Overview
- USCIS said May employment-based green card applicants must follow the Final Action Dates chart, which shrinks who can file compared with April’s use of the more generous filing chart.
- Most employment cutoffs did not move in the May 2026 Visa Bulletin, with EB‑1 for India and China at April 1, 2023, EB‑2 India at July 15, 2014, and EB‑3 India at November 15, 2013, while EB‑2 China holds at September 1, 2021 and EB‑3 China at June 15, 2021.
- EB‑5 unreserved shows India fixed at May 1, 2022 and China set to September 22, 2016, and officials warned that heavy demand, especially from India, could force retrogression or even make the category temporarily unavailable.
- Family-sponsored lines moved forward, led by a six‑month jump in F2A final action dates to August 1, 2024, with additional gains in F1 and F3, reflecting number use that differs from employment categories.
- Final Action Dates control when a green card can be approved, while Dates for Filing only open a window to submit paperwork, so May’s shift means many workers cannot file I‑485 now or access related benefits until their priority dates become current.