When Can You File for Adjustment of Status? February 2026 Visa Bulletin Guide

If you’re planning to become a U.S. permanent resident through a family relationship or a job opportunity, timing is everything. Not everyone can submit an Adjustment of Status application right away — your eligibility depends on visa availability in your category.

This guide breaks down how to know when you can file Form I-485 and what the latest visa bulletin updates mean for you.

Who Needs to Wait Before Filing?

If a family member or employer has not yet filed an immigrant petition for you, that step must come first.

If your petition has already been submitted or approved, you may still need to wait until a visa number becomes available in your preference category before you can move forward with your green card application.

Your place in line is determined by your priority date — usually the date your petition (or labor certification, if required) was officially filed.

How to Use the Visa Bulletin Charts

To find out if you can apply this month:

  1. Locate your visa category (family-sponsored or employment-based).
  2. Find your country of birth across the top of the chart.
  3. Compare your priority date with the listed date.
    • If the chart shows “C” (Current), visas are available and you may file.
    • If your priority date is earlier than the listed date, you may file.
    • If you see “U”, visas are currently unavailable in that category.

February 2026 – Family-Sponsored Filing Dates

CategoryAll Other CountriesChinaIndiaMexicoPhilippines
F1 (Unmarried sons/daughters of U.S. citizens)01 Sep 201701 Sep 201701 Sep 201701 Dec 200722 Apr 2015
F2A (Spouses & children of permanent residents)22 Jan 202622 Jan 202622 Jan 202622 Jan 202622 Jan 2026
F2B (Unmarried adult children of permanent residents)15 Mar 201715 Mar 201715 Mar 201715 Feb 201001 Oct 2013
F3 (Married children of U.S. citizens)22 Jul 201222 Jul 201222 Jul 201201 Jul 200101 Feb 2006
F4 (Siblings of adult U.S. citizens)01 Mar 200901 Mar 200915 Dec 200630 Apr 200115 Jan 2008

📅 February 2026 – Employment-Based Filing Dates

CategoryAll Other CountriesChinaIndiaMexicoPhilippines
EB-1 Priority WorkersCurrent01 Aug 202301 Aug 2023CurrentCurrent
EB-2 Advanced Degree/Exceptional Ability15 Oct 202401 Jan 202201 Dec 201315 Oct 202415 Oct 2024
EB-3 Skilled Workers & Professionals01 Oct 202301 Jan 202215 Aug 201401 Oct 202301 Oct 2023
Other Workers01 Dec 202101 Oct 201915 Aug 201401 Dec 202101 Dec 2021
EB-4 Special Immigrants15 Mar 202115 Mar 202115 Mar 202115 Mar 202115 Mar 2021
Religious WorkersUnavailableUnavailableUnavailableUnavailableUnavailable
EB-5 UnreservedCurrent22 Aug 201601 May 2024CurrentCurrent
EB-5 Rural Set-AsideCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
EB-5 High Unemployment Set-AsideCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
EB-5 Infrastructure Set-AsideCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent

Why the Visa Bulletin Matters

Each month, the U.S. Department of State releases the Visa Bulletin to show how many immigrant visas are available. Because there are annual limits for many green card categories, not everyone can apply at once.

To improve fairness and predictability, immigration agencies now use two charts:

  • Dates for Filing – when applicants may submit their paperwork early
  • Final Action Dates – when a green card can actually be approved

USCIS decides each month which chart applicants must follow. When more visas are available, the Dates for Filing chart allows people to apply sooner and get in line.

How USCIS Decides When More Applications Can Be Filed

Officials review:

  • The number of pending green card applications
  • Visa demand reported by U.S. consulates
  • Historical trends like denials or withdrawn cases

This helps ensure that as many immigrant visas as possible are issued each year without exceeding legal limits.

Don’t Miss Your Filing Window

Visa bulletin dates can move forward — or backward — without much warning. Filing as soon as you become eligible can help you:

Lock in your place in line
Apply for work and travel authorization
Move closer to permanent residence

Ready to Apply for Your Green Card?

Understanding your priority date is just the first step. Preparing your Adjustment of Status application correctly is crucial to avoiding delays or denials.

Check your eligibility and start your Adjustment of Status application today. Getting started now could save you months of waiting later.

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