May 2026 Employment-Based Visa Bulletin Updates
This week, the Department of State (DOS) released its Visa Bulletin for May 2026.
Below is a summary of the employment-based updates, compared to the April 2026 Bulletin.
This month, dates across all employment-based categories remain unchanged from April. However, the most significant development is a shift in the chart USCIS uses for employment-based I-485 filings: applicants must now use the Final Action Dates rather than the Dates for Filing chart that had been available in recent months. This effectively ends the early filing window that had given many employment-based applicants the opportunity to submit adjustment of status applications ahead of their Final Action Date becoming current. People with priority dates current under Final Action Dates may continue to file AOS applications in May.
EMPLOYMENT-BASED FINAL ACTION DATES
EB-1
All others –Current (unchanged)
China – April 1, 2023 (unchanged)
India – April 1, 2023 (unchanged)
Mexico – Current (unchanged)
Philippines – Current (unchanged)
EB-2
All others – Current (unchanged)
China – September 1, 2021 (unchanged)
India – July 15, 2014 (unchanged)
Mexico – Current (unchanged)
Philippines – Current (unchanged)
EB-3
All others – June 1, 2024 (unchanged)
China – June 15, 2021 (unchanged)
India – November 15, 2013 (unchanged)
Mexico – June 1, 2024 (unchanged)
Philippines – August 1, 2023 (unchanged)
EARLY ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS (AOS) FILING DATES
Although the Dates for Filing chart cannot be used for I-485 filings in May, the DOS has published the following dates, which remain unchanged from April:
|
Employment- |
All Chargeability |
CHINA- |
INDIA |
MEXICO |
PHILIPPINES |
|
1st |
C |
01DEC23 |
01DEC23 |
C |
C |
|
2nd |
C |
01JAN22 |
15JAN15 |
C |
C |
|
3rd |
C |
01JAN22 |
15JAN15 |
C |
01JAN24 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
KEY TERMS
*Final Action Dates: Applicants whose priority dates are current under these dates can file for Adjustment of Status (AOS) and/or have their application approved in May 2026.
*Dates for Filing / Early Filing Dates: Applicants with current priority dates under these dates may file their AOS in May 2026 and begin to have their applications be processed, but must wait for their priority date to become current under Final Action Dates for approval.
*Current: Means that an applicant with a priority date earlier than or matching the published cutoff date is eligible to move forward with their immigration application.
If you have any questions, please reach out to your immigration counsel.
