Overview
The U.S. Department of State releases a Visa Bulletin each month to communicate which immigrant visa categories are open, and to what extent — based on per-country demand and annual numerical limits. The April 2026 bulletin (Volume XI, Number 13) is particularly notable: a significant shift in U.S. immigration processing policy is driving major advances in priority dates across many categories.
If you are waiting for a green card or an immigrant visa, this bulletin directly determines whether you can move forward with your application right now. Read on for a full breakdown.
The Big Picture: Why Dates Are Moving
A key driver of the April 2026 bulletin is the reduction in immigrant visa issuances to nationals of certain countries. The State Department cites a series of Presidential Proclamations (10949 and 10998) alongside updated Immigrant Visa Processing guidelines targeting nationalities considered high-risk for public benefits usage.
Because fewer visas are being issued to applicants from restricted countries, more visa numbers have freed up for applicants from other countries — allowing the State Department to advance priority dates significantly across many categories.
The bulletin explicitly warns, however, that these advances may be temporary. As demand materializes or administration policies shift, retrogression (a rollback of priority dates) may become necessary later in Fiscal Year 2026.
1. Family-Sponsored Visa Categories
The U.S. sets aside 226,000 family-sponsored immigrant visas annually. Priority dates are determined by when petitions were filed. Below is a summary of the Final Action Dates for April 2026 — these are the dates applicants must have earlier priority dates than in order to receive a visa number.
Final Action Dates — Family-Sponsored
| Category | All Areas | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | 01 May 2017 | 01 May 2017 | 01 May 2017 | 15 Feb 2007 | 01 May 2013 |
| F2A | 01 Feb 2024 | 01 Feb 2024 | 01 Feb 2024 | 01 Feb 2023 | 01 Feb 2024 |
| F2B | 22 May 2017 | 22 May 2017 | 22 May 2017 | 15 Feb 2009 | 08 Apr 2013 |
| F3 | 22 Dec 2011 | 22 Dec 2011 | 22 Dec 2011 | 01 May 2001 | 01 Jul 2005 |
| F4 | 08 Jun 2008 | 08 Jun 2008 | 01 Nov 2006 | 08 Apr 2001 | 01 Feb 2007 |
What This Means by Category
- F1 (Unmarried adult children of U.S. citizens): Most countries remain at May 2017, while Mexico trails significantly at February 2007 — a nearly 10-year gap.
- F2A (Spouses & minor children of LPRs): This category is listed as Current (C) on the Dates for Filing chart, meaning nearly all applicants can begin preparing documentation now.
- F2B (Unmarried adult children of LPRs): Most countries are at May 2017, but Mexico (Feb 2009) and Philippines (Apr 2013) face longer waits.
- F3 (Married children of U.S. citizens): Mexico (May 2001) and Philippines (Jul 2005) continue to experience significant backlogs — over two decades in Mexico’s case.
- F4 (Siblings of U.S. citizens): The most backlogged family category. Mexico applicants with priority dates as far back as April 2001 are still waiting.
2. Employment-Based Visa Categories
At least 140,000 employment-based (EB) immigrant visas are available annually. The April 2026 bulletin shows substantial advances in several EB categories, particularly for applicants from oversubscribed countries like India and China.
Final Action Dates — Employment-Based
| Category | All Areas | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 (Priority Workers) | Current | 01 Apr 2023 | 01 Apr 2023 | Current | Current |
| EB-2 (Advanced Degree) | Current | 01 Sep 2021 | 15 Jul 2014 | Current | Current |
| EB-3 (Skilled Workers) | 01 Jun 2024 | 15 Jun 2021 | 15 Nov 2013 | 01 Jun 2024 | 01 Aug 2023 |
| EB-3 Other Workers | 01 Nov 2021 | 01 Feb 2019 | 15 Nov 2013 | 01 Nov 2021 | 01 Nov 2021 |
| EB-4 (Special Immigrants) | 15 Jul 2022 | 15 Jul 2022 | 15 Jul 2022 | 15 Jul 2022 | 15 Jul 2022 |
| EB-5 Unreserved | Current | 01 Sep 2016 | 01 May 2022 | Current | Current |
| EB-5 Rural Set-Aside | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| EB-5 High Unemployment | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| EB-5 Infrastructure | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
Key Highlights by Category
- EB-1 (Priority Workers — Extraordinary ability, outstanding professors, multinational managers): Current for most countries. India and China are restricted to April 1, 2023 priority dates.
- EB-2 (Advanced Degree or Exceptional Ability): Also Current for most. India remains the most constrained at July 15, 2014 — reflecting a backlog measured in decades for Indian nationals.
- EB-3 (Skilled Workers & Professionals): Set at June 1, 2024 for most countries — a very recent date, reflecting good availability. India (Nov 2013) and Philippines (Aug 2023) face longer waits.
- EB-4 (Special Immigrants): Uniformly set at July 15, 2022 across all countries.
- EB-5 (Investor Visas — Unreserved): Current for most; China is at September 2016. The three set-aside subcategories (Rural, High Unemployment, Infrastructure) are all Current for every country — a key opportunity for prospective investors.
For EB-3 Other Workers: NACARA provisions reduce the annual cap to approximately 5,000 (instead of 10,000) for this subcategory. This has been in effect since FY2002.
3. Dates for Filing Applications
In addition to Final Action Dates, the Visa Bulletin publishes Dates for Filing — earlier dates that allow applicants to submit documents to the National Visa Center (or, if USCIS approves, file for adjustment of status) even before a visa number is immediately available. This can give applicants a head start.
Check www.uscis.gov/visabulletininfo to confirm whether USCIS has authorized use of the Dates for Filing charts for adjustment of status in April 2026.
Filing Dates Highlights
- Family F2A: Fully Current — all F2A applicants from all countries may now file applications regardless of priority date.
- Employment EB-1 (India & China): December 1, 2023 — an advance from the Final Action Date of April 2023, giving applicants additional lead time.
- Employment EB-2 (India): January 15, 2015 on the filing chart vs. July 2014 for final action — a meaningful difference for Indian nationals in this category.
- Employment EB-3 (Philippines): Filing date of January 1, 2024, while Final Action is August 2023.
- Employment EB-5 Unreserved (China): October 1, 2016; (India): May 1, 2024.
4. Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery — April 2026
Each fiscal year, up to 55,000 Diversity Visas are issued to immigrants from countries with historically low U.S. immigration rates. For FY2026, the DV cap has been reduced to approximately 52,000 due to NACARA set-asides and provisions under the FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
No single country may receive more than 7% of available DV numbers. Below are the April 2026 cut-off numbers — applicants with lottery rank numbers below these figures may proceed.
DV-2026 April Cut-off Numbers
| Region | Cut-off Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Africa | 55,000 | Except: Algeria 37,000 | Egypt 30,000 |
| Asia | 35,000 | Except: Nepal 10,000 |
| Europe | 20,000 | — |
| North America (Bahamas) | 50 | — |
| Oceania | 1,500 | — |
| South America & Caribbean | 3,000 | — |
The same cut-off numbers apply for May 2026 — no changes are anticipated between April and May at this time.
Important: DV-2026 entitlement expires on September 30, 2026. Diversity Visa numbers cannot be carried over. Applicants should act promptly. Historically, numbers in high-demand regions (especially Africa and Asia) can run out before the fiscal year ends.
5. Country-Specific Notes
India
Indian nationals face the longest backlogs in the employment-based system. The EB-2 final action date remains at July 2014 — meaning applicants who filed over a decade ago are only now being reached. EB-3 for India is at November 2013. The sheer volume of Indian nationals in the EB pipeline, combined with the per-country 7% cap, is the primary cause of these extended waits.
China
Chinese nationals face similar employment-based constraints. EB-1 and EB-2 are at 2021-2023 dates, and the EB-5 unreserved category sits at September 2016 for Chinese applicants. China’s family categories mirror the worldwide chart.
Mexico
Mexico faces the most severe family-sponsored backlogs. The F4 (siblings) category is at April 2001 — a 25-year wait. F3 (married children) is at May 2001. The F2A category, however, remains largely current.
Philippines
The Philippines faces backlogs in most family categories due to high historical demand. F4 is at February 2007, F3 at July 2005. Employment categories are better, with EB-3 at August 2023.
6. Key Takeaways & Action Items
Here is what applicants and immigration practitioners should focus on for April 2026:
- Check your priority date against the Final Action Dates table. If your date is earlier than the listed date in your category and country, you may be eligible to receive a visa number this month.
- Verify with USCIS whether the Dates for Filing chart is authorized for adjustment of status filings this month at www.uscis.gov/visabulletininfo.
- EB-5 investors: All three set-aside categories (Rural, High Unemployment, Infrastructure) remain Current for all countries — including China and India. This is a significant opportunity.
- DV-2026 lottery winners: Act now. The September 30, 2026 deadline is firm and non-negotiable. Numbers in Africa and Asia especially may run out before year-end.
- Beware of retrogression: The State Department has explicitly warned that advances in priority dates may be reversed later in FY2026 if demand shifts or policy changes. Lock in filings as soon as you are eligible.
- Consult an immigration attorney: Individual circumstances, concurrent filing eligibility, National Visa Center procedures, and consular processing timelines all affect your actual path forward.
