May 2026 Visa Bulletin: EB-5 visa Final Action Dates show minimal advancement

The U.S. State Department has released the May 2026 Visa Bulletin. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced filings for employment-based visa preference categories must use the Final Action Dates chart in the May Bulletin, which show only China advancing 21 days in the EB-5 visa category.

The Final Action Dates chart indicates who is eligible for final action (adjudication) on their permanent residence application and when a visa can be issued. Review BAL’s employer’s guide to reading the Visa Bulletin to better understand this monthly report.

Final Action Dates chart category movement:

EB-1 visa

• China EB-1 visa Final Action Dates remain the same, with a cutoff date of April 1, 2023.
• India EB-1 visa Final Action Dates remain the same, with a cutoff date of April 1, 2023.
• For all other countries under the EB-1 visa category, including Mexico and the Philippines, Final Action Dates remain current.

EB-2 visa

• China EB-2 visa Final Action Dates remain the same, with a cutoff date of Sept. 1, 2021.
• India EB-2 visa Final Action Dates remain the same, with a cutoff date of July 15, 2014.
• For all other countries under the EB-2 visa category, including Mexico and the Philippines, Final Action Dates remain current.

EB-3 visa

• China EB-3 visa Final Action Dates remain the same, with a cutoff date of June 15, 2021.
• India EB-3 visa Final Action Dates remain the same, with a cutoff date of Nov. 15, 2013.
• For all other countries under the EB-3 visa category and Mexico, the Final Action Dates remain the same, with a cutoff date of June 1, 2024. Final Action Dates for the Philippines also remain the same, with a cutoff date of Aug. 1, 2023.

EB-5 visa (unreserved)

• China EB-5 visa Final Action Dates advance 21 days, with a cutoff date of Sept. 22, 2016.
• India EB-5 visa Final Action Dates remain the same, with a cutoff date of May 1, 2022. According to the State Department, “Sufficient demand and increased number use by India in the EB-5 unreserved visa categories may make it necessary to retrogress the final action date or make the category unavailable to hold number use within the maximum allowed under the FY 2026 annual limit.”
• For all other countries under the EB-5 unreserved visa category, including Mexico and the Philippines, Final Action Dates remain current.

Final Action Dates chart for employment-based visa applications

Additional Information: Last month, USCIS announced employment-based visa preference categories must use the Dates for Filing chart in the April Bulletin.

This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice Group.

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