May 2026 Visa Bulletin: Latest Dates, Priority Date Movement & Key Updates
- By Fileright
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The U.S. Department of State has released the May 2026 Visa Bulletin, bringing important updates for green card applicants. This monthly update determines when you can move forward in your journey toward U.S. permanent residency.
For many applicants in family-based and employment-based categories, the Visa Bulletin is the key to knowing whether you can take action now. It shows if your priority date is “current,” meaning you may be eligible to file your application or move closer to approval.
Review the May 2026 Visa Bulletin to check if your priority date has advanced and whether you can take the next step in your green card process.
Summary: May 2026 Visa Bulletin
May 2026 shows continued progress in family-based categories, with F1, F2B, and F4 advancing significantly, while F3 moves slightly forward. F2A remains current across all countries, maintaining faster filing opportunities. However, movement remains uneven for countries like Mexico and the Philippines.
In contrast, employment-based categories remain largely unchanged, with only modest gains in EB-3 Other Workers and slight movement in EB-5 China. Major categories such as EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 continue to face stagnation, especially for India and China.
Overall, family-based applicants benefit from broader forward movement, while employment-based categories continue to experience limited and selective progress.
A detailed breakdown of each category, along with complete tables, is provided below for your reference.
Quick Guide: How the Visa Bulletin Works
Before you check your eligibility, here are the key things to know:
Priority Date
Your priority date is your place in line. You can move forward when your date is earlier than the cutoff listed in the Visa Bulletin.
Country of Chargeability
Visa availability depends on your country of birth. Applicants from high-demand countries like India, China, Mexico, and the Philippines may face longer wait times.
Two Important Charts
- Dates for Filing: When you can submit your application
- Final Action Dates: When your green card can be approved
For May 2026, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services allows family-based applicants to use the Dates for Filing chart and employment-based applicants to use the Final Action Dates chart.
Monthly Movement
- Forward movement: Good news—dates advance
- No movement: No change
- Retrogression: Dates move backward due to high demand
Family-Sponsored Preference Categories
Family-based immigration allows U.S. citizens and permanent residents to sponsor certain relatives for a Green Card. These visas are divided into preference categories, depending on the family relationship between the sponsor and the applicant.
Family-based green cards are divided into the following categories:
- F1 – Unmarried adult children (21+) of U.S. citizens
- F2A – Spouses and unmarried children (under 21) of green card holders
- F2B – Unmarried adult children of green card holders
- F3 – Married children of U.S. citizens
- F4 – Brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens
Each category has separate cut-off dates based on country and demand.
Family-Based Categories: Key Changes in May 2026
- The F1 category saw significant forward movement in most countries, except the Philippines, which remained unchanged.
- The F2A category remains current across all countries, allowing immediate filing with no waiting period.
- The F2B category advanced by about 5 months for most countries, while Mexico and the Philippines remained unchanged.
- The F3 category saw minor forward movement across all countries, with progress ranging from two to three weeks.
- The F4 category advanced by about 3.5 months for most countries, while India, Mexico, and the Philippines remained unchanged.
F-1: Unmarried Children (Age 21+) of U.S. Citizens
| Country | May Cut-off Date | Apr Cut-off Date | Movement |
| All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | 01-Oct-18 | 01-Mar-18 | 7 Months |
| China | 01-Oct-18 | 01-Mar-18 | 7 Months |
| India | 01-Oct-18 | 01-Mar-18 | 7 Months |
| Mexico | 01-Oct-18 | 15-Apr-08 | 5.5 Months |
| Philippines | 22-Apr-15 | 15-Apr-08 | No Change |
F-2A: Spouses and Unmarried Children (Under 21) of U.S. Green Card Holders
| Country | May Cut-off Date | Apr Cut-off Date | Movement |
| All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | Current | Current | No Change |
| China | Current | Current | No Change |
| India | Current | Current | No Change |
| Mexico | Current | Current | No Change |
| Philippines | Current | Current | No Change |
F-2B: Unmarried Sons and Daughters (Age 21 or older) of U.S. Green Card Holders
| Country | May Cut-off Date | Apr Cut-off Date | Movement |
| All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | 01-Jan-18 | 08-Aug-17 | 5 Months |
| China | 01-Jan-18 | 08-Aug-17 | 5 Months |
| India | 01-Jan-18 | 08-Aug-17 | 5 Months |
| Mexico | 15-May-10 | 15-May-10 | No Change |
| Philippines | 01-Oct-13 | 01-Oct-13 | No Change |
F-3: Married Children of U.S. Citizens
| Country | May Cut-off Date | Apr Cut-off Date | Movement |
| All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | 08-Dec-12 | 22-Nov-12 | 16 Days |
| China | 08-Dec-12 | 22-Nov-12 | 16 Days |
| India | 08-Dec-12 | 22-Nov-12 | 16 Days |
| Mexico | 15-Jul-01 | 01-Jul-01 | 14 Days |
| Philippines | 08-Aug-06 | 15-Jul-06 | 24 Days |
F-4: Siblings of U.S. Citizens
| Country | May Cut-off Date | Apr Cut-off Date | Mar Cut-off Date | Movement |
| All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | 01-Sep-09 | 15-May-09 | 01-Mar-09 | 3.5 Months |
| China | 01-Sep-09 | 15-May-09 | 01-Mar-09 | 3.5 Months |
| India | 15-Dec-06 | 15-Dec-06 | 15-Dec-06 | No Change |
| Mexico | 30-Apr-01 | 30-Apr-01 | 30-Apr-01 | No Change |
| Philippines | 22-Mar-08 | 22-Mar-08 | 15-Jan-08 | No Change |
Employment-Based Preference Categories
Employment-based green cards are divided into:
- EB-1 – Priority workers (extraordinary ability, professors, executives)
- EB-2 – Advanced degree professionals or exceptional ability
- EB-3 – Skilled workers, professionals, and other workers
- EB-4 – Special immigrants (religious workers, etc.)
- EB-5 – Immigrant investors
High-demand categories, especially EB-2 and EB-3 for India and China, often have long waiting periods.
Employment-Based Categories: Key Changes in May 2026
- The EB-1 category remained unchanged across all countries, with most regions staying current and no forward movement for China and India.
- The EB-2 category saw no change in May, with most countries current while India and China remain backlogged.
- The EB-3 category remained unchanged across all countries, reflecting continued backlog with no forward movement.
- EB-3 Other Workers advanced by about 3 months for most countries, while China, India, and the Philippines remained unchanged.
- The EB-4 category remained unchanged across all countries, with no forward movement in May.
- The EB-5 category remained largely unchanged, with most countries current and only a slight forward movement for China.
EB-1: Extraordinary People, Outstanding Researchers and Professors, and Multinational Executives and Managers
| Country | May Cut-off Date | Apr Cut-off Date | Movement |
| All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | Current | Current | No Change |
| China | 01-Apr-23 | 01-Apr-23 | No Change |
| India | 01-Apr-23 | 01-Apr-23 | No Change |
| Mexico | Current | Current | No Change |
| Philippines | Current | Current | No Change |
EB-2: Exceptional People and Advanced Degree Holders
| Country | May Cut-off Date | Apr Cut-off Date | Movement |
| All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | Current | Current | No Change |
| China | 01-Sep-21 | 01-Sep-21 | No Change |
| India | 15-Jul-14 | 15-Jul-14 | No Change |
| Mexico | Current | Current | No Change |
| Philippines | Current | Current | No Change |
EB-3: Skilled Worker or Professional
| Country | May Cut-off Date | Apr Cut-off Date | Movement |
| All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | 01-Jun-24 | 01-Jun-24 | No Change |
| China | 15-Jun-21 | 15-Jun-21 | No Change |
| India | 15-Nov-13 | 15-Nov-13 | No Change |
| Mexico | 01-Jun-24 | 01-Jun-24 | No Change |
| Philippines | 01-Aug-23 | 01-Aug-23 | No Change |
EB-3: Other Worker
| Country | May Cut-off Date | Apr Cut-off Date | Movement |
| All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | 01-Feb-22 | 01-Nov-21 | 3 Months |
| China | 01-Feb-19 | 01-Feb-19 | No Change |
| India | 15-Nov-13 | 15-Nov-13 | No Change |
| Mexico | 01-Feb-22 | 01-Nov-21 | 3 Months |
| Philippines | 01-Nov-21 | 01-Nov-21 | No Change |
EB-4: Special Immigrants Category
| Country | May Cut-off Date | Apr Cut-off Date | Movement |
| All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | 15-Jul-22 | 15-Jul-22 | No Change |
| China | 15-Jul-22 | 15-Jul-22 | No Change |
| India | 15-Jul-22 | 15-Jul-22 | No Change |
| Mexico | 15-Jul-22 | 15-Jul-22 | No Change |
| Philippines | 15-Jul-22 | 15-Jul-22 | No Change |
EB-5: Investors Category
| Country | May Cut-off Date | Apr Cut-off Date | Mar Cut-off Date | Movement |
| All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | Current | Current | Current | No Change |
| China | 22-Sep-16 | 01-Sep-16 | 01-Oct-16 | 21 Days |
| India | 01-May-22 | 01-May-22 | 01-May-24 | No Change |
| Mexico | Current | Current | Current | No Change |
| Philippines | Current | Current | Current | No Change |
Stay Updated with the Visa Bulletin
The U.S. Visa Bulletin changes every month, and even small updates can impact when you can file or move forward with your green card.
Why It Matters
Visa cut-off dates can:
- Move forward (good news—you may be able to file sooner)
- Stay the same (no progress this month)
- Move backward (retrogression) due to high demand
If you don’t track these updates, you could:
- Miss your window to file Form I-485
- Delay work authorization or travel permission
- Use the wrong chart and face delays
Checking the Visa Bulletin regularly—and acting quickly when your date becomes current—can help you avoid delays and move forward with confidence.
Don’t Miss Your Filing Window
If your priority date is current, start your green card application now before dates change.
