EB2 EB3 Green Card April 2026 Changes: Is Your Priority Date Current?

A priority date is essentially your position in the queue for an employment-based Green Card. Understanding when your priority date becomes 'current' is a critical step in the green card process, as it determines when you can proceed to the final stages of your application. For most EB-3 applicants, the priority date is established on the day the employer files the PERM labor certification with the Department of Labor. For EB-1 and EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) cases, which do not require PERM, the priority date is set by the date USCIS receives the I-140 immigrant petition. Your priority date is considered 'current' when it is earlier than the date listed in the monthly Visa Bulletin published by the Department of State. Once current, applicants can move forward with filing Form I-485 (Adjustment of Status) if in the U.S., or proceed with consular processing abroad. With the April 2026 Visa Bulletin now in effect, EB-3 applicants — particularly from high-backlog countries like India, China, Mexico, and the Philippines — should check both the 'Dates for Filing' and 'Final Action Dates' charts to determine their eligibility to proceed. Applicants are advised to monitor the Visa Bulletin monthly, as cutoff dates can advance or retrogress based on demand. Consulting a qualified immigration attorney can help ensure you do not miss a filing window.