Visa Bulletin Tracker

EB-1 China priority date: cut-off history, movement and forecast

As of the October 2026 Visa Bulletin, the EB-1 China Final Action Date is 1 Jul 2023, which lags the bulletin month by about 3.3 years. Over the last 12 bulletins it moved an average of 16 days per month (0.52 months of priority date per calendar month), so on pure arithmetic the backlog age is growing. Since October 2015 it has retrogressed in 2 bulletins; the largest move back was 912 days in September 2019.

1 Jul 2023Final Action Date, Oct 2026
1 Jul 2024Date for Filing, Oct 2026
3.3 yearscut-off lags bulletin month
+16 d/moavg. movement, last 12 bulletins

Chart: where the cut-off has been

EB-1 China: Final Action Date and Date for Filing, last 10 yearsLine chart of the cut-off date by bulletin month from November 2016 to October 2026. The dashed diagonal marks a cut-off equal to the bulletin month, i.e. no wait. Latest Final Action Date: 1 Jul 2023.2012201420162018202020222024202620182020202220242026Priority-date cut-offBulletin monthForecast range (80%)Final Action Date 2016-11: CurrentFinal Action Date 2017-06: 1 Jan 2012Final Action Date 2017-10: CurrentFinal Action Date 2018-04: 1 Jan 2012Final Action Date 2018-10: 1 Jun 2016Final Action Date 2018-12: 1 Sep 2016Final Action Date 2019-01: 15 Dec 2016Final Action Date 2019-02: 8 Feb 2017Final Action Date 2019-03: 22 Feb 2017Final Action Date 2019-07: 8 May 2017Final Action Date 2019-08: 1 Jul 2016Final Action Date 2019-09: 1 Jan 2014Final Action Date 2019-10: 1 Nov 2016Final Action Date 2019-11: 1 Feb 2017Final Action Date 2019-12: 15 May 2017Final Action Date 2020-01: 22 May 2017Final Action Date 2020-03: 1 Jun 2017Final Action Date 2020-04: 8 Jun 2017Final Action Date 2020-05: 15 Jul 2017Final Action Date 2020-06: 15 Aug 2017Final Action Date 2020-07: 22 Aug 2017Final Action Date 2020-08: 8 Feb 2018Final Action Date 2020-09: 1 Mar 2018Final Action Date 2020-10: 1 Jun 2018Final Action Date 2020-11: 1 Dec 2018Final Action Date 2020-12: 1 Apr 2019Final Action Date 2021-01: 1 Sep 2019Final Action Date 2021-02: 1 Jan 2020Final Action Date 2021-03: 1 Aug 2020Final Action Date 2021-04: CurrentFinal Action Date 2023-01: 1 Feb 2022Final Action Date 2023-10: 15 Feb 2022Final Action Date 2024-01: 1 Jul 2022Final Action Date 2024-03: 15 Jul 2022Final Action Date 2024-04: 1 Sep 2022Final Action Date 2024-07: 1 Nov 2022Final Action Date 2024-10: 8 Nov 2022Final Action Date 2025-07: 15 Nov 2022Final Action Date 2025-10: 22 Dec 2022Final Action Date 2025-12: 22 Jan 2023Final Action Date 2026-01: 1 Feb 2023Final Action Date 2026-03: 1 Mar 2023Final Action Date 2026-04: 1 Apr 2023Final Action Date 2026-07: 1 Jun 2023Final Action Date 2026-08: 1 Jul 2023Date for Filing 2016-11: CurrentDate for Filing 2018-10: 1 Oct 2017Date for Filing 2019-10: 1 Sep 2017Date for Filing 2020-01: 1 Oct 2017Date for Filing 2020-07: 1 Nov 2017Date for Filing 2020-08: 1 Jul 2018Date for Filing 2020-10: 1 Sep 2020Date for Filing 2020-12: 1 Nov 2020Date for Filing 2021-03: CurrentDate for Filing 2023-01: 1 Jun 2022Date for Filing 2023-10: 1 Aug 2022Date for Filing 2024-01: 1 Jan 2023Date for Filing 2025-10: 15 May 2023Date for Filing 2026-01: 1 Aug 2023Date for Filing 2026-03: 1 Dec 2023Date for Filing 2026-10: 1 Jul 2024
Hover or focus points for values. Priority dates below the line are not yet reached; the vertical gap to the dashed diagonal is the backlog age.
EB-1 China: Final Action Date, full historyEB-1 China: Final Action Date, full history since January 2005.20002005201020152020202520052010201520202025Priority-date cut-offBulletin monthFinal Action Date 2005-01: CurrentFinal Action Date 2005-10: 1 Jan 2000Final Action Date 2005-12: 1 Jul 2001Final Action Date 2006-01: 1 Jan 2002Final Action Date 2006-02: 1 Jan 2003Final Action Date 2006-03: 1 Jul 2003Final Action Date 2006-04: 1 Jan 2004Final Action Date 2006-05: 1 Jul 2004Final Action Date 2006-06: 1 Jul 2005Final Action Date 2006-07: CurrentFinal Action Date 2007-08: UnavailableFinal Action Date 2007-09: 1 Jan 2007Final Action Date 2007-10: CurrentFinal Action Date 2016-08: 1 Jan 2010Final Action Date 2016-10: CurrentFinal Action Date 2017-06: 1 Jan 2012Final Action Date 2017-10: CurrentFinal Action Date 2018-04: 1 Jan 2012Final Action Date 2018-10: 1 Jun 2016Final Action Date 2018-12: 1 Sep 2016Final Action Date 2019-01: 15 Dec 2016Final Action Date 2019-02: 8 Feb 2017Final Action Date 2019-03: 22 Feb 2017Final Action Date 2019-07: 8 May 2017Final Action Date 2019-08: 1 Jul 2016Final Action Date 2019-09: 1 Jan 2014Final Action Date 2019-10: 1 Nov 2016Final Action Date 2019-11: 1 Feb 2017Final Action Date 2019-12: 15 May 2017Final Action Date 2020-01: 22 May 2017Final Action Date 2020-03: 1 Jun 2017Final Action Date 2020-04: 8 Jun 2017Final Action Date 2020-05: 15 Jul 2017Final Action Date 2020-06: 15 Aug 2017Final Action Date 2020-07: 22 Aug 2017Final Action Date 2020-08: 8 Feb 2018Final Action Date 2020-09: 1 Mar 2018Final Action Date 2020-10: 1 Jun 2018Final Action Date 2020-11: 1 Dec 2018Final Action Date 2020-12: 1 Apr 2019Final Action Date 2021-01: 1 Sep 2019Final Action Date 2021-02: 1 Jan 2020Final Action Date 2021-03: 1 Aug 2020Final Action Date 2021-04: CurrentFinal Action Date 2023-01: 1 Feb 2022Final Action Date 2023-10: 15 Feb 2022Final Action Date 2024-01: 1 Jul 2022Final Action Date 2024-03: 15 Jul 2022Final Action Date 2024-04: 1 Sep 2022Final Action Date 2024-07: 1 Nov 2022Final Action Date 2024-10: 8 Nov 2022Final Action Date 2025-07: 15 Nov 2022Final Action Date 2025-10: 22 Dec 2022Final Action Date 2025-12: 22 Jan 2023Final Action Date 2026-01: 1 Feb 2023Final Action Date 2026-03: 1 Mar 2023Final Action Date 2026-04: 1 Apr 2023Final Action Date 2026-07: 1 Jun 2023Final Action Date 2026-08: 1 Jul 2023
Final Action Date since January 2005.

Final Action DateDate for FilingNo wait (cut-off = bulletin month)○ Current   ✕ Unavailable   shaded: forecast range

EB-1 China: days the Final Action Date moved each month, with 12-month averageBars show monthly movement in days (green = advance, red = retrogression); the line is the 12-month average.-240-210-180-150-120-90-60-30030609012015018021024020182020202220242026Days moved per month2018-10: +16132018-12: +922019-01: +1052019-02: +552019-03: +142019-07: +752019-08: -3112019-09: -9122019-10: +10352019-11: +922019-12: +1032020-01: +72020-03: +102020-04: +72020-05: +372020-06: +312020-07: +72020-08: +1702020-09: +212020-10: +922020-11: +1832020-12: +1212021-01: +1532021-02: +1222021-03: +2132023-10: +142024-01: +1362024-03: +142024-04: +482024-07: +612024-10: +72025-07: +72025-10: +372025-12: +312026-01: +102026-03: +282026-04: +312026-07: +612026-08: +30
Green bars: the cut-off advanced; red bars: it retrogressed. Very large moves are clipped at the chart edge.

Forecast for EB-1 China

HorizonCentral estimateLikely range (80%)Bulletin month
3 monthsJul 2023May 2023 – Feb 2024Jan 2027
6 monthsAug 2023Mar 2023 – Aug 2024Apr 2027
12 monthsOct 2023Jan 2023 – Jun 2025Oct 2027

Extrapolates the recent pace with a damping factor of 0.5; the range is the 10th–90th percentile of this method’s past errors across all categories. It is a rough guide, not a prediction, and cannot foresee policy changes. How it works and how accurate it was.

Retrogression and advance history

2 retrogressions since December 2001 (the bulletin data start). Most recent changes of direction or availability:

BulletinEventBeforeAfterMove
Jan 2023Left CurrentCurrent1 Feb 2022
Apr 2021Became Current1 Aug 2020Current
Sep 2019Retrogressed1 Jul 20161 Jan 2014−912 d
Aug 2019Retrogressed8 May 20171 Jul 2016−311 d
Apr 2018Left CurrentCurrent1 Jan 2012
Oct 2017Became Current1 Jan 2012Current
Jun 2017Left CurrentCurrent1 Jan 2012
Oct 2016Became Current1 Jan 2010Current
Aug 2016Left CurrentCurrent1 Jan 2010
Oct 2007Became Current1 Jan 2007Current
Sep 2007ReopenedUnavailable1 Jan 2007
Aug 2007Became UnavailableCurrentUnavailable

Fiscal-year view

Fiscal yearFirst bulletin (Oct)Last bulletin (Sep)Net move (days)Retrogression months
FY2027 (to Oct 2026)1 Jul 20231 Jul 2023+00
FY202622 Dec 20221 Jul 2023+1910
FY20258 Nov 202215 Nov 2022+70
FY202415 Feb 20221 Nov 2022+2590
FY2023Current1 Feb 2022—0
FY2022CurrentCurrent—0
FY20211 Jun 2018Current—0
FY20201 Nov 20161 Mar 2018+4850
FY20191 Jun 20161 Jan 2014-8822
FY2018Current1 Jan 2012—0
FY2017Current1 Jan 2012—0
FY2016Current1 Jan 2010—0

Seasonal pattern

Since October 2015, the largest average advance came in October (+400 days) and the weakest in September (-99 days). Retrogressions were most common in August and September. Fiscal years start in October, so dates often jump at the start of a year and stall or retreat near the end.

JanJan: +68 d+68FebFeb: +25 d+25MarMar: +40 d+40AprApr: +14 d+14MayMay: +5 d+5JunJun: +4 d+4JulJul: +26 d+26AugAug: -14 d-14SepSep: -99 d-99OctOct: +400 d+400NovNov: +46 d+46DecDec: +58 d+58

Recent bulletins

Last 24 bulletins (table)
BulletinFinal Action DateDate for FilingFAD move (days)
Oct 20261 Jul 20231 Jul 20240
Sep 20261 Jul 20231 Dec 20230
Aug 20261 Jul 20231 Dec 2023+30
Jul 20261 Jun 20231 Dec 2023+61
Jun 20261 Apr 20231 Dec 20230
May 20261 Apr 20231 Dec 20230
Apr 20261 Apr 20231 Dec 2023+31
Mar 20261 Mar 20231 Dec 2023+28
Feb 20261 Feb 20231 Aug 20230
Jan 20261 Feb 20231 Aug 2023+10
Dec 202522 Jan 202315 May 2023+31
Nov 202522 Dec 202215 May 20230
Oct 202522 Dec 202215 May 2023+37
Sep 202515 Nov 20221 Jan 20230
Aug 202515 Nov 20221 Jan 20230
Jul 202515 Nov 20221 Jan 2023+7
Jun 20258 Nov 20221 Jan 20230
May 20258 Nov 20221 Jan 20230
Apr 20258 Nov 20221 Jan 20230
Mar 20258 Nov 20221 Jan 20230
Feb 20258 Nov 20221 Jan 20230
Jan 20258 Nov 20221 Jan 20230
Dec 20248 Nov 20221 Jan 20230
Nov 20248 Nov 20221 Jan 20230

About this category

EB-1 is the preference category for: priority workers (extraordinary ability, outstanding professors/researchers, multinational managers). This is the column for applicants born in mainland China (Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan are charged separately).

Check the priority-date calculator to compare your date, the FAQ for how to read these dates, and the official October 2026 bulletin. Informational only, not legal advice.

EB-1 in other countries: EB-1 Rest of World · EB-1 India

Other categories for China: EB-2 China · EB-3 China · F4 China