The US State Department has released the Visa Bulletin for May 2026, showing little movement in most categories but issuing a note of caution for the EB-5 Green Card category, particularly for applicants from India.
The bulletin warned that rising demand and increased usage by Indian applicants in the EB-5 unreserved visa category could lead to retrogression of the final action date or even make the category temporarily unavailable to stay within the annual FY 2026 limit. It added that the situation will be closely monitored and adjustments will be made if necessary.
What is the EB-5 Program?
The EB-5 program allows foreign nationals to obtain a Green Card by investing in the United States and creating jobs. To qualify, an applicant must create at least 10 jobs.
Although it requires a substantial investment, it is considered one of the easier routes to a Green Card since it does not require a job offer or employer sponsorship.
Currently, the Final Action Date for EB-5 applicants from India stands at May 1, 2022, meaning only those with a priority date before this are eligible for approval. With demand rising, authorities have flagged the possibility of further delays or restrictions.
Other Categories
The Final Action Date for EB-1 remains unchanged at April 1, 2023 for India. For EB-2, it stands at July 15, 2014, and for EB-3, it is November 15, 2013.
Most professionals apply under EB-2 and EB-3 categories, both of which continue to face long backlogs. EB-1 is meant for top-tier talent and priority workers, while EB-2 covers professionals with advanced degrees, and EB-3 is for skilled workers.
Although EB-2 and EB-3 saw some movement in the previous bulletin, the dates have now largely stalled.
What is the Visa Bulletin?
The US Visa Bulletin is a monthly update that tracks the movement of Green Card categories based on country of birth. If an applicant’s priority date is earlier than the cut-off date, they are eligible to move forward in the process.
Final Action Date vs Date for Filing
The Final Action Date determines when a Green Card can be approved, while the Date for Filing (DFF) indicates when applicants can submit their I-485 application.
While these dates usually move forward each month, they can also remain stagnant or even move backward if demand exceeds supply.