Visa Bulletin July 2026: F1 Priority Dates Advance 5 Months in Major Movement

The July 2026 Visa Bulletin delivers notable forward movement for family-based Green Card applicants. According to immigration attorney Ana Gabriela Urizar of Manifest Law, final action dates for the F1 category — which covers unmarried children over 21 of U.S. citizens — advanced by 5 months across all chargeability areas, as well as for China and India specifically. This advancement is significant for applicants who have been waiting in the F1 queue, as a 5-month forward movement allows a meaningful number of additional cases to become current and move toward adjudication. For individuals in this preference category, now is the time to confirm priority dates and ensure all documentation is in order. While the bulletin's primary focus is on family-based categories, employment-based applicants — including those in the EB-3 preference category — should also review the updated cut-off dates to assess whether their cases are approaching or have become current for the month of July 2026. Applicants are advised to consult with an immigration attorney to interpret how bulletin movements apply to their specific situation, particularly given ongoing changes in USCIS processing priorities and policy in 2026.