Updated every month
Visa Bulletin: Green Card Priority Dates, Explained
Each month the State Department decides whose green card can move forward. This page tracks the current dates for applicants born in mainland China, explains how to read the bulletin, and links every monthly analysis we publish.
October 2026: mainland China employment-based dates
This month USCIS accepts employment-based I-485 filings under the Dates for Filing chart (Chart B).
| Category | Final Action Date (Chart A) | Date for Filing (Chart B) |
|---|---|---|
| EB-1 (extraordinary ability, multinational executives) | Jul 1, 2023 | Jul 1, 2024 |
| EB-2 (advanced degree, NIW) | Oct 1, 2021 | Jan 1, 2023 |
| EB-3 (professionals and skilled workers) | Jan 8, 2022 | Apr 1, 2024 |
| EB-3 Other Workers | Oct 1, 2019 | Oct 1, 2020 |
| EB-5 Unreserved | Dec 1, 2016 | Mar 1, 2021 |
Dates as published in our October 2026 article. Always confirm against the official bulletin.
Read the full October 2026 analysisHow to read the visa bulletin
What is the visa bulletin?
A monthly table published by the U.S. Department of State. For each green card category and country it lists a cutoff date. If your priority date is earlier than the cutoff, your case can move forward that month.
What is my priority date?
The date your case got in line. For PERM-based cases it is the date the labor certification was filed; for EB-1 and NIW it is the date the I-140 was filed; for family cases, the date the I-130 was filed. It is printed on your receipt or approval notice.
Which country's line am I in?
Usually your country of birth, not your citizenship. Someone born in mainland China but holding another passport is normally charged to China. A spouse's country of birth can sometimes be used instead.
Chart A or Chart B?
Chart A (Final Action Dates) shows when a green card can actually be approved. Chart B (Dates for Filing) shows when you may file your I-485 early. Each month USCIS announces which chart it will accept for I-485 filings.
What do C and U mean?
C means current: everyone in that category can proceed regardless of priority date. U means unavailable: no visa numbers can be used that month.
When does the next bulletin come out?
Usually around the middle of the month before it takes effect, sometimes later. Dates can also move backward (retrogress) when demand exceeds the annual limits.
Your date is current: what to do next
- 1Confirm which chart USCIS is using this month and that your priority date is earlier than its cutoff.
- 2Prepare your I-485 package, and file the work permit (I-765) and travel document (I-131) applications with it if you need them.
- 3Check your current status: an expired or broken status can make the I-485 harder, and USCIS now reviews adjustment cases with broad discretion.
- 4File as early as you can. Chart B can close after a few months once USCIS has enough filings.
Related guides
Official sources
Visa bulletin FAQ
My date was current but went backward. What happens to my I-485?
A pending I-485 stays pending. It cannot be approved until your date is current again under Chart A, but it is not denied because of the retrogression.
Can I file my I-485 when Chart B is current but Chart A is not?
Only in months when USCIS says it accepts the Dates for Filing chart. The application then waits until your Final Action Date is current before it can be approved.
Does changing jobs make me lose my priority date?
Usually not once your I-140 is approved, but the details matter. See our guide to changing jobs during the green card process.
I was born in mainland China but live elsewhere. Which dates apply to me?
Generally the mainland China dates, because chargeability follows your country of birth. An attorney can check whether your spouse's country of birth could be used instead.
Is your date current?
Send us your priority date and category and we will tell you whether you can file this month, and what to prepare.
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