United States Visa Bulletin, February 2026

On 5 January 2026, the United States Department of State published the Visa Bulletin for February 2026, providing important information on the allocation of immigrant visa numbers in the family-sponsored and employment-based categories. The bulletin is an essential document that helps applicants determine when they may file, or be interviewed at a United States consulate, and is particularly important for nationals of high-demand countries such as Vietnam, China, India, Mexico and the Philippines.

The original bulletin can be consulted at here.

Understanding priority dates and how immigrant visas are allocated

Under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), the United States immigrant visa system operates on a “first come, first served” basis. The priority date is set by the date the sponsorship petition was filed and is decisive in determining the order in which cases are processed. When the number of visa applications exceeds the permitted limit, the category becomes “oversubscribed” and the priority date is held at a specific cut-off.

In fiscal year 2026, the total visa limit for the family-sponsored categories is 226,000 and for the employment-based categories at least 140,000. Under section 202 of the INA, each country is allocated a maximum of 7% of the total, equivalent to 25,620 visas a year. This explains why countries with high application volumes, such as China, India, Mexico and the Philippines, generally have far earlier priority dates than others.

Family-sponsored visa position for February 2026

The February 2026 bulletin publishes two important date charts: the “Final Action Dates” chart and the “Dates for Filing Applications” chart. Applicants should check the website of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) at www.uscis.gov/visabulletininfo to determine which chart applies for adjustment of status purposes.

F1: unmarried sons and daughters of United States citizens

For most countries the priority date advances to 08/11/2016. Delays remain severe, however, for Mexico (22/12/2006) and the Philippines (01/03/2013), indicating waits of anywhere from 10 to almost 20 years. This is one of the longest-waiting categories in the United States visa system.

F2A: spouses and children of permanent residents

This is the fastest-moving category this month, with the priority date reaching 01/02/2024 for most countries. Mexico’s priority date is 01/02/2023, only a year behind. Notably, 77% of F2A visas are exempt from the per-country limit, and 75% of these are allocated outside country quotas, which speeds up processing for many families.

F2B: unmarried sons and daughters aged over 21 of permanent residents

The priority date for most countries is 01/12/2016, while Mexico (15/02/2009) and the Philippines (22/12/2012) face much longer waits. This gap reflects high demand and the large backlog of applications from these countries.

F3: married sons and daughters of United States citizens

The position in the F3 category shows considerable delay, with a general priority date of 08/09/2011. Mexico (01/05/2001) and the Philippines (01/03/2005) continue to have the most severe backlogs, with waits that can reach 25 years.

F4: brothers and sisters of United States citizens

F4 has the longest wait of all the family-sponsored categories. The priority date for most countries is 08/01/2008, but for India (01/11/2006), Mexico (08/04/2001) and the Philippines (22/07/2006), the wait can exceed two decades.

Employment-based visa update for February 2026

Employment-based visas are divided into five main preference groups, each receiving 28.6% (for EB-1, EB-2 and EB-3) or 7.1% (for EB-4 and EB-5) of the total worldwide limit.

EB-1: priority workers

EB-1 remains “current” (unrestricted) for most countries, apart from China and India, where the priority date is 01/02/2023. This means applicants from unrestricted countries may file at any time without waiting.

EB-2: professionals holding advanced degrees and persons of exceptional ability

Priority dates in the EB-2 category vary widely between countries. While most countries have a priority date of 01/04/2024, China (01/09/2021) and, in particular, India (15/07/2013) face considerably longer waits. India has the most severe backlog in this category, with a wait of almost 13 years.

EB-3: skilled workers, professionals and other workers

EB-3 for most countries has a priority date of 01/06/2023, while China (01/05/2021) and India (15/11/2013) continue to lag behind. For the “Other Workers” group the position is more severe still, with a priority date of only 01/09/2021 for most countries and 15/11/2013 for India.

Under the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act (NACARA), the quota for the “Other Workers” group was reduced from 10,000 to 5,000 a year with effect from fiscal year 2002. In fiscal year 2026 this figure is reduced by a further 150 visas or so.

EB-4: certain special immigrants

EB-4 has a general priority date of 01/01/2021 for all countries. The EB-4 sub-category for Certain Religious Workers, however, is currently marked “U” (unauthorised), as the programme expired on 30/01/2026 under H.R. 5371. All SR visas must be issued, and recipients must enter the United States, before midnight on 29/01/2026.

EB-5: immigrant investors

The Unreserved EB-5 category remains “current” for most countries, apart from China (15/08/2016) and India (01/05/2022). The three reserved categories — rural area investment (20%), high-unemployment area investment (10%) and infrastructure projects (2%) — all remain “current” for all countries.

Information on the Diversity Visa programme (DV-2026)

The DV programme offers up to 55,000 visas a year to nationals of countries with low rates of immigration to the United States over the preceding five years. Because of the provisions of NACARA and the National Defense Authorization Act 2024 (NDAA), however, the DV-2026 limit has been reduced to around 52,000 visas.

In February 2026 the regional allocation figures are as follows:

• Africa: 45,000 (except Algeria: 37,000 and Egypt: 21,000)
• Asia: 30,000 (except Nepal: 6,500)
• Europe: 11,000
• North America (Bahamas): 25
• Oceania: 1,175
• South America and the Caribbean: 2,000

DV visa entitlements are valid only until 30/09/2026, and there is no guarantee that visa numbers will remain available until the end of the fiscal year. Selectees should therefore complete their documentation and interview as early as possible.

How to use the Visa Bulletin effectively

To make the most of the Visa Bulletin, applicants need to understand the difference between the two date charts. The “Final Action Dates” chart shows the priority dates of those who may be interviewed and issued a visa, or complete adjustment of status. The “Dates for Filing Applications” chart, by contrast, allows those whose priority date falls within the stated range to begin submitting documents to the National Visa Center (NVC).

USCIS announces on its official website each month which chart applies to adjustment of status applications. Applicants should check this regularly so as not to miss the opportunity to file when their priority date arrives.

Points to note when following the Visa Bulletin

Priority dates can advance or move back at any time, depending on visa demand and application volumes. Where a priority date moves back (retrogression), only requests for visa numbers with priority dates within the new range will continue to be processed. This tends to happen when too many applications are filed within a short period or when visa numbers approach the permitted limit.

For those waiting in the system, following the Visa Bulletin each month is extremely important. The bulletin is published around the 10th to 15th of the month preceding the month it applies to, giving applicants time to prepare the necessary documents.

Conclusion

The February 2026 Visa Bulletin continues to reflect severe backlogs in the United States immigrant visa system, particularly for high-demand countries. While some categories such as F2A and EB-1 show positive movement, others such as F4 and EB-2 for India still face waits of many years. Applicants should seek advice from an experienced immigration lawyer to understand their individual position and plan their immigration journey accordingly.