USCIS Publishes EB-3 Pending Applications Inventory Data – April 2026 Update

USCIS has officially published its latest pending applications inventory for Employment-Based (EB) preference categories, reflecting data as of April 3, 2026. The report, released in Excel format on the USCIS website, provides a category-by-category breakdown of how many petitions and adjustment of status applications are currently awaiting adjudication. For EB-3 applicants — including skilled workers, professionals, and unskilled workers — this data is particularly significant. It allows applicants and their attorneys to estimate relative queue positions and anticipate when priority dates may become current based on current processing volumes. The inventory data is one of the key inputs the Department of State uses when projecting visa number availability in the monthly Visa Bulletin. A high volume of pending EB-3 cases typically signals continued or worsening backlogs, while a declining count may suggest faster forward movement of priority dates in upcoming bulletins. Applicants are encouraged to review the published Excel file directly from USCIS and cross-reference their priority date against the most recent Visa Bulletin chart to assess their position in the queue. Immigration attorneys may use this data to advise clients on expected timelines for I-485 adjudication. This release is part of USCIS's ongoing transparency initiative to make processing and backlog data publicly available, helping applicants better understand where their cases stand in the overall EB immigration pipeline.