EB-1 Priority Dates for China: April 2026 Update

The April 2026 Visa Bulletin brings an update for Chinese nationals waiting in the EB-1 employment-based immigration category. The current EB-1 China filing date is set at December 1, 2023, which serves as the cutoff to determine who is eligible to submit a Green Card application at this time. Applicants whose priority date falls before December 1, 2023 are now eligible to officially file for adjustment of status (if already in the U.S.) or begin consular processing abroad. This is a significant milestone for Chinese nationals in the EB-1 category, which covers priority workers including persons of extraordinary ability, outstanding professors and researchers, and multinational executives. Despite the existing backlog in the EB-1 China category, the wait times remain considerably shorter compared to the EB-2 and EB-3 categories for Chinese nationals. According to the update, EB-1 applicants face filing waits that are nearly two years shorter than those in the EB-2 or EB-3 queues. For EB-3 applicants from China, this data provides useful context when evaluating potential category changes or upgrade strategies. Those currently in the EB-3 backlog may wish to consult with an immigration attorney about whether pursuing an EB-1 or EB-2 reclassification could accelerate their path to a Green Card.