May 2026 Visa Bulletin Alert: USCIS Switches to Final Action Dates, EB-3 Other Workers Advances

The U.S. Department of State has released the May 2026 Visa Bulletin, marking a significant turning point after months of acceleration in green card cut-off dates. Beginning in May, the forward movement that started in March will halt across nearly all employment-based categories. The sole exception is EB-3 Other Workers for All Other Countries, which advances three months to February 1, 2022. A critical policy shift accompanies this bulletin: for the first time this fiscal year, USCIS has designated that I-485 Adjustment of Status applications must be filed based on Final Action Dates, not the more favorable Dates for Filing chart. This distinction is significant—applicants who are currently eligible under the April Dates for Filing chart but not under the May Final Action Dates chart face an urgent deadline. They must file their I-485 applications before the end of April or risk waiting until their priority date becomes current under Final Action Dates again. For All Other Countries, EB-1 and EB-2 remain current, while EB-3 Professionals holds at June 1, 2024. China and India see no movement in May: China remains at EB-1 April 1, 2023; EB-2 September 1, 2021; and EB-3 Professionals June 15, 2021. India's EB-3 Professionals and Other Workers remain frozen at November 15, 2013. The State Department also continues its pause on final adjudications for nationals of a large list of countries including Brazil, Egypt, Haiti, Pakistan, and others. Applications from these nationals can still be filed and preliminary processing will proceed, but no final decisions will be issued while the hold remains in effect. EB-3 applicants—particularly those in the Other Workers category outside of China and India—should review their priority dates against the May Final Action Dates chart immediately. Those on the cusp of eligibility should consult their immigration attorney before April 30, 2026 to determine whether filing this month under the current Dates for Filing chart is advantageous.