The U.S. Department of State has released the May 2026 visa bulletin. The Visa Bulletin provides an update on the availability of immigrant visas for both consular processing and adjustment of status applications for the month of May 2026. The bulletin includes both the Final Action Dates and the Dates for Filing for employment-based and Family-Based immigrant visa categories. In addition, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announces each month which chart applicants should use to file their Adjustment of Status (AOS) applications.
Below is a summary of the key developments in the May 2026 Visa Bulletin:
Family-Based Categories
For May 2026, USCIS has announced that applicants in the Family-Based immigrant visa categories should refer to the Dates for Filing chart when submitting adjustment of status applications. This month’s bulletin reflects forward movement across all categories.
In the F-1 category, which includes unmarried sons and daughters (21 years or older) of U.S. citizens, the dates for filing for the Philippines won’t change from last month. The dates for filing for Mexico will advance by six months to October 1, 2018. The dates for filing for all other countries will advance by seven months to October 1, 2018. Meanwhile, the final action date from Mexico will advance by six months to August 15, 2007. The final action date for the Philippines won’t change from last month. The final action dates for all other countries will advance by four months to September 1, 2017.
In the F-2A category, which encompasses spouses and unmarried children (under age 21) of U.S. green card holders, the dates for filing for all countries will remain current. Meanwhile, the final action date for Mexico will advance by six months to August 1, 2023. The final action dates for all other countries advances by six months to August 1, 2024.
The F-2B category, which covers unmarried children (age 21 or older) of a U.S. green card holder, the dates for filing for Mexico and the Philippines won’t change from last month. The dates for filing for all other countries will advance by five months to January 1, 2018. Meanwhile, the final action dates for all other countries won’t change from last month.
In the F-3 category, which includes the married children of U.S. citizens, the cutoff date for the Philippines will advance by two weeks to August 8, 2006. The cutoff date for Mexico will advance one week to July 15, 2001. The dates for filing for all other countries will advance by two weeks to December 8, 2012. Meanwhile, the final action date for Mexico won’t change from last month. The final action date for the Philippines will advance four and a half months to November 22, 2005. The final action dates for all other countries will advance six weeks to February 15, 2012.
In the F-4 category, pertaining to brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens, the dates for filing for Mexico, India, and the Philippines will stay the same as last month. The cutoff dates for all other countries will advance by three and a half months to September 1, 2009. Meanwhile, the final action dates for India and Mexico will stay the same as last month. The final action dates for the Philippines will advance five and a half months to July 15, 2007. The final action dates for all other countries will advance by three months to September 15, 2008.
Employment-Based Categories
As part of its regular monthly announcement, USCIS confirmed that applicants filing under the Employment-Eased categories may use the Final Action Dates chart for May. The May Visa Bulletin from the State Department sets the Final Action cutoff dates for immigrant visa issuance and adjustment of status approval as follows:
In the EB-1 category, the final action dates for all countries won’t change from April, 2026. The dates for filing for all countries won’t change from last month.
In the EB-2 category, the final action dates for all countries won’t change from last month. The dates for filing for all countries won’t change from last month.
In the EB-3 Professional and Skill Workers category, the final action dates for all countries won’t change from last month. The dates for filing for all countries won’t change from last month too.
In the EB-3 Other workers category, the final action dates for China, India, and the Philippines won’t change from last month. The final action dates for all other countries will advance by three months to February 1, 2022. The dates for filing for all countries won’t change from April, 2026.
In the EB-4 category, the final action dates for all countries will stay the same as last month. The dates for filing for all countries won’t change from last month.
In the EB-5 unreserved category, the final action date for China will advance by three weeks to September 22, 2016. The final action dates for all other countries will stay the same as last month. The dates for filing for China will advance by five months to March 1, 2017. The dates for filing for all other countries won’t change from April, 2026.
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