Visa Lawyer Blog
We are pleased to report that the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs has published the May 2026 Visa Bulletin.
In this blog post, we breakdown the movement of the employment-based and family-sponsored categories in the coming month.
USCIS Adjustment of Status
For adjustment of status filings to permanent residence in the month of May, USCIS will continue using the Dates for Filing Chart for family-sponsored categories only.
For employment-based categories, USCIS will now use the Final Action Dates Chart.
Highlights of the May 2026 Visa Bulletin
At a Glance
What can we expect to see in the month of May?
Employment-Based Categories
Final Action Advancements
EB-3 Other Workers
- Worldwide and Mexico will advance 3 months to February 1, 2022
EB-5 Unreserved Categories (C5, T5, I5, and R5)
- EB-5 China will advance 3 weeks to September 22, 2016
Dates for Filing Advancements
EB-5 Unreserved Categories (C5, T5, I5, and R5)
- EB-5 China will advance 4 months to March 1, 2017
Family-Sponsored Categories
Final Action Advancements
F-1 Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
- F1 Mexico will advance 5.9 months to August 15, 2007
- F1 Worldwide, China, and India will advance 5.9 months to September 1, 2017
F-2A Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents
- F2A Mexico will advance 5.9 months to August 1, 2023
- F2A All other countries will advance 6 months to August 1, 2024
F3 Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
- F3 Philippines will advance 4.7 months to November 22, 2005
- F3 Worldwide, China, India will advance 1.8 months to February 15, 2012
F-4 Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens
- F4 Philippines will advance 5.4 months to July 15, 2007
- F4 Worldwide and China will advance 3.3 months to September 15, 2008
Dates for Filing Advancements
F-1 Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
- F1 Mexico will advance 5.6 months to October 1, 2008
- F-1 Worldwide, China, India will advance 7 months to October 1, 2018
F-2A Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents
- All countries will remain current
F-2B Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents
- F2B Worldwide, China, India will advance 4.8 months to January 1, 2018
F3 Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
- F3 Mexico will advance 2 weeks to July 15, 2001
- F3 Philippines will advance 3.4 weeks to August 8, 2006
- F3 All other countries (Worldwide, China, India) will advance 2 weeks to December 8, 2012
F-4 Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens
- F4 (Worldwide and China) will advance 3.6 months to September 1, 2009
Now let’s dive into our analysis.
Employment-Based Categories
FINAL ACTION DATES FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES
The following Final Action cutoff dates will apply for employment-based categories in the month of May.
EB-1 Aliens of extraordinary ability, Outstanding Professors and Researchers, and Certain Multinational Managers or Executives
- EB-1 India and China remain at April 1, 2023
- All other countries will remain current
EB-2 Members of the Professions and Aliens of Exceptional Ability
- EB-2 India will remain at July 15, 2014
- EB-2 China will remain at September 1, 2021
- All other countries (Worldwide, Mexico, Philippines) will remain current
EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers
- EB-3 India will remain at November 15, 2013
- EB-3 China will remain at June 15, 2021
- EB-3 Philippines will remain at August 1, 2023
- All other countries (Worldwide and Mexico) will remain at June 1, 2024
EB-3 Other Workers
- EB-3 India will remain at November 15, 2013
- EB-3 China will remain at February 1, 2019
- EB-3 Philippines will remain at November 1, 2021
- All other countries (Worldwide, Mexico) will advance 3 months to February 1, 2022
EB-4 Special Immigrants and Religious Workers
- All countries will remain at July 15, 2022
EB-5 Unreserved Categories (C5, T5, I5, and R5)
- EB-5 India will remain at May 1, 2022
- EB-5 China will advance 3 weeks to September 22, 2016
- All other countries will remain current
EB-5 Set-Aside Categories (Rural, High Unemployment, and Infrastructure) will remain current
*The bold represents the Visa Bulletin advancements
| Employment- based |
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed |
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, NU, RU) |
C | 22SEP16 | 01MAY22 | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: Rural (20%, including NR, RR) |
C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: High Unemployment (10%, including NH, RH) |
C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: Infrastructure (2%, including RI) |
C | C | C | C | C |
DATES FOR FILING FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES
The following Dates for Filing cutoff dates will apply in May.
EB-1 Aliens of extraordinary ability, Outstanding Professors and Researchers, and Certain Multinational Managers or Executives
- EB-1 India and China will remain at December 1, 2023
- All other countries will remain current
EB-2 Members of the Professions and Aliens of Exceptional Ability
- EB-2 India will remain at January 15, 2015
- EB-2 China will remain at January 1, 2022
- All other countries will remain current
EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers
- EB-3 India will remain at January 15, 2015
- EB-3 China will remain at January 1, 2022
- EB-3 Philippines will remain at January 1, 2024
- All other countries (Worldwide and Mexico) will remain current
EB-3 Other Workers
- EB-3 India will remain at January 15, 2015
- EB-3 China will remain at October 1, 2019
- All other countries (Worldwide, Mexico, and Philippines) will remain at August 1, 2022
EB-4 Special Immigrants and Religious Workers
- EB-4 will remain at January 1, 2023
EB-5 Unreserved Categories (C5, T5, I5, and R5)
- EB-5 India will remain at May 1, 2024
- EB-5 China will advance 4 months to March 1, 2017
- All other countries will remain current
EB-5 Set-Aside Categories (Rural, High Unemployment, and Infrastructure) will also remain current
*The bold represents the Visa Bulletin advancements
| Employment- based |
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed |
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: NR, RR – 20%) |
C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: (High Unemployment: NH, RH – 10%) |
C | C | C | C | C |
| 5th Set Aside: (Infrastructure: RI – 2%) |
C | C | C | C | C |
FINAL ACTION DATES FOR FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCE CASES
The following Final Action cutoff dates will apply for family-sponsored categories in the month of May.
F-1 Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
- F1 Mexico will advance 5.9 months to August 15, 2007
- F1 Philippines will remain at May 1, 2013
- F1 All other countries (Worldwide, China, and India) will advance 5.9 months to September 1, 2017
F-2A Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents
- F2A Mexico will advance 5.9 months to August 1, 2023
- F2A All other countries will advance 6 months to August 1, 2024
F-2B Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents
- F2B Mexico will remain at February 15, 2009
- F2B Philippines will remain at April 8, 2013
- F2B All other countries (Worldwide, China, India) will remain at May 22, 2017
F3 Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
- F3 Mexico will remain at May 1, 2001
- F3 Philippines will advance 4.7 months to November 22, 2005
- F3 All other countries (Worldwide, China, India) will advance 1.8 months to February 15, 2012
F-4 Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens
- F4 Mexico will remain at April 8, 2001
- F4 Philippines will advance 5.4 months to July 15, 2007
- F4 India will remain at November 1, 2006
- F4 All other countries (Worldwide and China) will advance 3.3 months to September 15, 2008
*The bold represents the Visa Bulletin advancements
| Family- Sponsored |
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed |
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 FOR FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCE CASES
The following Dates for Filing cutoff dates will apply for family-sponsored categories in the month of May.
F-1 Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
- F1 Mexico will advance 5.6 months to October 1, 2008
- F1 Philippines will remain at April 22, 2015
- All other countries (Worldwide, China, India) will advance 7 months to October 1, 2018
F-2A Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents
- All countries will remain current
F-2B Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents
- F2B Mexico will remain at May 15, 2010
- F2B Philippines will remain at October 1, 2013
- F2B All other countries (Worldwide, China, India) will advance 4.8 months to January 1, 2018
F3 Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
- F3 Mexico will advance 2 weeks to July 15, 2001
- F3 Philippines will advance 3.4 weeks to August 8, 2006
- F3 All other countries (Worldwide, China, India) will advance 2 weeks to December 8, 2012
F-4 Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens
- F4 Mexico will remain at April 30, 2001
- F4 Philippines will remain at March 22, 2008
- F4 India will remain at December 15, 2006
- All other countries (Worldwide and China) will advance 3.6 months to September 1, 2009
*The bold represents the Visa Bulletin advancements
| Family- Sponsored |
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed |
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 |
Conclusion
In summary, for employment-based categories, USCIS will now use the Final Action Dates Chart, and continue to honor the Dates for Filing Chart for family-sponsored categories only.
For the most part, the employment-based categories are holding steady with modest movement in the family-sponsored categories.
The May visa bulletin includes a note indicating that visa issuance for certain countries has decreased due to the Presidential Proclamations, allowing visa dates to advance for applicants from other countries in FY 2026. However, as demand increases, retrogression (date setbacks) may occur later in the fiscal year to stay within annual limits.
For India’s EB-5 unreserved category, high demand may lead to retrogression or even temporary unavailability to remain within the FY 2026 cap.
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