At a Glance
- Employment-based (EB) Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing largely remain unchanged for February 2026.
- Key exception: Advancement in the EB-3 Professional and Skilled Worker category for all countries except China and India.
- Final Action Dates advance by five weeks.
- Dates for Filing advance by three months.
- EB-4 Certain Religious Workers (SR) category is set to expire on January 30, 2026, absent legislative reauthorization.
According to the Department of State’s February 2026 Visa Bulletin, the following Final Action Dates will apply to immigrant visa issuance and adjustment of status approvals:
Final Action Dates – Employment-Based Categories
EB-1 (Priority Workers)
- China: February 1, 2023
- India: February 1, 2023
- All other countries: Current
EB-2 (Members of the Professions with Advanced Degrees or Exceptional Ability)
- China: September 1, 2021
- India: July 15, 2013
- All other countries: April 1, 2024
EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers
- China: May 1, 2021
- India: November 15, 2013
- All other countries: June 1, 2023 (advanced five weeks)
EB-3 Other Workers
- China: December 8, 2018
- India: November 15, 2013
- All other countries: September 1, 2021
EB-4 (Except Certain Religious Workers)
- All countries: January 1, 2021
EB-5 Immigrant Investors
- Unreserved Categories
- China: August 15, 2016
- India: May 1, 2022
- All other countries: Current
- Set-Aside Categories (Rural, High Unemployment, Infrastructure):
- All countries: Current
Dates for Filing – February 2026
The Dates for Filing chart remains unchanged for most categories and countries. The notable exception is EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers (Worldwide), which advances by three months.
EB-1
- China: August 1, 2023
- India: August 1, 2023
- All other countries: Current
EB-2
- China: January 1, 2022
- India: December 1, 2013
- All other countries: October 15, 2024
EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers
- China: January 1, 2022
- India: August 15, 2014
- All other countries: October 1, 2023
EB-3 Other Workers
- China: October 1, 2019
- India: August 15, 2014
- All other countries: December 1, 2021
EB-4 (Except Certain Religious Workers)
- All countries: March 15, 2021
EB-5 Unreserved
- China: August 22, 2016
- India: May 1, 2024
- All other countries: Current
EB-5 Set-Asides (Rural, High Unemployment, Infrastructure)
- All countries: Current
In the coming days, USCIS will confirm on its Visa Bulletin webpage whether applicants may file adjustment of status applications using the Final Action Dates chart or the Dates for Filing chart for February.
EB-4 Certain Religious Workers (SR) Program: Imminent Expiration Risk
The EB-4 Certain Religious Worker (SR) program is scheduled to expire on January 30, 2026, unless Congress acts to reauthorize it.
- If the program is not extended, the SR category will become “Unavailable” immediately after midnight on January 29, 2026.
- No SR immigrant visas may be issued abroad, and USCIS will be unable to approve or finalize adjustment of status cases after that time.
- Immigrant visas issued before expiration will be valid only until January 29, 2026, and all SR applicants must be admitted to the U.S. by that date.
- If the program is extended, the EB-4 Final Action Date of January 1, 2021 would apply to the SR category for the remainder of January and throughout February 2026.
Key Observations
- EB-3 Worldwide applicants may benefit from both earlier filing eligibility and modest Final Action movement; case readiness should be reviewed promptly.
- Religious worker sponsors and beneficiaries should closely monitor legislative developments and prepare contingency plans in light of the imminent SR expiration.
- Employers and applicants should confirm USCIS filing guidance before submitting adjustment of status applications.
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