August Visa Bulletin Shows Family Green Card Progress, But Visa Pause Remains

Family-based green card applicants saw movement in both filing and final action dates in the U.S. State Department’s August 2026 Visa Bulletin released Tuesday, with several categories advancing after months of backlogs.

For applicants already in the United States, the filing date for spouses and children (under age 21) of green card holders will remain current in August, just as it was in July. This means eligible applicants may file for adjustment of status regardless of their priority date.

For unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, the filing date advanced to June 15, 2019 (up from January 1, 2019, in the July bulletin). The filing date for unmarried sons and daughters of permanent residents aged 21 and older also advanced, holding at January 1, 2019.

Meanwhile, the filing date for married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens moved forward to March 1, 2013, and the date for siblings of adult U.S. citizens advanced to June 22, 2010.

Final action dates—which determine when visas may actually be issued—also moved forward across family categories. For unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, the date advanced to December 15, 2018, while the date for unmarried sons and daughters (aged 21 and older) of permanent residents moved to January 1, 2018.

In the married sons and daughters category, the final action date advanced to May 15, 2012, while the date for siblings of adult U.S. citizens moved to September 1, 2009. For spouses and children (under age 21) of permanent residents, the final action date advanced to July 22, 2026.

The bulletin comes as immigrant visa processing remains paused for Nepal and 74 other countries following a January 21 suspension by the State Department. Consequently, even applicants who have completed all required steps cannot receive immigrant visas, though those issued visas before January 21 are not barred from entering the United States.