US Department of State Releases April 2026 Visa Bulletin

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will use the Dates for Filing Chart for Employment-Based Adjustment of Status Applications in April 2026. The Dates for Filing chart shows significant advancement in several categories.

The US Department of State has released its April 2026 Visa Bulletin outlining per-country priority date cutoffs that regulate immigrant visa availability and the flow of adjustment of status application and consular immigrant visa application filings and approvals.

WHAT DOES THE APRIL 2026 VISA BULLETIN SAY?

The bulletin includes both a Dates for Filing Visa Applications chart and an Application Final Action Dates chart. The former indicates when intending immigrants may file their applications for adjustments of status or immigrant visas, and the latter indicates when adjustment of status applications or immigrant visa applications may be approved and permanent residence granted.

Each month, the USCIS chooses which chart it will follow. For April 2026, the USCIS will follow the Dates for Filing chart for employment-based (EB) filings for adjustment of status. This means that individuals seeking to file applications for adjustment of status with the USCIS in April 2026 must use the Dates for Filing chart below.

DATES FOR FILING CUTOFF DATES

To be eligible to file an EB adjustment application in April 2026, a foreign national must have a priority date that is earlier than the date listed below for their preference category and country. The “C” listing indicates that the category is current, and applications may be filed regardless of the applicant’s priority date. The listing of a date for any category indicates that only applicants with a priority date that is earlier than the listed date may file their applications.

EMPLOYMENT-BASED FIRST PREFERENCE (EB-1)

The EB-1 cutoff date for All Chargeability Areas, Mexico, and the Philippines will remain current. This means that all applicants chargeable to these areas whose I-485 applications have not yet been filed can file their I-485 applications with the USCIS.

The EB-1 cutoff date for China will remain December 1, 2023. This means that China EB-1 applicants whose I-485 applications have not yet been filed and who have a priority date before December 1, 2023 can file their I-485 applications with the USCIS.

The EB-1 cutoff date for India will remain December 1, 2023. This means that India EB-1 applicants whose I-485 applications have not yet been filed and have a priority date before December 1, 2023 can file their I-485 applications with the USCIS.

EMPLOYMENT-BASED SECOND PREFERENCE (EB-2)

The EB-2 cutoff date for All Chargeability Areas, Mexico, and the Philippines will remain current. This means that all applicants who are chargeable to these areas whose I-485 applications have not yet been filed can file their I-485 applications with the USCIS.

The EB-2 cutoff date for China will remain January 1, 2022. This means that China EB-2 applicants whose I-485 applications have not yet been filed and have a priority date before January 1, 2022 can file their I-485 applications with the USCIS.

The EB-2 cutoff date for India will advance two-and-a-half months to January 15, 2015. This means that India EB-2 applicants whose I-485 applications have not yet been filed and have a priority date before January 15, 2015 can file their I-485 applications with the USCIS.

EMPLOYMENT-BASED THIRD PREFERENCE (EB-3)

The EB-3 cutoff date for All Chargeability Areas and Mexico will become current. This means that all applicants chargeable to these areas whose I-485 applications have not yet been filed can file their I-485 applications with the USCIS.

The EB-3 cutoff date for China will remain January 1, 2022. This means that China EB-3 applicants whose I-485 applications have not yet been filed and have a priority date before January 1, 2022 can file their I-485 applications with the USCIS.

The EB-3 cutoff date for India will advance five months to January 15, 2015. This means that India EB-3 applicants whose I-485 applications have not yet been filed and have a priority date before January 15, 2015 can file their I-485 applications with the USCIS.

The EB-3 cutoff date for the Philippines will remain January 1, 2024. This means that India EB-3 applicants whose I-485 applications have not yet been filed and have a priority date before January 1, 2024 can file their I-485 applications with the USCIS.

OTHER WORKERS

The Other Workers cutoff date for All Chargeability Areas, Mexico, and the Philippines will advance five weeks to August 1, 2022. This means that Other Worker applicants from these areas whose I-485 applications have not yet been filed and have a priority date before August 1, 2022 can file their I-485 applications with the USCIS.

The Other Workers cutoff date for China will remain October 1, 2019. This means that Other Worker applicants from China whose I-485 applications have not yet been filed and have a priority date before October 1, 2019 can file their I-485 applications with the USCIS.

The Other Workers cutoff date for India will advance five months to January 15, 2015. This means that Other Worker applicants from India whose I-485 applications have not yet been filed and have a priority date before January 15, 2015 can file their I-485 applications with the USCIS.

SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS

The April 2026 visa bulletin cites Presidential Proclamation 10949, Presidential Proclamation 10998, and Immigrant Visa Processing Updates as examples of the administration’s actions that have decreased immigrant visa issuance rates to certain nationalities with the aim of “protect[ing] national security and public safety, and to otherwise advance the interests of the United States.”

The Department of State has thus advanced the dates for filing and final action date cutoffs across multiple immigrant visa categories to make visas available in accordance with INA sections 201–203 to prospective immigrants from other countries to use immigrant visa numbers that are available in fiscal year 2026.