employees of the U.S. government abroad, applying for SIVs or adjustment of status, as described in section 101(a)(27)(D) of the INA. This does not affect certain Iraqis and Afghans applying for SQ and SI SIVs. Applicants should contact the consular section at which they filed their Form DS‑1884 for further information on the impact of that law on their case.
H. FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION ON VISA PROCESSING AT U.S. EMBASSIES AND CONSULATES, PLEASE VISIT THE BUREAU OF CONSULAR AFFAIRS WEBSITE AT TRAVEL.STATE.GOV
Department of State Publication 9514
CA/VO: July 15, 2026