May 2026 Visa Bulletin: EB-3 Dates Frozen & EB-5 Retrogression Warning for Indians

The U.S. State Department released the Visa Bulletin for May 2026 on April 16, showing stagnation across key employment-based categories for Indian nationals. After forward movement in April, both EB-2 and EB-3 dates for India have paused with no advancement this month. For EB-3 applicants from India, the Final Action Date remains frozen at November 15, 2013. This means only applicants with a priority date before that cutoff can currently proceed to the final Green Card approval stage. The lack of movement follows a brief period of progress in the previous bulletin, signaling continued pressure from high demand relative to available visa numbers. The most notable development in the May bulletin is a formal caution issued for Indian EB-5 investor visa applicants. The State Department warned that rising demand from India in the EB-5 unreserved category could force a retrogression of the Final Action Date — currently May 1, 2022 for India — or make the category temporarily unavailable if annual visa limits are reached before the fiscal year ends. For context, other employment-based dates for India in May 2026 are: EB-1 at April 1, 2023; EB-2 at July 15, 2014; and EB-3 at November 15, 2013. China's EB-5 date did advance by 21 days to September 22, 2016, while all other countries remain current across most categories. EB-3 applicants from India should monitor the June 2026 bulletin closely, as the pause after April's gains may indicate tightening visa number supply heading into the final months of fiscal year 2026. Those eligible for EB-5 should consult with an immigration attorney immediately given the retrogression risk flagged in this bulletin.