May 2026 Visa Bulletin: USCIS Shifts to Final Action Dates for Employment-Based Visas
Summary: The May 2026 Visa Bulletin reveals that USCIS will require employment-based applicants to use the Final Action Dates chart, signaling potential delays for those waiting to file for adjustment of status.
The Department of State recently released the May 2026 Visa Bulletin, bringing important procedural updates for immigrant visa applicants. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) determined that for the month of May, all employment-based preference categories must use the Final Action Dates chart rather than the Dates for Filing chart. Meanwhile, family-sponsored preference categories will continue to use the Dates for Filing chart.
This shift for employment-based categories means that many foreign workers who might have been eligible to file their adjustment of status (green card) applications under the more generous Dates for Filing chart will now have to wait. Overall, the May bulletin shows little to no forward movement for most employment-based categories (EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3) across most countries, with only minor advancements noted.
For visa-dependent professionals, this lack of movement combined with the chart switch compounds the challenges of long-term immigration planning and underscores the importance of maintaining underlying nonimmigrant status.
Source: AILA