F2A Priority Dates: July 2026 Updates

The F2A visa priority date determines when a Green Card holder’s spouse and children under 21 years old can move forward with the final steps required to obtain a Green Card. This is a key piece of information for your immigration timeline.

When a lawful permanent resident files Form I‑130 on behalf of a spouse or child, the date USCIS receives that petition becomes their F2A priority date. From there, the case joins a queue, and the Visa Bulletin shows how far the government has gotten in that line each month.

Demand changes throughout the year, so the dates on the Visa Bulletin can shift from month to month. Checking the F2A priority date each month matters for spouses and minor children waiting on Green Cards, since it’s one of the main ways to see how much longer they may have to wait before becoming permanent U.S. residents.

What are the current F2A priority dates on the Visa Bulletin?

For the July 2026 Visa Bulletin, USCIS has announced that it will use the Dates for Filing Chart for family-sponsored categories, including F2A. This means that F2A beneficiaries—the spouses and unmarried children under 21 of lawful permanent residents—can file their Form I-485 to adjust status if they are currently in the U.S., regardless of their priority date, since F2A is listed as Current on the Dates for Filing chart.

F2A beneficiaries outside the U.S. should use the Final Action Dates chart to determine when a Green Card is available for them.

F2A visa filing dates

F2A visa final action dates

Filing dates vs. final action dates

Each month, USCIS decides whether it will use the Dates for Filing or Final Action Dates chart to determine when a foreign national can apply for adjustment of status.

When USCIS chooses the Dates for Filing chart, a foreign national who is already in the U.S. and has a current date under that chart can file their Form I-485.

While they can’t obtain a Green Card until their priority date becomes current under the Final Action Dates chart, being able to file their I-485 sooner allows them to join the processing queue earlier. They can also seek out additional benefits earlier, such as Advance Parole or an Employment Authorization Document (EAD).

If an eligible F2A candidate is living abroad, they must go through consular processing to obtain their Green Card. Applicants abroad generally look to the Dates for Filing chart to know when they may be invited to begin submitting documents to the National Visa Center, but an immigrant visa cannot be issued until the priority date is current under the Final Action Dates chart.

Right now, F2A beneficiaries in the U.S. can take advantage of this by filing an I-485 immediately, even though the Final Action Date hasn’t caught up yet.

What to do when your F2A priority date becomes current

Some F2A applicants pursue a Green Card through consular processing if they’re outside the U.S., but getting permanent residence through adjustment of status is still an option for some spouses and children.

Depending on the pathway you choose, here’s what Manifest immigration attorney Ana Gabriela Urizar suggests:

• If you’re currently living abroad: After you’re instructed to do so, begin submitting your documents for consular processing. After you file Form DS-260, you’ll be able to schedule your visa interview and, if approved, obtain your Green Card.
• If you’re living in the United States: You can file Form I-485 (plus any additional benefits concurrently) to begin the adjustment of status process. Priority dates are current right now on the Dates for Filing chart.

How Manifest can help F2A applicants

When your priority date becomes current, the next step toward receiving a Green Card should be to file the correct application promptly and accurately. Regardless of whether you apply through a U.S. embassy or through adjustment of status, Manifest’s lawyers have experience working with individuals at all stages of the F2A process.

Request a consultation with us if you are ready to sponsor your spouse and children for an F2A Green Card.

Visa Bulletin resources:

• June 2026 Visa Bulletin Released
• May 2026 Visa Bulletin Released: Family-Based Dates Leap Forward
• April 2026 Visa Bulletin released, what it means for you
• What are filing dates vs. final action dates on the Visa Bulletin?
• What is a priority date?
• Priority date guide and news for EB-1 India and EB-2 India
• Priority date guide and news for EB-1 China and EB-2 China

FAQs about F2A priority dates

What if my F2A priority date is current?

When your priority date is current, you can file the final application for your Green Card. That means filing Form I-485 if you’re in the U.S. and going through consular processing if you’re outside the U.S.

What happens if my children turn 21 while waiting for a Green Card?

In most cases, the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) can “freeze” your child’s age so they don’t lose F2A eligibility just because the Green Card process took so long. This is generally less of a concern for F2A than for other family preference categories, which have much longer waits.

Under CSPA, your child’s age is calculated by taking their age when a visa becomes available to them and subtracting the time the I-130 petition was pending with USCIS. If the result is under 21, they keep their F2A status even if their actual age is older.