What You Need to Know
The State Department dropped the April 2026 Visa Bulletin earlier this week, and there’s genuinely good news in it. USCIS confirmed that both family-sponsored and employment-based applicants can use the Dates for Filing chart for adjustment of status this month, and several categories moved forward in meaningful ways.
Where the Dates Landed
Employment-Based Visas
EB-1 is still current for most of the world. India and China are the exceptions, but both pushed forward to April 1, 2023, which is real progress for those applicants.
EB-2 moved modestly. India is now on July 15, 2014, China reached September 1, 2021, and everyone else remains current. Not dramatic movement, but movement, nonetheless.
EB-3 tells a more complicated story. India is still deeply backlogged as of November 15, 2013, years away from resolution for many people. China has advanced to June 15, 2021, while the rest of the world is still on June 1, 2024. EB-3 Other Workers largely mirrors those numbers: India stays aligned with EB-3, China is on February 1, 2019, and all other countries land on November 1, 2021.
EB-4 moved to July 15, 2022, and religious worker visas remain available through September 30, 2026.
EB-5 is current across the board except for India (May 1, 2022) and China (September 1, 2016). All set-aside categories remain current.
Family-Based Visas
In the F-1 category, covering unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, the Dates for Filing for the Philippines sees now change. Mexico’s will advance four and a half months to April 15, 2018. All other countries will advance by six months to March 1, 2018.
In the F-2A category, covering spouses and minor children of permanent residents, Dates for Filing will remain current.
The F-2B category sees no movement for the Philippines this month. Meanwhile, the cutoff dates will advance by three months to May 15, 2010. The cutoff dates for all other countries will advance five months to August 8, 2017.
In the F-3 category, the Dates for Filing for Mexico won’t change from March. The cutoff date for the Philippines will advance by six weeks to July 15, 2006. The Dates for Filing for all other countries will advance by four months to November 22, 2012.
In the F-4 category, the Dates for Filing for Mexico and India won’t change from last month. The cutoff date for the Philippines will advance by two months to March 22, 2008. The Dates for Filing for all other countries will advance by two and a half months to May 15, 2009.
Why the Dates for Filing chart Matters
USCIS has now allowed use of the Dates for Filing chart for six consecutive months. That’s not a coincidence; it signals that the government wants more filings in the pipeline. For applicants whose priority dates fall within the filing chart, this opens the door to submit Form I-485 now, which immediately unlocks access to work permits and advance parole while the underlying petition works its way through.
Be Aware
Priority dates can and do retrogress. As visa numbers get used up during the fiscal year, cutoff dates sometimes move backward, temporarily closing the window for new filers. If your date is close to becoming eligible, waiting is a gamble. Filing now, while the window is open, locks in your benefits regardless of what happens to the dates later.
What ILBSG Clients should do Right Now
Check your priority date and compare it against the Dates for Filing chart today. If you’re eligible or close, start organizing your documents immediately. You should contact our office to avoid delays with medicals, civil documents, or supplements.
As always, ILBSG actively monitors ongoing U.S. immigration news. If you have questions about any U.S. immigration related issue, contact us. Working with an experienced attorney ensures you get the right advice based on the most recent laws. In an ever-evolving immigration policy landscape, it’s particularly critical you get the right advice.