What preference category does your application fit into? Per USCIS:
First preference (F1) – unmarried sons and daughters (21 years of age and older) of U.S. citizens;
Second preference (F2A) – spouses and children (unmarried and under 21 years of age) of lawful permanent residents;
Second preference (F2B) – unmarried sons and daughters (21 years of age and older) of lawful permanent residents;
Third preference (F3) – married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens; and
Fourth preference (F4) – brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens (if the U.S. citizen is 21 years of age and older).
The chart below is the September 2026 Visa Bulletin, and shows which cases are currently being processed.
If you are the spouse, minor child or parent of a U.S. citizen, please see the Green Card for Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizen page for information on how to apply for a Green Card.
You are an immediate relative if you are:
- The spouse of a U.S. citizen;
- The unmarried child under 21 years of age of a U.S. citizen; or
- The parent of a U.S. citizen (if the U.S. citizen is 21 years of age or older).
Immediate preference categories do not go by the Visa Bulletin below.
https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Bulletins/visabulletin_September2026.pdf
https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-eligibility/green-card-for-family-preference-immigrants