Document Assistance
Green Card Document Assistance
Get help organizing your information and completing Green Card (adjustment of status) forms based on what you provide.
Get Started →What This Service Includes
We help you organize the information and supporting documents used in a Green Card (adjustment of status or immigrant visa) application, and assist with completing the applicable form based on the details you provide. That includes helping you put together a checklist of the kinds of supporting evidence Green Card applicants commonly gather, tracking where your priority date stands against the monthly Visa Bulletin, and organizing your materials so they're easier to review before you file or bring them to an attorney.
Official Guidance: Visa Bulletin & Green Card Availability
The Visa Bulletin and Your Green Card
Each month, the Department of State publishes the Visa Bulletin, which shows the availability of immigrant visa numbers for family-sponsored and employment-based Green Card categories. If you are applying for a Green Card through adjustment of status with USCIS, or through consular processing abroad, your priority date generally must be earlier than the relevant date listed in the bulletin before you can file or before a visa can be issued.
Unless USCIS states otherwise on its website, applicants filing for adjustment of status must use the "Final Action Dates" chart to determine when they can file. When USCIS determines that more immigrant visas are available for the fiscal year than there are known applicants, USCIS may instead permit the "Dates for Filing" chart to be used that month.
Final Action Dates vs. Dates for Filing
"Final Action Dates" show when a visa can actually be issued, or a Green Card approved. A category marked "C" is current, meaning visas are available to all qualified applicants regardless of priority date; "U" means unavailable.
"Dates for Filing" reflect an earlier point in the process — when applicants may assemble and submit required documentation. A category or country is described as oversubscribed when demand exceeds the numbers available; the listed date is the priority date of the first applicant who could not be accommodated.
Family-Sponsored Preference Categories — Final Action Dates (August 2026)
| Category | All Chargeability Areas | China-mainland born | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | 15DEC18 | 15DEC18 | 15DEC18 | 01DEC07 | 01MAY13 |
| F2A | 22JUL26 | 22JUL26 | 22JUL26 | 22JUL25 | 22JUL26 |
| F2B | 01JAN18 | 01JAN18 | 01JAN18 | 15FEB09 | 01JUN13 |
| F3 | 15MAY12 | 15MAY12 | 15MAY12 | 01JUL01 | 22FEB06 |
| F4 | 01SEP09 | 01SEP09 | 01NOV06 | 08APR01 | 01AUG07 |
F1: Unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens. F2A: Spouses and children of permanent residents. F2B: Unmarried sons and daughters (21 or older) of permanent residents. F3: Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens. F4: Brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens.
Family-Sponsored Preference Categories — Dates for Filing (August 2026)
| Category | All Chargeability Areas | China-mainland born | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | 15JUN19 | 15JUN19 | 15JUN19 | 01DEC08 | 22APR15 |
| F2A | C | C | C | C | C |
| F2B | 01JAN19 | 01JAN19 | 01JAN19 | 15MAY10 | 01OCT13 |
| F3 | 01MAR13 | 01MAR13 | 01MAR13 | 15JUL01 | 08AUG06 |
| F4 | 22JUN10 | 22JUN10 | 15DEC06 | 30APR01 | 22MAR08 |
Employment-Based Preference Categories — Final Action Dates (August 2026)
| Category | All Chargeability Areas | China-mainland born | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | C | 01JUL23 | 15OCT22 | C | C |
| 2nd | C | 01SEP21 | U | C | C |
| 3rd | 01SEP24 | 01JAN22 | 01JAN14 | 01SEP24 | 01AUG23 |
| Other Workers | 01APR22 | 01MAY19 | 01JAN14 | 01APR22 | 01DEC21 |
| 4th | 15OCT22 | 15OCT22 | 15OCT22 | 15OCT22 | 15OCT22 |
| 5th Unreserved | C | 01DEC16 | U | C | C |
| 5th Set-Aside (Rural/HUA/Infrastructure) | C | C | C | C | C |
1st: Priority Workers. 2nd: Advanced degree holders / exceptional ability. 3rd: Skilled workers, professionals, and other workers. 4th: Certain special immigrants, including certain religious workers. 5th: Employment Creation (investor) categories, including reserved set-asides for rural, high-unemployment, and infrastructure investments.
Employment-Based Preference Categories — Dates for Filing (August 2026)
| Category | All Chargeability Areas | China-mainland born | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | C | 01DEC23 | 01DEC23 | C | C |
| 2nd | C | 01JAN22 | 15JAN15 | C | C |
| 3rd | C | 08JAN22 | 15JAN15 | C | 01JAN24 |
| Other Workers | 01AUG22 | 01OCT19 | 15JAN15 | 01AUG22 | 01AUG22 |
| 4th | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 |
| 5th Unreserved | C | 01MAR17 | 01MAY24 | C | C |
| 5th Set-Aside (Rural/HUA/Infrastructure) | C | C | C | C | C |
Diversity Visa (DV) Category
The Diversity Visa program makes immigrant visas available each fiscal year to people from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States, divided among six geographic regions, with no single country receiving more than 7% of the available visas in a year. For August 2026, DV-2026 applicants chargeable to most regions remain current, though some countries and regions — such as Algeria and Egypt within Africa, and Nepal within Asia — have specific allocation cut-off numbers. Entitlement to DV status ends at the close of the fiscal year for which an applicant is selected; for DV-2026, that is September 30, 2026, and visa numbers could be exhausted before then.
Alert: Visa Availability and Country-Specific Adjustments
Immigrant visa issuance rates for individuals from certain countries have decreased due to various administrative actions taken to advance national security, public safety, and other policy interests. As a result, final action dates and dates for filing have advanced across several categories in recent months to keep visa use within annual limits, but retrogression (dates moving backward) remains possible if demand increases or these actions change.
High demand in the Employment-Based First Preference (EB-1) category for India may require USCIS to make that category unavailable later in the fiscal year if India's allocation is reached. Similarly, increased demand in the Employment-Based Second Preference (EB-2) category more broadly may require the final action date to retrogress or the category to become unavailable in the coming months.
Who This Service Is For
- Individuals with an approved or pending immigrant petition who want help tracking their priority date against the monthly Visa Bulletin and organizing their adjustment of status filing.
- Applicants who already understand their eligibility category and simply need administrative support putting together a well-organized Form I-485 filing.
- Not a substitute for legal advice — if your case involves complex legal questions, retrogression, or consular processing issues, we recommend speaking with an immigration attorney or accredited representative.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Green Card and how do I apply?
A Green Card (Form I-551) shows that you are a lawful permanent resident of the United States. If you are already in the U.S. and eligible, you generally apply by filing Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. If you are outside the U.S., you generally go through consular processing with the National Visa Center instead.
What is the Visa Bulletin and why does it matter for my Green Card?
The Visa Bulletin is published monthly by the Department of State and shows which priority dates are currently eligible to file or be approved in each family-sponsored and employment-based category. Your priority date generally must be earlier than the relevant date in the bulletin before you can move forward with your Green Card application.
What's the difference between "Final Action Dates" and "Dates for Filing"?
Final Action Dates indicate when a visa can actually be issued or a Green Card approved. Dates for Filing indicate an earlier point when you may submit required documentation. USCIS announces each month which chart applies to adjustment of status filers.
Can dates in the Visa Bulletin move backward (retrogress)?
Yes. If demand in a category exceeds the numbers available for the fiscal year, the Department of State may retrogress a final action date, or make a category temporarily unavailable. Categories such as EB-1 and EB-2 for some countries have been identified as being at risk of this in the current fiscal year.
Do I need to file a separate Form I-485 for family members?
Generally, yes. Each family member who is applying for a Green Card as part of your case typically needs a separate Form I-485 application packet, though requirements can vary by category.
Does this service provide legal advice?
No. We provide administrative document-preparation and organizational support based on the information you provide. We do not provide legal advice, determine your eligibility for a Green Card, or provide immigration representation.
Can you represent me before USCIS or in immigration court?
No. Get Immigration Help is not a law firm, and we do not represent clients before USCIS, the National Visa Center, or in immigration court proceedings.
What documents will I need to gather?
This varies by category, but commonly includes your approved or pending immigrant petition, identity documents, evidence of your qualifying relationship or job offer, and prior immigration history. We'll provide a checklist to help you organize what you already have.