EB-3 Visa Bulletin May 2026 Big Jump: Philippines Priority Date Now Aug 1, 2023

The May 2026 Visa Bulletin brings important news for EB-3 applicants from the Philippines. USCIS has confirmed it will use the Final Action Dates chart for employment-based cases, meaning the controlling EB-3 Philippines cutoff date is August 1, 2023. For Philippine nationals in the EB-3 (third employment-based preference) category, a priority date becomes "current" when it falls on or before the published cutoff date. This means applicants who filed their I-140 petitions with a priority date of August 1, 2023 or earlier may now be eligible to proceed to the next stage of their green card process, including filing Form I-485 (Adjustment of Status) if already in the U.S., or consular processing abroad. The use of the Final Action Dates chart — rather than the Dates for Filing chart — is a key distinction. USCIS makes this determination monthly, and when only the Final Action Dates chart is authorized, applicants cannot file adjustment of status applications until their priority date is fully current under that chart. Philippine-born EB-3 applicants should verify their priority date on their I-140 approval notice and compare it against the May 2026 Visa Bulletin. Those whose dates have become current should consult with an immigration attorney promptly, as visa number availability can shift month to month and acting quickly helps avoid losing a current window.