April 2026 Visa Bulletin: EB-2 Current for Brazilians Despite Immigrant Visa Pause

The April 2026 Visa Bulletin delivers a significant development for Brazilian employment-based green card applicants: EB-2 is now designated as "Current" on both the Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing charts. This means no priority date backlog exists, allowing any Brazilian national with an approved EB-2 I-140 petition to move forward without waiting in a queue. USCIS has designated the Dates for Filing chart for employment-based adjustment of status filings for the sixth consecutive month, a streak that began in October 2025. For Brazilians physically present in the United States on valid nonimmigrant status — including H-1B, O-1, F-1, L-1, E-2, or other qualifying visas — this bulletin represents a fully actionable opportunity. Those with an approved I-140 can file Form I-485 for adjustment of status immediately. Because this route goes through USCIS domestically rather than a U.S. consulate abroad, it is entirely unaffected by the State Department's immigrant visa pause. Filing I-485 also unlocks critical interim benefits: an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) allowing work independent of current visa status, and advance parole for international travel without abandoning the pending application. The situation is more constrained for Brazilian nationals outside the United States. Effective January 21, 2026, the State Department paused immigrant visa issuance for Brazilian nationals at consular posts abroad. The pause is described as temporary and linked to an enhanced vetting review, but no end date has been announced, and multiple legal challenges are currently in progress. Importantly, the pause only affects the final visa issuance step — filing an I-140, obtaining USCIS approval, and completing National Visa Center (NVC) processing can all continue in preparation for when the pause is lifted. While this bulletin update specifically addresses EB-2, it carries broader relevance for the EB-3 community. Visa bulletin movements across employment-based preference categories are interconnected, and conditions that bring EB-2 to Current often signal favorable USCIS processing environments that can influence EB-3 date advancement as well. Brazilian EB-3 applicants should monitor upcoming bulletins closely, as the current visa availability landscape and the resolution of the consular processing pause will directly shape their timelines. Those inside the U.S. on eligible nonimmigrant status should consult with an immigration attorney to assess whether concurrent filing or other adjustment strategies apply to their situation.