Visa Bulletin Release Schedule: When & How to Check Monthly
Published 2026-08-08 · Sources: U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin, USCIS
Photo: Jakub Żerdzicki via UnsplashThe first question most new applicants ask is not “how long is the wait” but “when do I look?” The visa bulletin release schedule is the answer, and getting it wrong means missing a filing window that can close as fast as it opens. The bulletin is the single source of truth for green-card cutoff dates, published by the U.S. Department of State. Knowing its rhythm and its two charts is the foundation for reading your own case correctly.
When it comes out
The Department of State typically releases the Visa Bulletin around the middle of each month, and each release sets the cutoffs that take effect the following month. The bulletin issued in mid-August, for example, governs September. The exact day can drift by a few days, so the safe habit is to check around the middle of every month rather than circle a fixed calendar date.
The two charts
Every preference category carries two charts, and they are not interchangeable:
- Final Action Dates (FAD) — the date by which a visa number must be available for a case to be finalized or an adjustment of status to be approved.
- Dates for Filing (DFF) — the earlier date by which you may submit a filing (such as an adjustment package) even though final action may still be months or years away.
The Dates for Filing chart is usually more generous than the Final Action chart. Which one applies to you depends on where you file and on USCIS’s monthly choice (below). For the precise DFF values in any month, always read the official bulletin rather than a restated figure outside the verified Final Action Dates.
Effective dates and who uses which chart
Consular applicants abroad generally use the Final Action Dates chart. Applicants adjusting status inside the United States must check USCIS each month: USCIS announces whether adjustment filers may use the Final Action Dates chart or the (usually earlier) Dates for Filing chart. That announcement can flip month to month, so an applicant eligible to file one month may need to wait if the chart choice changes.
August 2026 employment Final Action Dates (verified)
As a concrete example, here are the verified August 2026 employment Final Action Dates by area.
| Area | EB1 | EB2 | EB3 | EB3 OW | EB4 | EB5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Areas | C | C | 01SEP24 | 01APR22 | 15OCT22 | C |
| China | 01JUL23 | 01SEP21 | 01JAN22 | 01MAY19 | 15OCT22 | 01DEC16 |
| India | 15OCT22 | U | 01JAN14 | 01JAN14 | 15OCT22 | U |
| Mexico | C | C | 01SEP24 | 01APR22 | 15OCT22 | C |
| Philippines | C | C | 01AUG23 | 01DEC21 | 15OCT22 | C |
“C” means Current and “U” means Unavailable. Use this table to locate your category and area, then compare your priority date against the listed cutoff to see whether you are eligible this month.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Visa Bulletin released each month?
The U.S. Department of State typically publishes the Visa Bulletin around the middle of each month, and it covers the cutoff dates that take effect the following month. Checking it monthly is the only way to track your priority date accurately.
What are the two charts in the bulletin?
Each employment and family section has a Final Action Dates chart and a Dates for Filing chart. Final Action Dates control when a visa can actually be issued or a final adjustment approved; Dates for Filing control when you may submit the filing.
Which chart do adjustment-of-status filers use?
USCIS decides monthly which chart adjustment-of-status applicants may use and posts that choice on its website. Filers inside the U.S. must check USCIS each month, because the applicable chart can switch between Final Action and Dates for Filing.
Why should I check the bulletin every month?
Cutoff dates move forward, hold, or retrogress from month to month as annual numbers are used. A date that is Current one month can become unavailable the next, so monthly checking protects you from missing your filing window.