Are you applying for an immigrant visa and want to know when your priority date will become current? Then you won’t want to miss our analysis of the July 2026 Visa Bulletin.
In this video, attorney Jacob Sapochnick explains what you can expect to see in terms of the movement of the family-sponsored and employment-based visa categories next month.
Adjustment of Status Chart
For adjustment of status filings to permanent residence in the month of July, USCIS will continue using the Dates for Filing Chart for family-sponsored categories only.
For employment-based categories, USCIS will also continue using the Final Action Dates Chart.
Are you applying for an immigrant visa and want to know when your priority date will become current? Then you won’t want to miss our analysis of the May 2026 Visa Bulletin.
In this video, attorney Jacob Sapochnick explains what you can expect to see in terms of the movement of the family-sponsored and employment-based visa categories next month.
Highlights of the May 2026 Visa Bulletin
At a Glance
What can we expect to see in the month of May?
Employment-Based Categories
Final Action Advancements
EB-3 Other Workers
Worldwide and Mexico will advance 3 months to February 1, 2022
EB-5 Unreserved Categories (C5, T5, I5, and R5)
EB-5 China will advance 3 weeks to September 22, 2016
If you are an EB-2 or EB-3 visa holder waiting for your priority date to become current, you have already heard that in April the final action dates will become current for all countries except India and China.
This means that starting April 1st most individuals residing in the United States will be eligible to file their adjustment of status applications for permanent residence. As part of this process, applicants may file an application for temporary work authorization (Form I-765) or travel authorization (Form I-131). Once your green card application is filed with USCIS, you will not be able to travel abroad unless you have a valid, approved travel permit issued by USCIS.
Gathering Important Documents
Before filing, gather these six documents to avoid delays, minimize RFEs, and be ready to submit your green card application in April before your window of opportunity closes.
#1 Birth Documentation
Green card applicants must submit a birth certificate to USCIS or the National Visa Center that includes their full name, date and place of birth, parents’ names, and an official seal. If the document is not in English, a certified translation is required. You must also bring the original or a certified copy to your interview, if scheduled.
If you do not already have your birth certificate, it is important to obtain it as soon as possible.
Are you applying for an immigrant visa and want to know when your priority date will become current? Then you won’t want to miss our analysis of the April 2026 Visa Bulletin.
In this video, attorney Jacob Sapochnick explains what you can expect to see in terms of the movement of the family-sponsored and employment-based visa categories next month.
USCIS Adjustment of Status
For adjustment of status filings to permanent residence in the month of April, USCIS will continue using the Dates for Filing Chart for the employment-based and family-sponsored categories.
Highlights of the April 2026 Visa Bulletin
At a Glance
What can we expect to see in the month of April?
Employment-Based Categories
Final Action Advancements
EB-1 Aliens of extraordinary ability, Outstanding Professors and Researchers, and Certain Multinational Managers or Executives
EB-1 India and China will advance one month to April 1, 2023
All other countries will remain current
EB-2 Members of the Professions and Aliens of Exceptional Ability
EB-2 India will advance 10 months to July 15, 2014
Except China, all other countries (Worldwide, Mexico, Philippines) will become current
*Note, there is an immigrant visa freeze for all countries subject to the 75-country ban on immigrant visa issuance. Lawsuits opposing the freeze are currently pending.
Are you applying for an immigrant visa and want to know when your priority date will become current? Then you won’t want to miss our analysis of the March 2026 Visa Bulletin.
In this video, attorney Jacob Sapochnick explains what you can expect to see in terms of the movement of the family-sponsored and employment-based visa categories in the new year.
USCIS Adjustment of Status
For adjustment of status filings to permanent residence in the month of March, USCIS will continue using the Dates for Filing Chart for the employment-based and family-sponsored categories.
Highlights of the March 2026 Visa Bulletin
At a Glance
What can we expect to see in the month of March?
Employment-Based Categories
Final Action Advancements
EB-1 India and China will advance one month to March 1, 2023
EB-2 Members of the Professions and Aliens of Exceptional Ability
EB-2 India will advance 2 months to September 15, 2013
EB-2 Except China, all other countries will advance 6.5 months to October 15, 2024
EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers
EB-3 Philippines will advance 2 months to August 1, 2023
EB-3 Mexico and Worldwide will advance 4 months to October 1, 2023
EB-3 Other Workers
EB-3 Mexico, Philippines, and Worldwide will advance 2 months to November 1, 2021
EB-4 Special Immigrants
All countries will advance 6.4 months to July 15, 2021
If you’re a U.S. citizen hoping to sponsor your brother or sister for a green card in 2026, patience is essential. Unlike spouses or parents, siblings fall into a backlogged family preference category that can take many years (sometimes decades) to move forward.
Here’s what actually controls the timeline, how long you should realistically expect to wait, what you can do to speed up the process, and other alternatives.
The Harsh Reality
As of 2026, the reality for U.S. citizens sponsoring a sibling is that processing times move very slowly. After you file Form I-130 to establish your sibling relationship, it can take years for USCIS to approve the petition, but the longest delay comes after approval.
Because siblings fall under the Family Fourth Preference (F4) category with strict annual limits, most applicants face backlogs that push total wait times from 8 to 14 years, before a visa becomes available. For countries with especially high demand, such as Mexico and the Philippines, the wait can approach or exceed two decades.
The harsh reality is that major life milestones for both you and your sibling may pass before they are finally able to immigrate to the United States.
Still holding a green card in 2026? You might be missing out—big time. While lawful permanent residence offers stability, it also comes with limits that many immigrants don’t realize until it’s too late. From travel and tax exposure to voting rights and deportation risk, the gap between a green card and U.S. citizenship is wider than ever.
Here are five surprising differences that could make staying a permanent resident a costly mistake.
#1 Security & Deportation Concerns
One of the biggest risks of remaining a green card holder is that old criminal issues never truly disappear. Even offenses from years—or decades—ago can trigger detention or deportation if immigration laws or enforcement priorities shift.
Unlike U.S. citizens, permanent residents can be placed in removal proceedings based on past conduct—sometimes years later—making citizenship the only status that offers true long-term security from deportation. For example, a lawful permanent resident can now be detained without ever being convicted of a crime. Under the Laken Riley Act, non-citizens can face mandatory detention based solely on an arrest or charge, meaning an accusation alone can be enough to trigger custody.
Are you applying for an immigrant visa and want to know when your priority date will become current? Then you won’t want to miss our analysis of the February 2026 Visa Bulletin.
In this video, attorney Jacob Sapochnick explains what you can expect to see in terms of the movement of the family-sponsored and employment-based visa categories in the new year.
USCIS Adjustment of Status
For adjustment of status filings to permanent residence in the month of February, USCIS will be using the Dates for Filing Chart for the employment-based and family-sponsored categories.
Highlights of the February 2026 Visa Bulletin
At a Glance
What can we expect to see in the month of February?
Employment-Based Categories
Final Action Advancements
EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers
Except India and China, all countries will advance by 5.7 weeks to June 1, 2023
Dates for Filing Advancements
EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers
Except India and China, all other countries will advance by 3 months to October 1, 2023
Are you applying for an immigrant visa and want to know when your priority date will become current? Then you won’t want to miss our analysis of the January 2026 Visa Bulletin.
In this video, attorney Jacob Sapochnick explains what you can expect to see in terms of the movement of the family-sponsored and employment-based visa categories in the new year.
USCIS Adjustment of Status
For adjustment of status filings to permanent residence in the month of January, USCIS will be using the Dates for Filing Chart for the employment-based and family-sponsored categories.
Highlights of the January 2026 Visa Bulletin
At a Glance
What can we expect to see in the month of January?
Employment-Based Categories
Final Action Advancements
EB-1 Aliens of extraordinary ability, Outstanding Professors and Researchers, and Certain Multinational Managers or Executives
EB-1 India will advance by 10 months to February 1, 2023
EB-1 China will advance by 10 days to February 1, 2023
EB-2 Members of the Professions and Aliens of Exceptional Ability
EB-2 India will advance by 2 months to July 15, 2013
EB-2 China will advance by 3 months to September 1, 2021
All other countries will advance by 2 months to April 1, 2024
EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers
EB-3 India will advance by 1.8 months to November 15, 2013
EB-3 China will advance by 1 month to May 1, 2021
All other countries will advance by 1 week to April 22, 2023
EB-3 Other Workers
EB-3 India will advance by 1.8 months to November 15, 2013
EB-3 China will advance by 1 year to December 8, 2018
All other countries will advance by 1 month to September 1, 2021
Are you applying for an immigrant visa and want to know when your priority date will become current? Then you won’t want to miss our analysis of the December 2025 Visa Bulletin.
In this video, attorney Jacob Sapochnick explains what you can expect to see in terms of the movement of the family-sponsored and employment-based visa categories in the month of December.
USCIS Adjustment of Status
For adjustment of status filings to permanent residence in the month of December, USCIS will be using the Dates for Filing Chart for the employment-based and family-sponsored categories.
Highlights of the December 2025 Visa Bulletin
At a Glance
What can we expect to see in the month of December?
Employment-Based Categories
Final Action Advancements
EB-1 Aliens of extraordinary ability, Outstanding Professors and Researchers, and Certain Multinational Managers or Executives
India will advance by one month to March 15, 2022
China will advance by one month to January 22, 2023
All other countries remain current
EB-2 Members of the Professions and Aliens of Exceptional Ability
India will advance by six weeks to May 15, 2013
China will advance by two months to June 1, 2021
All other countries will advance by 2 months to February 1, 2024
EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers
India will advance by one month to September 22, 2013
China will advance by one month to April 1, 2021
All other countries will advance by two weeks to April 15, 2023
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