August 2026 Visa Bulletin: Family Categories Jump Sharply, EB-2 India Turns Unavailable

Family-sponsored categories see the biggest jumps

The U.S. Department of State's August 2026 Visa Bulletin advances most family-sponsored Final Action Dates significantly compared to July. F2A (spouses and minor children of permanent residents) leads with an advance of roughly 567 days — from January 1, 2025 to July 22, 2026 for all chargeability areas, China, India, and the Philippines, and roughly 568 days for Mexico (to July 22, 2025). F1 (unmarried adult children of U.S. citizens) advanced about 317 days (February 1, 2018 to December 15, 2018) for most countries, though Mexico's advance was smaller at about 23 days and the Philippines was unchanged. F4 (siblings of U.S. citizens) advanced roughly 243 days for all other chargeability areas and China, while India, Mexico, and the Philippines were unchanged. F2B and F3 moved more modestly, by about 40 and 30 days respectively for most countries.

Dates for Filing followed a similar pattern, with F2B advancing about 207 days, F1 about 165 days, F4 about 113 days, and F3 about 83 days for most chargeability areas. F2A remains Current under Dates for Filing.

Employment categories mostly steady, but EB-2 India turns Unavailable

Employment-based movement was more limited this month. EB-3 (Skilled and Other Workers) and EB-4 advanced roughly 30 days for most countries, with a smaller gain for China. EB-1, EB-2, and EB-5 remained Current for most chargeability areas. Notably, under Final Action Dates, EB-2 for India became Unavailable, as did EB-5 (Unreserved) for India — meaning no visa numbers are currently authorized for issuance in those categories this month. Dates for Filing saw little movement, with most employment categories unchanged from July.

What it means for applicants

Family-sponsored applicants, especially in F2A and F1, may see meaningful movement on their case this month given the scale of these advances. Employment-based applicants should note that USCIS decides each month whether adjustment-of-status applicants may use the Final Action Date chart or the Dates for Filing chart — so applicants should check the USCIS website rather than relying on the bulletin alone, particularly given the shift to Unavailable for India's EB-2 category under Final Action Dates.

Final Action Dates
August 2026 vs July 2026
Family-Based
All other
China
India
Mexico
Philippines
F1
Dec 15, 2018
Dec 15, 2018
Dec 15, 2018
Dec 1, 2007
May 1, 2013
F2A
Jul 22, 2026
Jul 22, 2026
Jul 22, 2026
Jul 22, 2025
Jul 22, 2026
F2B
Jan 1, 2018
Jan 1, 2018
Jan 1, 2018
Feb 15, 2009
Jun 1, 2013
F3
May 15, 2012
May 15, 2012
May 15, 2012
Jul 1, 2001
Feb 22, 2006
F4
Sep 1, 2009
Sep 1, 2009
Nov 1, 2006
Apr 8, 2001
Aug 1, 2007
Employment-Based
All other
China
India
Mexico
Philippines
EB-1
Current
Jul 1, 2023
Oct 15, 2022
Current
Current
EB-2
Current
Sep 1, 2021
Unavailable
Current
Current
EB-3 Skilled
Sep 1, 2024
Jan 1, 2022
Jan 1, 2014
Sep 1, 2024
Aug 1, 2023
EB-3 Other Workers
Apr 1, 2022
May 1, 2019
Jan 1, 2014
Apr 1, 2022
Dec 1, 2021
EB-4
Oct 15, 2022
Oct 15, 2022
Oct 15, 2022
Oct 15, 2022
Oct 15, 2022
EB-5
Current
Dec 1, 2016
Unavailable
Current
Current
Dates for Filing
August 2026 vs July 2026
Family-Based
All other
China
India
Mexico
Philippines
F1
Jun 15, 2019
Jun 15, 2019
Jun 15, 2019
Dec 1, 2008
Apr 22, 2015
F2A
Current
Current
Current
Current
Current
F2B
Jan 1, 2019
Jan 1, 2019
Jan 1, 2019
May 15, 2010
Oct 1, 2013
F3
Mar 1, 2013
Mar 1, 2013
Mar 1, 2013
Jul 15, 2001
Aug 8, 2006
F4
Jun 22, 2010
Jun 22, 2010
Dec 15, 2006
Apr 30, 2001
Mar 22, 2008
Employment-Based
All other
China
India
Mexico
Philippines
EB-1
Current
Dec 1, 2023
Dec 1, 2023
Current
Current
EB-2
Current
Jan 1, 2022
Jan 15, 2015
Current
Current
EB-3 Skilled
Current
Jan 8, 2022
Jan 15, 2015
Current
Jan 1, 2024
EB-3 Other Workers
Aug 1, 2022
Oct 1, 2019
Jan 15, 2015
Aug 1, 2022
Aug 1, 2022
EB-4
Jan 1, 2023
Jan 1, 2023
Jan 1, 2023
Jan 1, 2023
Jan 1, 2023
EB-5
Current
Mar 1, 2017
May 1, 2024
Current
Current
Final Action Date — month-over-month
August 2026 vs July 2026
F2A · All other
▲ +19 months
F2A · China
▲ +19 months
F2A · India
▲ +19 months
F2A · Mexico
▲ +19 months
F2A · Philippines
▲ +19 months
F1 · All other
▲ +11 months
F1 · China
▲ +11 months
F1 · India
▲ +11 months
F4 · All other
▲ +8 months
F4 · China
▲ +8 months
F2B · All other
▲ +1 months
F2B · China
▲ +1 months
F2B · India
▲ +1 months
EB-3 Skilled · All other
▲ +1 months
EB-3 Skilled · Mexico
▲ +1 months
EB-3 Other Workers · All other
▲ +1 months
EB-3 Other Workers · Mexico
▲ +1 months
F1 · Mexico
▲ +1 months
F2B · Philippines
▲ +1 months
F3 · All other
▲ +1 months
F3 · China
▲ +1 months
F3 · India
▲ +1 months
F3 · Mexico
▲ +1 months
EB-1 · China
▲ +1 months
EB-3 Other Workers · China
▲ +1 months
EB-4 · All other
▲ +1 months
EB-4 · China
▲ +1 months
EB-4 · India
▲ +1 months
EB-4 · Mexico
▲ +1 months
EB-4 · Philippines
▲ +1 months
EB-3 Skilled · China
▲ +10 days
F1 · Philippines
— no change
F2B · Mexico
— no change
F3 · Philippines
— no change
F4 · India
— no change
F4 · Mexico
— no change
F4 · Philippines
— no change
EB-1 · All other
— no change
EB-1 · India
— no change
EB-1 · Mexico
— no change
EB-1 · Philippines
— no change
EB-2 · All other
— no change
EB-2 · China
— no change
EB-2 · Mexico
— no change
EB-2 · Philippines
— no change
EB-3 Skilled · India
— no change
EB-3 Skilled · Philippines
— no change
EB-3 Other Workers · India
— no change
EB-3 Other Workers · Philippines
— no change
EB-5 · All other
— no change
EB-5 · China
— no change
EB-5 · Mexico
— no change
EB-5 · Philippines
— no change
Δ from previous bulletin
Dates for Filing — month-over-month
August 2026 vs July 2026
F2B · All other
▲ +7 months
F2B · China
▲ +7 months
F2B · India
▲ +7 months
F1 · All other
▲ +6 months
F1 · China
▲ +6 months
F1 · India
▲ +6 months
F4 · All other
▲ +4 months
F4 · China
▲ +4 months
F3 · All other
▲ +3 months
F3 · China
▲ +3 months
F3 · India
▲ +3 months
F1 · Mexico
▲ +2 months
EB-3 Skilled · China
▲ +7 days
F1 · Philippines
— no change
F2A · All other
— no change
F2A · China
— no change
F2A · India
— no change
F2A · Mexico
— no change
F2A · Philippines
— no change
F2B · Mexico
— no change
F2B · Philippines
— no change
F3 · Mexico
— no change
F3 · Philippines
— no change
F4 · India
— no change
F4 · Mexico
— no change
F4 · Philippines
— no change
EB-1 · All other
— no change
EB-1 · China
— no change
EB-1 · India
— no change
EB-1 · Mexico
— no change
EB-1 · Philippines
— no change
EB-2 · All other
— no change
EB-2 · China
— no change
EB-2 · India
— no change
EB-2 · Mexico
— no change
EB-2 · Philippines
— no change
EB-3 Skilled · All other
— no change
EB-3 Skilled · India
— no change
EB-3 Skilled · Mexico
— no change
EB-3 Skilled · Philippines
— no change
EB-3 Other Workers · All other
— no change
EB-3 Other Workers · China
— no change
EB-3 Other Workers · India
— no change
EB-3 Other Workers · Mexico
— no change
EB-3 Other Workers · Philippines
— no change
EB-4 · All other
— no change
EB-4 · China
— no change
EB-4 · India
— no change
EB-4 · Mexico
— no change
EB-4 · Philippines
— no change
EB-5 · All other
— no change
EB-5 · China
— no change
EB-5 · India
— no change
EB-5 · Mexico
— no change
EB-5 · Philippines
— no change
Δ from previous bulletin

Source

Department of State — August 2026 Visa Bulletin

This article is not legal advice. Always confirm details with the official source below.