Immigration Hub

F1 China priority date

Data as of · Source: U.S. Department of State, Visa Bulletin · Sources checked

Final action date (Oct 2026)

Jan 22, 2020

Date for filing (Oct 2026)

Feb 1, 2020

Final action date change

vs last month: no change

vs 12 months ago: +38.4 months

This page tracks F1 (unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens) for applicants born in China in every Visa Bulletin since October 2015. Movement is measured between published cutoff dates; it is not a forecast. USCIS counted 257 approved F1 petitions for people born in China still waiting for a visa as of June 2026. USCIS counts only approved petitions whose priority date was not yet current that month, and only principal applicants, so the number falls whenever the cutoff moves.

About F1 for China

F1 is for unmarried sons and daughters (21 or older) of U.S. citizens: 23,400 visas a year, plus numbers not needed for F4.

China (mainland born) has its own column because demand from people born there is higher than the per-country limit of 7% of all family and employment preference visas.

Between its first dated cutoff in our records (2015) and its latest (2026), the date moved forward 12 years, advancing in 74 bulletins and retrogressing in 2.

History since 2015

Cutoff date in each monthly bulletin. Gaps are months marked Current or Unavailable.

Jan 2008Jan 2011Jan 2014Jan 2017Jan 2020Oct 2015Mar 2017Aug 2018Jan 2020Jun 2021Nov 2022Apr 2024Sep 2025Oct 2026
Final action dateDate for filing

Last 24 bulletins

BulletinFinal action dateDate for filing
October 2026Jan 22, 2020Feb 1, 2020
September 2026Jan 22, 2020Feb 1, 2020
August 2026Dec 15, 2018Jun 15, 2019
July 2026Feb 1, 2018Jan 1, 2019
June 2026Sep 1, 2017Oct 1, 2018
May 2026Sep 1, 2017Oct 1, 2018
April 2026May 1, 2017Mar 1, 2018
March 2026Nov 8, 2016Sep 1, 2017
February 2026Nov 8, 2016Sep 1, 2017
January 2026Nov 8, 2016Sep 1, 2017
December 2025Nov 8, 2016Sep 1, 2017
November 2025Nov 8, 2016Sep 1, 2017
October 2025Nov 8, 2016Sep 1, 2017
September 2025Jul 15, 2016Sep 1, 2017
August 2025Jul 15, 2016Sep 1, 2017
July 2025Jul 15, 2016Sep 1, 2017
June 2025Jun 8, 2016Sep 1, 2017
May 2025Mar 15, 2016Sep 1, 2017
April 2025Mar 15, 2016Sep 1, 2017
March 2025Nov 22, 2015Sep 1, 2017
February 2025Nov 22, 2015Sep 1, 2017
January 2025Nov 22, 2015Sep 1, 2017
December 2024Oct 22, 2015Sep 1, 2017
November 2024Oct 22, 2015Sep 1, 2017

FAQ

What is the F1 China priority date in October 2026?

In the October 2026 Visa Bulletin, the final action date for F1 (unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens), China, is Jan 22, 2020 and the date for filing is Feb 1, 2020.

How much did F1 China move in the last year?

The final action date moved forward 38.4 months, from Nov 8, 2016 in October 2025 to Jan 22, 2020 in October 2026.

Why does China have a separate column?

China (mainland born) has its own column because demand from people born there is higher than the per-country limit of 7% of all family and employment preference visas.

Other countries for F1

F1 IndiaF1 MexicoF1 PhilippinesF1 All other countries

Other categories for China

EB-1 ChinaEB-2 ChinaEB-3 ChinaEB-3 Other Workers ChinaEB-4 ChinaEB-5 ChinaF2A ChinaF2B ChinaF3 ChinaF4 China

Source: U.S. Department of State, Visa Bulletin. Check the official bulletin and USCIS filing chart before you act. All categories.