Volume 13 Number 9 · May 2026 · Published Apr 9, 2026

Visa Bulletin May 2026

Priority date cutoffs for all green card categories — employment and family. Verify before filing at travel.state.gov.

Chart A USCIS using
Monthly Updated by DOS
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Chart A

Final Action Dates

Your priority date must be before or on this cutoff for USCIS to approve your green card. Use this chart unless USCIS specifically authorizes Chart B for your category.

Category 🌍 All
chargeability
🇨🇳 China 🇮🇳 India 🇲🇽 Mexico 🇵🇭 Philippines
EB-1 Priority workers · extraordinary ability, outstanding researchers, multinational managers Current 22 Jan 2023 22 Jan 2023 Current Current
EB-2 Advanced degree professionals · exceptional ability · NIW Current 01 Nov 2020 01 Dec 2011 Current Current
EB-3 Skilled workers & professionals 01 Jun 2023 22 Oct 2020 01 Dec 2011 01 Jun 2023 01 Jun 2023
EB-3W Other workers (unskilled) 01 Jun 2023 22 Oct 2020 01 Dec 2011 01 Jun 2023 01 Jun 2023
EB-4 Special immigrants — religious workers, certain physicians Current Current Current Current Current
EB-5 RC Regional Center investors ($800K TEA / $1.05M standard) Current 22 Nov 2015 Current Current Current
EB-5 D Direct investors (non-Regional Center) Current Current Current Current Current
Category 🌍 All
chargeability
🇨🇳 China 🇮🇳 India 🇲🇽 Mexico 🇵🇭 Philippines
F1 Unmarried adult children (21+) of US citizens 08 Sep 2016 08 Sep 2016 08 Sep 2016 22 Jan 2001 01 Oct 2013
F2A Spouse & children under 21 of LPRs 22 Dec 2023 22 Dec 2023 22 Dec 2023 22 Dec 2023 22 Dec 2023
F2B Unmarried adult children (21+) of LPRs 01 Dec 2019 01 Dec 2019 01 Dec 2019 22 May 2005 22 Aug 2012
F3 Married children of US citizens 01 Jan 2011 01 Jan 2011 01 Jan 2011 08 Dec 2000 22 Nov 2002
F4 Siblings of adult US citizens 22 Feb 2007 22 Feb 2007 22 Feb 2007 22 Jan 2000 22 Nov 1995
Chart B

Dates for Filing

Use this chart only when USCIS explicitly authorizes it for your category. Allows earlier I-485 filing — but approval still requires Final Action Date to become current.

Category 🌍 All
chargeability
🇨🇳 China 🇮🇳 India 🇲🇽 Mexico 🇵🇭 Philippines
EB-1Priority workers Current Current 01 Jun 2023 Current Current
EB-2Advanced degree · NIW Current 01 Jan 2021 01 Mar 2012 Current Current
EB-3Skilled workers & professionals Current 01 Jan 2021 01 Mar 2012 Current Current
EB-3WOther workers Current 01 Jan 2021 01 Mar 2012 Current Current
EB-4Special immigrants Current Current Current Current Current
EB-5 RCRegional Center investors Current 22 Nov 2015 Current Current Current
Category 🌍 All
chargeability
🇨🇳 China 🇮🇳 India 🇲🇽 Mexico 🇵🇭 Philippines
F1Unmarried adult children (21+) of US citizens 15 Apr 2017 15 Apr 2017 15 Apr 2017 01 Jun 2001 01 Jun 2014
F2ASpouse & children of LPRs Current Current Current Current Current
F2BUnmarried adult children (21+) of LPRs 01 Feb 2021 01 Feb 2021 01 Feb 2021 22 Jul 2005 15 Sep 2013
F3Married children of US citizens 01 Apr 2012 01 Apr 2012 01 Apr 2012 01 Mar 2001 08 Jan 2004
F4Siblings of adult US citizens 01 Oct 2007 01 Oct 2007 01 Oct 2007 22 Jun 2000 08 May 1996
Current No backlog Date < 3 years back Date 3–8 years back Date 8+ years back

How to read the Visa Bulletin

1

Find your category

Employment-based: EB-1 through EB-5 based on your job type and qualifications. Family-based: F1 through F4 based on your relationship to the sponsor.

2

Find your country of chargeability

Usually the country where you were born (not your citizenship). If born in China, India, Mexico, or Philippines, check that column — otherwise use "All chargeability."

3

Compare to your priority date

Your priority date is usually the date your employer filed the PERM labor certification, or the date your I-130/I-140 was filed. It's on your USCIS receipt notice.

4

Check which chart USCIS is using

Each month USCIS announces whether they accept Chart B (Dates for Filing). If yes, you may file even if your priority date hasn't reached Chart A. Check uscis.gov monthly.

C = Current: No waiting — you can file or be approved now.  |  U = Unavailable: No visas available this month for this category — cannot file or be approved.  |  Date: Your priority date must be on or before this date.
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Visa Bulletin and who publishes it?

The Visa Bulletin is published monthly by the US Department of State (DOS). It shows which immigrant visa priority dates are "current" — meaning green card numbers are available for those applicants. It covers both employment-based (EB-1 through EB-5) and family-based (F1 through F4) preference categories.

The bulletin is typically released around the 8th–12th of the month preceding the bulletin month. So the May 2026 bulletin was published in April 2026.

What is the difference between Chart A and Chart B?

Chart A — Final Action Dates: The controlling cutoff. Your priority date must be earlier than this date for USCIS to approve your green card (or NVC to schedule your immigrant visa interview).

Chart B — Dates for Filing: An earlier date that USCIS may authorize for I-485 filings. When USCIS accepts Chart B, you can file your I-485 (and concurrent I-765/I-131) before your final action date arrives. However, your case won't be approved until Chart A advances past your date. USCIS announces each month whether they'll use Chart B.

Why do India and China have earlier cutoff dates?

US immigration law caps the number of green cards any single country can receive at 7% of the total annual employment-based and family-based allocation. Since India and China have extremely high demand relative to this cap — particularly for EB-2 and EB-3 employment-based categories — their priority date cutoffs are years or even decades earlier than for other countries.

For India EB-2 and EB-3, the backlogs are so severe that wait times can exceed 50–100 years at current rates.

How do I find my priority date?

Your priority date depends on how your green card process started:

  • Employment-based with PERM: The date DOL received your PERM labor certification application
  • Employment-based without PERM (EB-1, NIW): The date USCIS received your I-140 petition
  • Family-based: The date USCIS received your I-130 petition

Your priority date is printed on your USCIS approval notice (I-797) or receipt notice.

What happens when my priority date becomes current?

When your priority date is earlier than the Final Action Date cutoff for your category and country, you can take the next step:

  • Inside the US (adjustment of status): File Form I-485 with concurrent I-765 and I-131
  • Outside the US (consular processing): NVC will schedule your immigrant visa interview at a US consulate

Note: Priority dates can retrogress (move backward) from month to month, so always check the latest bulletin before filing.