EB-2 China Priority Date Tracker
Latest September 2026 cut-off dates for Employment-Based Second Preference (EB-2) China.
Consular processing and green card approvals are currently frozen because the annual category limit has been reached.
Applicants with priority dates earlier than this date can submit documentation or file I-485 packets.
The Employment-Based Second Preference (EB-2) category is for foreign nationals with advanced degrees or exceptional ability. Due to massive annual filing volumes, applicants born in mainland China face extensive queues.
For the September 2026 Visa Bulletin, the Final Action date stands at September 1, 2021. The Dates for Filing is set to January 1, 2022, allowing applicants whose priority dates lie before this cut-off to file adjustment of status paperwork and secure EAD/AP interim benefits.
Understanding the Backlog (EB-2 China)
Chinese mainland born applicants face steady waiting queues in the EB-2 category. While not as long as the India backlog, wait times are typically between 3 to 5 years, requiring careful maintenance of nonimmigrant status (like H-1B, L-1, or O-1) in the interim.
Key Considerations:
- National Interest Waiver (NIW): Self-petitioning under the EB-2 NIW allows you to bypass the PERM labor certification process if your work has substantial merit and national importance.
- Cross-Chargeability: If your spouse was born in a country other than China or India, you can "charge" your green card application to your spouse's country of birth to bypass the backlog entirely.
- PERM Audits: PERM certifications for Chinese applicants occasionally trigger audits. Be sure to maintain thorough documentation of your academic qualifications and recruitment efforts.
12-Month Priority Date Movement History
Month-by-month tracking of Chart A (Final Action) and Chart B (Dates for Filing) cut-off movements.
| Bulletin Month | Chart A (Final Action) | Chart B (Dates for Filing) | USCIS Filing Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026September 2026 | Sep 1, 2021 —No change (Held) | Jan 1, 2022 —No change (Held) | Steady; cut-off held unchanged. |
| August 2026August 2026 | Sep 1, 2021 —No change (Held) | Jan 1, 2022 —No change (Held) | Steady; cut-off held unchanged. |
| July 2026July 2026 | Sep 1, 2021 —No change (Held) | Jan 1, 2022 —No change (Held) | Steady; cut-off held unchanged. |
| June 2026June 2026 | Sep 1, 2021 —No change (Held) | Jan 1, 2022 —No change (Held) | Steady; cut-off held unchanged. |
| May 2026May 2026 | Sep 1, 2021 —No change (Held) | Jan 1, 2022 —No change (Held) | Steady; cut-off held unchanged. |
| April 2026April 2026 | Sep 1, 2021 —No change (Held) | Jan 1, 2022 —No change (Held) | Steady; cut-off held unchanged. |
| March 2026March 2026 | Sep 1, 2021 —No change (Held) | Jan 1, 2022 —No change (Held) | Steady; cut-off held unchanged. |
| February 2026February 2026 | Sep 1, 2021 —No change (Held) | Jan 1, 2022 —No change (Held) | Steady; cut-off held unchanged. |
| January 2026January 2026 | Sep 1, 2021 +3 mo 1 d | Jan 1, 2022 +1 mo 1 d | Reaches Sept 1, 2021; plateau begins for rest of fiscal year. |
| December 2025December 2025 | Jun 1, 2021 +2 mo | Dec 1, 2021 —No change (Held) | Regular monthly processing. |
| November 2025November 2025 | Apr 1, 2021 —No change (Held) | Dec 1, 2021 —No change (Held) | Steady; cut-off held unchanged. |
| October 2025October 2025 | Apr 1, 2021 +3 mo 16 d | Dec 1, 2021 +10 mo 30 d | FY26 opening jump of 3.5 months on Chart A. |
How to Use This 12-Month Movement Data for Your Strategy
Department of State annual visa quotas replenish every October 1st. First-quarter bulletins (Oct-Jan) typically offer the widest Chart B filing windows, spring bulletins reach peak Chart A advancement, and summer months carry heightened risk of retrogression or category exhaustion.
Priority Date Movement (Historical Trend)
23-Month Trend
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