For people waiting on the April 2026 Visa Bulletin, the main change is simple. On BIA Edge's Visa Bulletin page, which tracks the Department of State bulletin, EB-2 is current for All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed. USCIS also says applicants filing adjustment of status in April may use the Dates for Filing chart for April 2026. If your case is in EB-2 or EB-3 and not charged to India or China, that combination may matter more than any other change this month.
April also moved EB-3 All Chargeability from 01OCT23 to 01JUN24. EB-1 China and India moved one month, from 01MAR23 to 01APR23. On the family side, F1, F2B, F3, and F4 all advanced for All Chargeability, while F2A stayed at 01FEB24, with Mexico still at 01FEB23. Those moves all appear on the same BIA Edge Visa Bulletin page.
What changed in April
- EB-2 All Chargeability became current.
- EB-3 All Chargeability moved from
01OCT23to01JUN24. - EB-1 China and India both moved one month to
01APR23. - F1, F2B, F3, and F4 moved forward for All Chargeability.
- F2A did not move.
What it means if you are filing inside the United States
For many families and workers, the filing question is more important than the final-approval question. Final Action Dates control when a green card can be approved. Dates for Filing control whether many applicants can submit adjustment paperwork now. Because USCIS is using the April Dates for Filing chart, April opens more room to file than the Final Action chart alone would suggest.
That matters if you are pursuing a family-based green card, or if you are deciding whether adjustment of status makes more sense than consular processing. It also matters if timing affects a broader case strategy in immigration court, where a filing opportunity can change the posture of a deportation defense case.
The trend in 2026 so far
The year started unevenly. According to the January, February, March, and April 2026 bulletins, EB-2 All Chargeability went from 01APR24 in January to 01JUN23 in February, then back to 01OCT23 in March, and current in April. EB-3 All Chargeability moved steadily from 22APR23 in January to 01JUN24 in April. The main family categories were mostly flat until April, which is the first bulletin this year with broader visible movement.
That does not mean the backlog problem is solved. India and China remain deeply backlogged in the employment-based lines, and F2A has been mostly flat all year. But April is the first 2026 bulletin that feels materially better rather than just slightly different.
If your priority date is close, this is the month to line up civil documents, review filing eligibility, and decide whether you can move now. If you want a case-specific read on whether April opens a filing or approval path for you, schedule a consultation.
Sources: BIA Edge Visa Bulletin page, Visa Bulletin for January 2026, Visa Bulletin for February 2026, Visa Bulletin for March 2026, Visa Bulletin for April 2026, and USCIS April 2026 adjustment filing guidance.
Chris Hammond is a Houston immigration attorney focused on family-based immigration, deportation defense, and practical case planning around immigration timing issues.