Each month, the U.S. Department of State publishes the “Visa Bulletin” — a document that informs green card applicants whose turn it is. For Poles, one column is most important: “All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed”. Poland belongs to this category, so retrogressions affecting India, China, or the Philippines do not concern our compatriots. Below, we explain the latest bulletin — for July 2026 — in simple language.
How to read the bulletin — two dates, not one
There are two tables in the bulletin. “Final Action Dates” indicate whose application can be approved and completed with the issuance of a visa or green card this month. “Dates for Filing” indicate who can already submit documents, even if the final decision still requires waiting. The letter “C” means “current” — no queue, action can be taken immediately. The letter “U” means that numbers are unavailable.
The rule is simple: if your priority date (usually the day you submitted your first application) is earlier than the date in the table for your category — you are in the game.
Family categories — all moving forward
In July 2026, every family category for Poland (“All Chargeability” column, Final Action Dates) moved forward compared to June:
| Category | July 2026 | June 2026 | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|
| F1 (unmarried adult children of U.S. citizens) | February 1, 2018 | September 1, 2017 | forward by ~5 months |
| F2A (spouses and children of green card holders) | January 1, 2025 | January 1, 2025 | no change |
| F2B (unmarried adult children of green card holders) | November 22, 2017 | September 22, 2017 | forward by 2 months |
| F3 (married children of U.S. citizens) | April 15, 2012 | February 15, 2012 | forward by 2 months |
| F4 (siblings of U.S. citizens) | January 1, 2009 | November 8, 2008 | forward by ~2 months |
For the Dates for Filing category, F2A is “current” — meaning that spouses and minor children of green card holders can submit applications without waiting in a queue. The filing table is usually more favorable (dates are later) than the final action table, so documents can often be prepared earlier — USCIS decides which table applies in a given month.
Employment-based categories — three without a queue
For applicants from Poland in the employment-based path (Final Action Dates, “All Chargeability”), the situation in July is favorable:
| Category | July 2026 | June 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| EB-1 (workers of extraordinary ability, outstanding researchers, multinational executives) | current | current |
| EB-2 (advanced degrees or exceptional ability) | current | current |
| EB-3 (skilled workers and professionals) | August 1, 2024 | June 1, 2024 |
| EB-3 “Other Workers” (unskilled workers) | March 1, 2022 | February 1, 2022 |
| EB-5 (investors, unreserved pool) | current | current |
“Current” in EB-1, EB-2, and EB-5 means that Polish candidates in these categories do not have to wait for a visa number — they can act immediately. EB-3 moved forward by two months. This is important because retrogressions and “U” status (unavailable), which in the July bulletin affect India (EB-2, EB-5) or the announced retrogressions for China and the Philippines, do not apply to Poland.
Caution for future months — possible retrogressions
The bulletin contains a clear warning: the pace of visa issuance this fiscal year has been high to utilize available numbers, which increases the risk that in subsequent months some dates may retrogress (“retrogression may be necessary”), and individual categories may become temporarily unavailable before the end of the fiscal year, i.e., before September 30, 2026. In other words: good news from July is not a guarantee for August.
For those waiting in line, a practical conclusion follows — if your priority date has just become current, it is worth acting without delay and having your documents ready, instead of postponing the matter.
Any decision to file an application should best be consulted with a licensed immigration attorney, and the dates themselves should always be checked in the original Department of State bulletin — as this is the only binding source.
Sources:
- U.S. Department of State — Visa Bulletin for July 2026 (Final Action and Filing dates): https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin/2026/visa-bulletin-for-july-2026.html
- U.S. Department of State — Visa Bulletin for June 2026 (for comparison of movements): https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin/2026/visa-bulletin-for-june-2026.html
- U.S. Department of State — Visa Bulletin homepage: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin.html
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Priority dates and qualification depend on individual circumstances — consult a licensed immigration attorney.
Author: Bartosz Karczmarski · July 20, 2026
