How to Read the Visa Bulletin (Family-Based Cases): A 2026 Walkthrough
The Department of State Visa Bulletin decoded for family green card cases: priority dates, country charts, Final Action Dates vs Dates for Filing, and how USCIS picks which chart applies each month.
📋 Informational · Not legal advice
The Visa Bulletin changes every month. This article shows how to read it — for your specific category, look at the live document. MBO Immigration LLC tracks priority dates for our clients but is not a law firm.
The Department of State Visa Bulletin is published monthly and controls when family-based and employment-based immigrants can move forward to a green card. Reading it correctly tells you whether your case is ready to file the I-485 (in the U.S.) or schedule a consular interview (abroad).
Where to find it
Always use the official source: travel.state.gov — Visa Bulletin. There’s a new bulletin every month, usually issued mid-month for the following month.
The two charts
Each bulletin shows two charts for family-based categories:
- Final Action Date (Chart A) — the earliest priority date for which a green card may actually be issued that month. This is the binding chart for consular processing every month.
- Date for Filing (Chart B) — the date by which an applicant may submit certain documents (like adjusting status with USCIS). This is more generous than Final Action Date, but USCIS announces each month whether adjustment of status filers may use Chart B for that month.
USCIS publishes the answer at USCIS Visa Availability and Priority Dates within a few business days of each Visa Bulletin.
How priority date works
Your priority date is the date USCIS received your I-130 petition. It’s printed on the I-797C receipt notice and on the approval notice when the I-130 is approved.
Your priority date stays with you. When the bulletin shows that your category and country has reached or passed your date, your case is current.
Reading a row
Family chart, simplified:
| Family | All Chargeability | Mexico | India | China | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | 01JUL2018 | 01MAY2003 | 01JUL2018 | 01JUL2018 | 01OCT2013 |
| F2A | C | C | C | C | C |
| F2B | 22OCT2017 | 01OCT2003 | 22OCT2017 | 22OCT2017 | 22FEB2013 |
| F3 | 22JAN2011 | 01MAR2002 | 22JAN2011 | 22JAN2011 | 22FEB2003 |
| F4 | 22NOV2008 | 22MAR2001 | 15JUL2007 | 22NOV2008 | 22FEB2003 |
What this row means:
- C = current (no waiting list).
- A date = priority date must be before this date for the case to move forward in that month.
- “All Chargeability” = the world (other than the four columns called out).
- The four columns are countries with separate quotas because they have lots of applicants.
Find your column
Use the country of birth of the principal beneficiary, not nationality and not country of residence. Some applicants can “cross-charge” to a spouse or parent’s country of birth — that’s a strategy area for an attorney.
What “current” means in practice
- Final Action Date current + you’re abroad → consular processing can issue the visa.
- Final Action Date current + you’re in the U.S. → I-485 will adjudicate when ready.
- Date for Filing current + USCIS allows Chart B + you’re in the U.S. → file I-485 now even though final approval will wait until Final Action Date moves.
Retrogression
Sometimes the bulletin moves backward — that’s called retrogression. It can happen when demand exceeds supply for a fiscal year. If you already filed the I-485 under Chart B, your case waits until your priority date is current again on Chart A. Existing filings aren’t lost.
Categorial notes for 2026
- F2A has been current most of 2024 and 2025; expect possible retrogression any time.
- Mexico sees the longest waits across F1, F3, F4.
- Philippines sees long F4 waits.
- India is mostly affected on employment-based EB-2 / EB-3 (not family).
- All Chargeability is the easiest column for any non-listed country.
How MBO Immigration helps
For each family case we:
- Identify your category and country chart.
- Track your priority date against monthly Visa Bulletin updates.
- File the I-485 the moment USCIS allows (Chart A or Chart B per the month).
- Coordinate with consular processing if abroad.