The State Department’s August 2026 Visa Bulletin gave family-sponsored applicants their biggest forward movement this year, led by a sharp jump in F2A. The bulletin sets the dates that control when applicants can move ahead in the green card process, and the new chart changes when many families can file or receive decisions.
F2A in August 2026
F2A covers spouses and unmarried children of lawful permanent residents. For most countries, the final action date moved from January 1, 2025 to July 22, 2026. Mexico advanced as well, with its F2A date moving from January 1, 2024 to July 22, 2025.
Final action dates matter because they mark when the government can approve and issue a green card. In the same bulletin, dates for filing can open earlier, allowing applicants to submit paperwork and begin processing before a final decision is available.
F1, F2B, F3 and F4
Other family-sponsored categories also moved forward. F1, which covers unmarried adult sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, advanced for most countries from February 1, 2018 in July to December 15, 2018 in August. Mexico moved in F1 from November 8, 2007 to December 1, 2007, while the Philippines stayed at May 1, 2013.
F2B, for unmarried adult sons and daughters of green card holders, moved for most countries from November 22, 2017 to January 1, 2018. The Philippines advanced from May 15, 2013 to June 1, 2013, while Mexico stayed at February 15, 2009. F3, which covers married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, moved for most countries from April 15, 2012 to May 15, 2012; Mexico advanced from June 1, 2001 to July 1, 2001, and the Philippines stayed at February 22, 2006.
F4, covering siblings of adult U.S. citizens, moved for most countries from January 1, 2009 to September 1, 2009. India, Mexico and the Philippines did not change in F4, leaving those cutoffs where they were in the prior chart.
Employment-based limits
Employment-based visas advanced far less. Some employment-based categories remained unavailable for applicants from India because annual visa limits had already been reached. For families, that contrast left the August bulletin as a clear opening; for some employment-based applicants, it did not.
The filing chart added another path forward for some applicants. For F1, most countries moved from January 1, 2019 to June 15, 2019, and Mexico moved from October 1, 2008 to December 1, 2008. The Philippines did not change in F1 filing. For F2B, most countries advanced from June 8, 2018 to January 1, 2019, while Mexico and the Philippines did not change.
Applicants who are eligible under the new final action dates can move toward approval, while those who can file under the dates for filing can start the paperwork stage sooner. The bulletin does not say how many applicants are affected by each category change.
