The U.S. Department of State has released the February 2026 Visa Bulletin, marking a continued cautious start to FY-2026. As expected early in the fiscal year, most immigrant visa categories show limited movement, with modest forward shifts in certain family- and employment-based cutoff dates and expanded Diversity Visa (DV-2026) numbers.
February’s bulletin reflects long-standing DOS allocation strategies: preserve visa numbers early in the year, monitor overall demand across categories and countries, and incrementally advance cut-off dates once usage becomes clearer. These controlled movements align with patterns seen in previous fiscal years and offer useful insight into potential progress through spring and summer 2026.
Family-Sponsored Categories – Final Action Dates
F1 – Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
All Chargeability / China / India: November 8, 2016
Mexico: September 1, 2006
Philippines: March 1, 2013
Trend & Projection:
F1 continues its historically slow pace. Like many family-based categories, cutoff dates remain well behind recent filing dates, and only incremental advancement is likely as the year progresses.
F2A – Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents
All Chargeability / China / India / Philippines: February 1, 2024
Mexico: February 1, 2023
Trend & Projection:
F2A remains the most current family-based category. Early-year Filing Dates continue to run well ahead of Final Action Dates, and historical trends suggest terms of movement could widen later in FY-2026.
F2B – Unmarried Adult Children of Permanent Residents
All Chargeability / China / India: December 1, 2016
Mexico: November 15, 2008
Philippines: December 22, 2012
Trend & Projection:
F2B shows modest, uneven progress, consistent with long-term patterns. Expect at best incremental advancement later this year.
F3 – Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
All Chargeability / China / India: September 8, 2011
Mexico: May 1, 2001
Philippines: March 1, 2005
Trend & Projection:
F3 remains constrained by continued high demand and established backlogs. Only minimal advancement is anticipated this fiscal year.
F4 – Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens
All Chargeability / China: January 8, 2008
India: November 1, 2006
Mexico: April 8, 2001
Philippines: July 22, 2006
Trend & Projection:
F4 remains one of the slowest-moving family categories. As in prior months, only minor adjustments are likely later in FY-2026.
Family-Sponsored Categories – Dates for Filing
-
F1: September 1, 2017 (Mexico: September 1, 2007; Philippines: April 22, 2015)
-
F2A: December 22, 2025 (all countries)
-
F2B: March 15, 2017 (Mexico: November 15, 2009; Philippines: October 1, 2013)
-
F3: July 22, 2012 (Mexico: July 1, 2001; Philippines: February 1, 2006)
-
F4: March 1, 2009 (India: December 15, 2006; Mexico: April 30, 2001; Philippines: January 15, 2008)
Trend & Projection:
Early-year Dates for Filing positions remain intentionally more generous, offering broader filing eligibility for adjustment of status in certain categories if USCIS designates the filing chart for that month.
Employment-Based Categories – Final Action Dates
EB-1 – Priority Workers
All Chargeability / Mexico / Philippines: Current
China: February 1, 2023
India: February 1, 2023
Trend & Projection:
EB-1 remains stable and largely current for most countries, with China and India continuing their moderate backlog positions. If demand patterns allow, slight advancement later in FY-2026 is possible.
EB-2 – Advanced Degree / Exceptional Ability
All Chargeability / Mexico / Philippines: April 1, 2024
China: September 1, 2021
India: July 15, 2013
Trend & Projection:
EB-2 for India remains deeply oversubscribed, with little expected movement. China may see incremental advancement later if visa numbers permit.
EB-3 – Skilled Workers and Professionals
All Chargeability / Mexico / Philippines: April 22, 2023
China: May 1, 2021
India: November 15, 2013
Trend & Projection:
EB-3 continues to run slightly ahead of EB-2 for India, but overall progress is expected to stay conservative throughout FY-2026.
EB-3 Other Workers
All Chargeability / Mexico / Philippines: September 1, 2021
China: December 8, 2018
India: November 15, 2013
Trend & Projection:
Statutory caps and other allocation limits continue to constrain movement, making meaningful forward shifts unlikely this fiscal year.
EB-4 – Special Immigrants (Including Certain Religious Workers)
Worldwide: January 1, 2021
Trend & Projection:
EB-4 remains steady, though potential legislative changes could affect the Certain Religious Workers subcategory later in FY-2026.
EB-5 – Immigrant Investors
Unreserved – China: August 15, 2016
Unreserved – India: May 1, 2022
All Other Countries: Current
Set-Asides (Rural, High Unemployment, Infrastructure): Current for all countries
Trend & Projection:
EB-5 set-aside categories continue to dominate investor visa availability and are expected to stay current throughout FY-2026, while unreserved backlogs for China and India persist.
Diversity Visa (DV-2026)
The February bulletin reflects continued expansion in Diversity Visa cut-offs, a typical early-year trend:
-
Africa: 45,000
-
Asia: 30,000
-
Europe: 11,000
-
North America (Bahamas): 25
-
Oceania: 1,175
-
South America/Caribbean: 2,000
Trend & Projection:
DV numbers historically rise sharply through the winter and early spring months before moderating mid-year, indicating continued expansion for March 2026 cut-offs.
Bottom Line
The February 2026 Visa Bulletin confirms a predictable early fiscal-year pattern: steady family-based progress led by F2A, cautious employment-based advancement, continued strength in EB-5 visa availability, and ongoing expansion of DV-2026 numbers.
Based on historical visa allocation trends and demand patterns, more significant movement is likely to emerge in late spring or summer 2026, especially within F2A, EB-1 (China and India), and select EB-2 and EB-3 categories.
Schedule a Consultation with an Immigration Lawyer
We Can Help!
If you have questions regarding U.S. Immigration, we invite you to contact our team at Richards and Jurusik for detailed guidance and assistance. We aim to provide the most accurate and up-to-date information to make your immigration process smoother and less stressful. The immigration lawyers at Richards and Jurusik have decades of experience helping people to work and live in the United States. Please read some of our hundreds of 5-star client reviews! Contact us today to assess your legal situation.
JEREMY L. RICHARDS is the founding partner of Richards and Jurusik and has dedicated his career to U.S. immigration law, with a specialized focus on assisting Canadian and Mexican citizens under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to work and live in the United States. (Full Bio)
