Visa Bulletin — January 2026 priority dates (family + employment)
Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing for family-sponsored and employment-based immigrant visas, January 2026. Official State Department / USCIS source.
Visa Bulletin priority dates — January 2026
The U.S. State Department publishes the Visa Bulletin monthly to show which family-sponsored and employment-based immigrant visa applicants can move forward in their case. This page contains the January 2026 bulletin.
Two charts apply each month:
- Final Action Dates — when a visa can actually be issued (consular processing) or adjustment of status can be approved.
- Dates for Filing — when applicants can submit their adjustment of status (I-485) paperwork. USCIS chooses each month which chart applies for I-485 filings.
⚠️ Always verify the current month’s bulletin at travel.state.gov before filing. Priority dates can retrogress (move backwards) some months.
Family-Sponsored — Final Action Dates (January 2026)
| Family- Sponsored | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | CHINA-mainland born | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | 08NOV16 | 08NOV16 | 08NOV16 | 01SEP06 | 01MAR13 |
| F2A | 01FEB24 | 01FEB24 | 01FEB24 | 01FEB23 | 01FEB24 |
| F2B | 01DEC16 | 01DEC16 | 01DEC16 | 15NOV08 | 22DEC12 |
| F3 | 08SEP11 | 08SEP11 | 08SEP11 | 01MAY01 | 01MAR05 |
| F4 | 08JAN08 | 08JAN08 | 01NOV06 | 08APR01 | 22JUL06 |
Family-Sponsored — Dates for Filing (January 2026)
| Family- Sponsored | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | CHINA- mainland born | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | 01SEP17 | 01SEP17 | 01SEP17 | 01SEP07 | 22APR15 |
| F2A | 22DEC25 | 22DEC25 | 22DEC25 | 22DEC25 | 22DEC25 |
| F2B | 15MAR17 | 15MAR17 | 15MAR17 | 15NOV09 | 01OCT13 |
| F3 | 22JUL12 | 22JUL12 | 22JUL12 | 01JUL01 | 01FEB06 |
| F4 | 01MAR09 | 01MAR09 | 15DEC06 | 30APR01 | 15JAN08 |
Employment-Based — Final Action Dates (January 2026)
| Employment- based | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | CHINA- mainland born | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | C | 01FEB23 | 01FEB23 | C | C |
| 2nd | 01APR24 | 01SEP21 | 15JUL13 | 01APR24 | 01APR24 |
| 3rd | 22APR23 | 01MAY21 | 15NOV13 | 22APR23 | 22APR23 |
| Other Workers | 01SEP21 | 08DEC18 | 15NOV13 | 01SEP21 | 01SEP21 |
| 4th | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 |
| Certain Religious Workers | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 | 01JAN21 |
| 5th Unreserved (including C5, T5, I5, R5, NU, RU) | C | 15AUG16 | 01MAY22 | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: Rural (20%, including NR, RR) | C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: High Unemployment (10%, including NH, RH) | C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: Infrastructure (2%, including RI) | C | C | C | C | C |
Employment-Based — Dates for Filing (January 2026)
| Employment- based | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | CHINA- mainland born | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | C | 01AUG23 | 01AUG23 | C | C |
| 2nd | 15OCT24 | 01JAN22 | 01DEC13 | 15OCT24 | 15OCT24 |
| 3rd | 01JUL23 | 01JAN22 | 15AUG14 | 01JUL23 | 01JUL23 |
| Other Workers | 01DEC21 | 01OCT19 | 15AUG14 | 01DEC21 | 01DEC21 |
| 4th | 15MAR21 | 15MAR21 | 15MAR21 | 15MAR21 | 15MAR21 |
| Certain Religious Workers | 15MAR21 | 15MAR21 | 15MAR21 | 15MAR21 | 15MAR21 |
| 5th Unreserved (including C5, T5, I5, R5) | C | 22AUG16 | 01MAY24 | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: (Rural: NR, RR - 20%) | C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: (High Unemployment: NH, RH - 10%) | C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: (Infrastructure: RI - 2%) | C | C | C | C | C |
How to read this bulletin
Find the row for your category (F1, F2A, F2B, F3, F4 for family; EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, EB-4, EB-5 for employment) and the column for your country of birth (or ‘All Chargeability Areas’ if your country isn’t listed separately). The date shown is the cutoff: if your priority date is BEFORE this date, you can move forward; if AFTER, you wait.
Date format: “01JAN25” means January 1, 2025. “C” means current (no wait). “U” means unavailable.
Common family categories
- F1 — Unmarried sons/daughters of U.S. citizens (21+)
- F2A — Spouses + minor children of LPRs (under 21)
- F2B — Unmarried sons/daughters of LPRs (21+)
- F3 — Married sons/daughters of U.S. citizens
- F4 — Brothers/sisters of U.S. citizens (longest waits)
Common employment categories
- EB-1 — Priority workers (extraordinary ability, multinational executives)
- EB-2 — Advanced degree professionals, exceptional ability (NIW)
- EB-3 — Skilled workers, professionals, other workers
- EB-4 — Special immigrants (religious workers, SIJ, etc.)
- EB-5 — Investors
Related procedural information
- USCIS Form I-130 — Family petition — start the family-sponsored process
- USCIS Form I-485 — Adjustment of status — when you can file once your priority date is current
- Find an immigration attorney — for case strategy
- BIA-recognized legal help by state — low-cost representation
Last verified: 2026-05-27. Source: U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin. General procedural information — not legal advice. Verify current bulletin before filing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Visa Bulletin and why does it matter?
What does my 'priority date' mean?
Why does Mexico, India, China, or the Philippines have different dates?
Where do I see updates and check my case status?
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General information, not legal advice. MigrantUSA is an independent publisher and is not a law firm; using this site does not create an attorney-client relationship, and this content is not a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney about your specific situation. US federal, state, and local government procedures, fees, and forms change. Always verify current details directly with the relevant agency before acting. For immigration, tax, or other legal matters specific to your situation, consult a licensed attorney or BIA-accredited representative.