After a challenging few months for many employment-based applicants, the August 2026 Visa Bulletin brings some welcome movement across most categories. While India continues to face significant constraints, the overall picture this month is more encouraging than it has been in recent bulletins.

At Garvish Immigration Law Group, we break it down every month so you know exactly where you stand and what to do next.

How to Read the Visa Bulletin

The Visa Bulletin has two charts that matter:

  • Final Action Dates (Chart A): the date your green card can actually be approved. Your priority date must be earlier than the listed date for your case to move forward.
  • Dates for Filing (Chart B): the date you are allowed to file for Adjustment of Status, even if a green card number is not yet available.

For August 2026, USCIS will continue to accept employment-based adjustment of status filings based on the Final Action Dates chart. The Dates for Filing chart does not apply to employment-based categories this month.

For family-sponsored categories, USCIS has announced that applicants should use the Dates for Filing chart when submitting adjustment of status applications. Verify your eligibility on the USCIS website before filing.

Why Priority Dates Matter

Your priority date is your place in line. The Visa Bulletin shows how quickly that line is moving based on your visa category and country of birth. Applicants from high-demand countries like India, China, Mexico, and the Philippines typically see slower movement and longer waits.

What Is Notable This Month

The good news is that most categories under the Final Action Dates chart have moved forward this month. Many categories advanced by approximately one month, which means more applicants are becoming eligible to complete the final step of the permanent residency process.

The one significant ongoing challenge is EB-2 India, which remains unavailable for the remainder of the fiscal year. Applications in that category will not be processed by USCIS until the new fiscal year begins in October 2026. Additionally, the State Department has flagged that the EB-1 India date could also face pressure in the coming weeks if demand continues at its current pace.

Final Action Dates

Employment-Based Green Cards

  • EB-1 (Extraordinary Ability, Outstanding Professors/Researchers, Multinational Managers): 
    • China: Advances one month to July 1, 2023 
    • India: No movement 
    • All other countries: Remain current. 
  • EB-2 (Advanced Degree Professionals, National Interest Waivers): 
    • India: Unavailable for the remainder of the fiscal year 
    • China: No movement
    • All other countries: Remain current. 
  • EB-3 (Skilled Workers and Professionals): 
    • China: Advances 10 days to January 1, 2026
    • India & Philippines: No movement 
    • All other countries: Advance 1 month to September 1, 2024 
  • EB-3 (Other Workers): 
    • China: Advances 1 month to May 1, 2019
    • India: No movement 
    • Philippines: No movement
    • All other countries: Advance 1 month to April 1, 2022 
  • EB-4 (Certain Special Immigrants): 
    • All countries: Advance 1 month to October 15, 2022 
  • EB-4 (Certain Religious Workers): 
    • All countries: Advance 1 month to October 15, 2022 
  • EB-5 (Investors, Set-Aside Categories for Rural, High Unemployment, and Infrastructure): 
    • All countries including India and China: Remain current. 
  • EB-5 (Investors, Unreserved Categories): 
    • India: Unavailable for the remainder of the fiscal year 
    • China: No movement
    • All other countries: Remain current.

Family-Sponsored Green Cards:

  • F-1 (Unmarried adult children of U.S. Citizens): 
    • Philippines: No movement
    • Mexico: Advances 1 month to December 1, 2007 
    • All Others (including China and India): Advance 10 months to December, 15 2018 
  • F-2A (Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents): 
    • Mexico: Advance approximately 19 months to July 22, 2025
    • All countries: Advance approximately 19 months to July 22, 2026 
  • F-2B (Unmarried adult sons and daughters of Permanent Residents): 
    • Philippines: Advances two weeks to June 1, 2013 
    • Mexico: No movement
    • All Others (including China and India): Advance 6 weeks to January 1, 2018 
  • F-3 (Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens): 
    • Philippines: No movement
    • Mexico: Advances 1 month to July 1, 2001 
    • All Others (including China and India): Advance one month to May 15, 2012 
  • F-4 (Brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens): 
    • Philippines, India and Mexico: No movement 
    • All Others (including China): Advance approximately 8 months to September 1, 2009

Dates for Filing

Employment-Based Green Cards

Per USCIS guidance for August 2026, all employment-based categories must use the Final Action Dates chart. The Dates for Filing chart does not apply to employment-based filings this month.

Family-Sponsored Green Cards:

  • F-1 (Unmarried adult children of U.S. Citizens): 
    • Philippines: No movement 
    • Mexico: Advances 2 months to December 1, 2008
    • All Others (including China and India): Advance 5 and a half months to June 15, 2019 
  • F-2A (Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents): 
    • All countries: Remain current. 
  • F-2B (Unmarried adult sons and daughters of Permanent Residents): 
    • Philippines & Mexico: No movement
    • All Others (including China and India): Advance 7 months to January 1, 2019 
  • F-3 (Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens): 
    • Philippines & Mexico: No movement
    • All Others (including China and India): Advance approximately 3 months to March 1, 2013 
  • F-4 (Brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens): 
    • India, Philippines & Mexico: No movement 
    • All Others (including China): Advance approximately 3 and a half months to June 22, 2010

Our Guidance to You

August brings a more positive picture than we have seen in recent months, with forward movement across most categories. If your priority date has been inching closer, now is a good time to check whether you may be eligible to file or move forward.

For Indian nationals in the EB-2 category, the wait continues until October when the new fiscal year begins. If you have not already done so, this is a good time to explore whether an EB-3 filing or interfiling strategy could work for your situation given the narrowing gap between those two categories.

The F-2A category saw particularly strong movement this month, advancing nearly nineteen months for most countries. If you are a spouse or child of a lawful permanent resident, check your priority date carefully as you may be closer to filing than you think.

As always, act quickly when your date becomes current. Priority dates can shift month to month and we want to make sure you do not miss a window. Reach out to us and we will help you figure out your next step.

Stay Connected

We monitor the Visa Bulletin every month and proactively advise our clients on what it means for their case. If you have questions about August or want to plan ahead, Garvish Immigration Law Group is here. Reach out to us today.