How to read the Visa Bulletin
Data as of · Source: USCIS and U.S. Department of State
The U.S. Department of State publishes the Visa Bulletin every month. It shows, for each green card preference category and country, the priority date cutoff that applies that month. USCIS gives these steps for using the charts.
Three steps
- 1
Find your category row
Find your visa type in the first column on the left of the chart (family-sponsored or employment-based).
- 2
Move right to your country
Stay in that row and move to the column for your country of birth (country of chargeability). If your country has no column of its own, use "All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed".
- 3
Compare the dates
If the chart shows "C" (current), or your priority date is earlier than the date shown, your priority date is within the cutoff for that month.
Example from the October 2026 bulletin: the EB-2 row, India column, final action date is Nov 1, 2013. An EB-2 applicant born in India with an earlier priority date is within the cutoff that month. See the EB-2 India history.
Family-sponsored categories
Annual minimum of 226,000 family-sponsored preference visas.
| Category | Who it is for | Annual numbers |
|---|---|---|
| F1 | Unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens | 23,400 a year, plus numbers not needed for F4 |
| F2A | Spouses and children of permanent residents | 77% of the second preference, 75% of which are exempt from the per-country limit |
| F2B | Unmarried sons and daughters (21 or older) of permanent residents | 23% of the second preference |
| F3 | Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens | 23,400, plus numbers not needed by F1 and F2 |
| F4 | Brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens | 65,000, plus numbers not needed by F1 to F3 |
Employment-based categories
At least 140,000 employment-based preference visas a year.
| Category | Who it is for | Annual numbers |
|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | Priority workers | 28.6% of the employment-based level |
| EB-2 | Members of the professions holding advanced degrees or persons of exceptional ability | 28.6% |
| EB-3 | Skilled workers, professionals, and other workers | 28.6%, of which up to 10,000 for Other Workers |
| EB-4 | Certain special immigrants (including religious workers) | 7.1% |
| EB-5 | Employment creation (investors) | 7.1%: 20% rural, 10% high unemployment, 2% infrastructure, 68% unreserved |
Two charts each month
Every bulletin has a Final Action Dates chart and a Dates for Filing chart for each group. USCIS says each month which one adjustment of status applicants must use. Read the difference.
FAQ
What does "C" mean in the Visa Bulletin?
The bulletin defines "C" as current: numbers are authorized for issuance to all qualified applicants in that category and country.
What does "U" mean?
The bulletin defines "U" as unauthorized: numbers are not authorized for issuance in that category and country that month.
Why do only some countries have their own column?
Each country is limited to 7% of the family-sponsored and employment-based preference visas in a year. The bulletin gives a separate column to countries where demand is over that limit. In the October 2026 bulletin these were China (mainland born), India, Mexico and the Philippines.
More guides
Sources: U.S. Department of State, Visa Bulletin (category definitions and annual numbers from the October 2026 issue); USCIS, When to File Your Adjustment of Status Application. This page explains published rules and is not legal advice.