The U.S. Department of State has released the May 2026 Visa Bulletin, the latest update on green card availability and waiting times.
The Visa Bulletin is a monthly report that shows when green card applicants can move forward with their application based on their priority date. It provides cutoff dates for family-based and employment-based categories, helping applicants know when they can apply or receive approval.
Because there are annual limits on green cards, not everyone can move forward immediately. This monthly U.S. visa bulletin helps answer one key question:
Is my priority date current?
If your date is current, you can take the next step in your application.
Two key charts in the bulletin determine your progress:
- Final Action Date: When your green card can be approved
- Dates for Filing: When you can submit your application early
The gap between these dates often reflects processing times by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services or the National Visa Center.
May 2026 Visa Bulletin: Key Updates
The May Visa Bulletin shows forward movement in family-based Dates for Filing, while employment-based Final Action Dates remain mostly unchanged compared to April.
Review these updates to see if your priority date has moved forward and find out whether you’re now eligible to file your green card application.
Family-Based Green Card Updates
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F1, F2B, and F4 categories advanced significantly, with priority dates moving forward by 3 to 7 months
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F3 category saw slight progress, with minor forward movement
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F2A remains Current (C) for all countries, allowing immediate filing
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No retrogression observed in any family-based category
Overall, family-based categories show steady improvement and faster filing opportunities
Employment-Based Green Card Updates
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Most categories (EB-1, EB-2, EB-3) remain unchanged, indicating continued backlog
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Other Workers category moved forward slightly (around 3 months)
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EB-5 China (Unreserved) saw a significant advancement
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EB-5 Set-Aside categories remain Current (C)
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EB-4 (Certain special immigrants). No change from March across all countries.
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No retrogression observed
Overall, employment-based categories show limited movement with persistent backlogs, especially for India and China
A detailed chart with all category-specific dates is provided below for your reference.
When to File an Adjustment of Status Application
If you want to become a U.S. permanent resident through a family-based or employment-based visa, an immigrant visa petition must first be filed on your behalf by a relative or employer. If no petition has been submitted yet, learn more about the Adjustment of Status process.
If a petition has already been filed or approved, you may need to wait until a visa becomes available in your category before applying using Form I-485. The table below will help you determine when to file your application based on your visa category.
Wondering how long it takes after your date becomes current? See our complete guide to green card timeline and processing times.
USCIS decides which chart applicants should follow when submitting their applications. For May 2026, applicants should use the “Dates for Filing” chart for family-sponsored and “Final Action Dates” employment-based green cards.
Understanding Chart Notations
- “C” (Current): Visas are immediately available, and applicants can file or receive approval if eligible.
- “U” (Unavailable): Visas are not available, and applications cannot be processed in that category.
Are you new to the U.S. Visa Bulletin or terms like “Final Action Date”? No worries—check out our guide on “How to Read the Visa Bulletin” to get started.
To view past and current visa bulletins, visit the Travel.State.Gov.
Family-Sponsored Preferences
Final Action Dates for Family-Sponsored Applications (May 2026)
| Family-Sponsored Categories | All Other Areas | CHINA (Mainland Born) | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| F1 | 01SEP17 | 01SEP17 | 01SEP17 | 15AUG07 | 01MAY13 |
| F2A | 01AUG24 | 01AUG24 | 01AUG24 | 01AUG23 | 01AUG24 |
| F2B | 22MAY17 | 22MAY17 | 22MAY17 | 15FEB09 | 08APR13 |
| F3 | 15FEB12 | 15FEB12 | 15FEB12 | 01MAY01 | 22NOV05 |
| F4 | 15SEP08 | 15SEP08 | 01NOV06 | 08APR01 | 15JUL07 |
Dates For Filing Family-Sponsored Applications (May 2026)
| Family-Sponsored Categories | All Other Areas | CHINA (Mainland Born) | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| F1 | 01OCT18 | 01OCT18 | 01OCT18 | 01OCT08 | 22APR15 |
| F2A | C | C | C | C | C |
| F2B | 01JAN18 | 01JAN18 | 01JAN18 | 15MAY10 | 01OCT13 |
| F3 | 08DEC12 | 08DEC12 | 08DEC12 | 15JUL01 | 08AUG06 |
| F4 | 01SEP09 | 01SEP09 | 15DEC06 | 30APR01 | 22MAR08 |
Employment-Based Preferences
Final Action Dates For Employment-Based Applications
(May 2026)
| Employment-Based Categories | All Other Areas | CHINA (Mainland Born) | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| 1st | C | 01APR23 | 01APR23 | C | C |
| 2nd | C | 01SEP21 | 15JUL14 | C | C |
| 3rd | 01JUN24 | 15JUN21 | 15NOV13 | 01JUN24 | 01AUG23 |
| Other Workers | 01FEB22 | 01FEB19 | 15NOV13 | 01FEB22 | 01NOV21 |
| 4th | 15JUL22 | 15JUL22 | 15JUL22 | 15JUL22 | 15JUL22 |
| Certain Religious Workers | 15JUL22 | 15JUL22 | 15JUL22 | 15JUL22 | 15JUL22 |
| 5th Unreserved (including C5, T5, I5, R5) | C | 22SEP16 | 01MAY22 | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: Rural (20%) | C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: High Unemployment (10%) | C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: Infrastructure (2%) | C | C | C | C | C |
Dates for Filing Employment-Based Applications (MAY 2026)
| Employment-Based Categories | All Other Areas | CHINA (Mainland Born) | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| 1st | C | 01DEC23 | 01DEC23 | C | C |
| 2nd | C | 01JAN22 | 15JAN15 | C | C |
| 3rd | C | 01JAN22 | 15JAN15 | C | 01JAN24 |
| Other Workers | 01AUG22 | 01OCT19 | 15JAN15 | 01AUG22 | 01AUG22 |
| 4th | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 |
| Certain Religious Workers | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 | 01JAN23 |
| 5th Unreserved (including C5, T5, I5, R5) | C | 01MAR17 | 01MAY24 | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: Rural (20%) | C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: High Unemployment (10%) | C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: Infrastructure (2%) | C | C | C | C | C |
Diversity Immigrant (DV) Category
Every year Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) permits 55,000 immigrant visas annually through the Diversity Visa program. This number of visas from countries with low admissions over the past five years. 5,000 visas are reserved annually for the NACARA program, reducing the DV-2025 limit to roughly 54,850. These DV visas are distributed across six regions, with a cap of seven percent per country each year. Check more details about Diversity Visa lottery from our comprehensive guide.
May 2026 Immigrant Numbers in the DV Category
| Region | All DV Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed Separately | |
| AFRICA | 55,000 | Except: 1. Algeria: 37,000 2. Egypt: 30,000 |
| ASIA | 35,000 | Except: 1. Nepal: 10,000 |
| EUROPE | 20,000 | |
| NORTH AMERICA (BAHAMAS) | 50 | |
| OCEANIA | 1,500 | |
| SOUTH AMERICA, and the CARIBBEAN | 3,000 |
The Diversity (DV) Immigrant Category Rank Cut-offs (June 2026)
| Region | All DV Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed Separately | |
| AFRICA | 55,000 | Except: 1. Algeria: 37,000 2. Egypt: 30,000 |
| ASIA | 35,000 | Except: 1. Nepal: 11,000 |
| EUROPE | 20,000 | |
| NORTH AMERICA (BAHAMAS) | 50 | |
| OCEANIA | 1,500 | |
| SOUTH AMERICA, and the CARIBBEAN | 3,000 |
Why the Visa Bulletin Matters
Understanding the Visa Bulletin is essential if you’re applying for a green card. It helps you:
- Know when you can file your green card application
- Estimate how long you’ll need to wait
- Avoid premature filings that USCIS may reject
- Plan for travel, work authorization, and family transitions
Can You Shorten Your Waiting Time?
In most cases, you cannot speed up the overall waiting time caused by visa backlogs and annual limits. However, there are two situations where some applicants may be able to reduce part of the processing time for an employment-based green card. These do not apply to family-based green cards—only to employment categories that use Form I-140.
1. Filing an I-140 in a Category With a Current Priority Date
Every employment-based green card has a priority date, which is your place in line. If you apply in a category where the Visa Bulletin shows the date as “current,” there is no wait for a visa number. That means:
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Your case can begin processing immediately.
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USCIS does not need to wait for your priority date to become eligible.
Premium Processing Can Speed Up USCIS Review
In addition, many I-140 applications allow premium processing, where you pay an extra fee to have USCIS review your petition in 15 business days.
It is important to understand that:
- Premium processing only speeds up USCIS decision time.
- It does not speed up the Visa Bulletin or remove visa backlogs
If the priority date is current, premium processing helps move the case forward much faster.
2. Porting from EB-3 to EB-2 to Shorten Your Wait
Some applicants start in EB-3 but later find that EB-2 has much faster dates in the Visa Bulletin. In this case, they may try to “port” their green card.
What “Porting” Really Means
Many people think that porting means simply transferring your existing EB-3 case to EB-2. This is not correct.
To move to EB-2, you must:
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File a new I-140 petition, and
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Often file a new PERM labor certification, unless your original PERM already qualifies for EB-2
What You Do Get to Keep
The benefit of porting is:
You can keep your original priority date
This means if your EB-3 priority date was, for example, June 2019, and EB-2 is now much faster, USCIS will allow you to keep that 2019 date.
If EB-2 is ahead of EB-3 in the Visa Bulletin, you may receive your green card sooner.
When Porting Helps
Porting makes sense when:
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You qualify for EB-2 (such as having an advanced degree or exceptional ability), and
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EB-2 is moving faster than EB-3 in the Visa Bulletin
If EB-2 is not moving faster, porting does not help.
When and How to Check the Visa Bulletin
Because the Visa Bulletin changes every month, it’s important to check it regularly to see if an immigrant visa is available in your category. The U.S. government limits the number of green cards each year, and wait times can be long due to high demand and country caps.
By reviewing the bulletin each month, you’ll know when your priority date becomes current, so you can file on time, avoid delays, and stay on track in your green card process.
Staying informed through the Visa Bulletin is one of the simplest ways to take control of your immigration journey.
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