The Legal Brief: An Immigration Attorney Explains the February 2026 Visa Bulletin
Today’s brief is brought to you by Nicole Gunara, principal immigration lawyer at Manifest, who has more than seven years of experience and over 17,000 cases filed.
This week, the State Department released the February 2026 Visa Bulletin. Unlike last month’s bulletin, the latest update saw little movement across both filing and final action dates; for example, EB-1 and EB-2 applicants will see no change in February.
At first glance, this may seem disappointing, but a lack of movement doesn’t necessarily mean bad news.
After several months of progress, a pause in February is not surprising and can be part of normal pacing for the year. Visa Bulletin movement isn’t linear, and quiet months often follow periods of advancement as the government measures actual demand against available visa numbers.
What a pause in forward movement may signal
While the State Department and USCIS do not publicly disclose how exactly they determine Visa Bulletin dates, movement is typically influenced by factors such as:
- How many applications are already in the pipeline
- How many visa numbers remain available
- How much movement occurred in prior months
With that context, a short-term pause can be a planning tool rather than a warning sign. Holding most dates steady for a month can potentially help DOS and USCIS balance approvals across the fiscal year and reduce the risk of backsliding if demand turns out higher than expected.
USCIS’s use of Filing Dates chart remains a positive signal
In February 2026, USCIS announced that foreign nationals can continue to use the Dates of Filing chart to determine when they can submit an adjustment of status. When the federal agency opts to use filing dates, more people can actually apply for an adjustment of status sooner than when they are limited to the Final Action Dates chart.
In other months, USCIS used the Final Action Dates chart for employment-based applicants. That shift typically narrows who can file for a Green Card, and the last time USCIS used final action dates was in September.
Practical takeaway for applicants
For applicants whose priority dates are already within the filing or final action cutoffs, this month remains a window to file adjustment of status if they otherwise qualify.
The February 2026 Visa Bulletin, by itself, generally supports a “stay the course” approach for most visa applicants:
- Continue building your profile
- Keep documentation of your eligibility at hand
- Stay in close touch with your immigration attorney
- Prepare to act quickly when future movement occurs
Regardless of which category you’re filing under, the latest Visa Bulletin should encourage you to prepare your application. Gather all your evidence, and continue getting more career opportunities. Once filing and final action dates move forward, you’ll be more than prepared to file a strong adjustment of status petition.
Sincerely,
Nicole Gunara
