EB-2 China Priority Date Tracker
Latest August 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 August 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.
Priority Date Movement (21 Months)
22-Month Trend
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