Washington, D.C., April 2026 — United States.
USCIS announced that starting in May 2026, applicants for adjustment of status in employment-based categories must use the Final Action Dates chart in the Department of State’s Visa Bulletin, instead of the Dates for Filing chart used in previous months. This change directly affects the ability of EB category applicants in the United States to file their applications.
Final Action Dates và Dates for Filing khác nhau ra sao
The U.S. Department of State’s monthly Visa Bulletin has two different date charts for each category. The Final Action Dates chart shows the date a visa is actually approved; the Dates for Filing chart shows an earlier date that allows applicants to file ahead, even before their turn for visa issuance.
When USCIS permits use of the Dates for Filing chart, applicants can file their adjustment of status applications earlier. When USCIS switches to requiring Final Action Dates, applicants whose priority date has not reached the Final Action cutoff will be unable to file that month.
Impact on EB-3 Applicants
According to the USCIS announcement, EB-3 and other employment-based applicants who prepared their applications based on Dates for Filing but do not yet meet Final Action Dates will be unable to file adjustment of status starting in May 2026. The change applies to all employment-based categories.
The Department of State’s Visa Bulletin states that recent date movements partly reflect a decline in the rate of consular immigrant visa issuance, due to immigrant visa processing measures currently applied to certain nationalities. As demand for immigrant visas rebounds, priority dates could retrogress in the coming months.
What Applicants Should Do
USCIS publishes its decision on which chart applies to each category, each month, on the Adjustment of Status Filing Charts page. Applicants should check this page at the start of each month before filing.
The Visa Bulletin and the rules on which chart applies can change from month to month. Applicants whose priority dates are close to the cutoffs should therefore closely monitor official announcements from USCIS and the Department of State to determine the appropriate time to file.
References
This article is compiled from government sources. Immigration regulations and figures may change over time; you should check current information on the official website before making a decision.
