The May 2026 Visa Bulletin has been released by the U.S. Department of State (Number 14, Volume XI, CA/VO: April 2, 2026). After April’s historic advances across multiple categories, the State Department has sharply reversed course in May — holding nearly every employment-based category frozen and aggressively retrogressing multiple family-sponsored categories. The retrogression warning issued in April has materialized.
This analysis covers every employment-based and family-sponsored category with exact Final Action Dates, Dates for Filing, country-by-country movement from April, and actionable guidance straight from the official bulletin.
May 2026 Visa Bulletin: Full Breakdown
The official May 2026 Visa Bulletin (No. 14, Vol. XI, CA/VO: April 2, 2026) is out. After April’s historic advances, the State Department has hit the brakes — nearly every employment-based Final Action Date is frozen at its April value, while family categories posted moderate forward movement. Fiscal Year 2026 Month 8.
May 2026 = “Pause Month” After April’s Historic Advances
After April delivered some of the biggest single-month advances of FY-2026 (EB-2 India +303 days, EB-3 ROW +244 days, EB-4/SR +365 days, EB-2 ROW → Current), the State Department held the line in May. Every one of those categories is frozen at its April value. Only a handful of cells advanced: Other Workers ROW/Mexico Final Action +92 days, EB-5 Unreserved China Final Action +21 days, and EB-5 Unreserved China Dates for Filing +151 days. On the family side, F1 ROW/Mexico, F2A (all regions), F3 ROW/Philippines, F4 ROW/Philippines and several Filing-chart entries posted moderate forward movement. No actual retrogressions occurred this month.
Context & Policy Drivers
The May bulletin explicitly cites Presidential Proclamation 10949, Presidential Proclamation 10998, and Immigrant Visa Processing Updates as drivers of decreased visa issuance rates for certain countries. The State Department advanced dates earlier in FY 2026 to use available numbers, but warns that “retrogression may be necessary later in the fiscal year to keep issuances within annual limits.” Section E of the May bulletin additionally flags EB-5 Unreserved India for possible retrogression or unavailability due to sufficient demand and increased number use.
Movement Analysis: April → May 2026
After the extraordinary March → April cycle, the April → May cycle tells a very different story. The State Department froze almost every employment-based Final Action Date and Dates for Filing chart entry, signaling that April’s rapid advances had exhausted the runway for further forward movement. Meanwhile, several family-sponsored categories were pulled back hard — the retrogression the April bulletin warned about.
Employment-Based Movement Analysis
📉 EB Final Action Date Changes (Apr → May 2026)
📉 EB Dates for Filing Changes (Apr → May 2026)
April → May 2026 Movement: 0 days (frozen)
Context: April advanced EB-2 India 10 months in a single cycle
May Action: Department holds dates to absorb new demand
Result: Applicants who filed under April’s advanced dates are now being processed; further forward movement paused until demand stabilizes.
Employment-Based Final Action Dates: May 2026 Official
The official May 2026 Final Action Dates show a near-universal freeze across employment-based categories. Only EB-5 Unreserved China advanced (by 21 days). Every other category that had a date held steady, and categories that were Current remained Current. For context on April’s movements, see our April vs March 2026 analysis.
| Category | Country | Mar 2026 | Apr 2026 | May 2026 | Mar→Apr | Apr→May | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | All Other | Current | Current | Current | — | — | OFFICIAL |
| China | Mar 1, 2023 | Apr 1, 2023 | Apr 1, 2023 | +31d | 0 days | OFFICIAL | |
| India | Mar 1, 2023 | Apr 1, 2023 | Apr 1, 2023 | +31d | 0 days | OFFICIAL | |
| Mexico | Current | Current | Current | — | — | OFFICIAL | |
| Philippines | Current | Current | Current | — | — | OFFICIAL | |
| EB-2 | All Other | Oct 15, 2024 | Current | Current | → Current | — | OFFICIAL |
| China | Sep 1, 2021 | Sep 1, 2021 | Sep 1, 2021 | 0 days | 0 days | OFFICIAL | |
| India | Sep 15, 2013 | Jul 15, 2014 | Jul 15, 2014 | +303d | 0 days | OFFICIAL | |
| Mexico | Oct 15, 2024 | Current | Current | → Current | — | OFFICIAL | |
| Philippines | Oct 15, 2024 | Current | Current | → Current | — | OFFICIAL | |
| EB-3 | All Other | Oct 1, 2023 | Jun 1, 2024 | Jun 1, 2024 | +244d | 0 days | OFFICIAL |
| China | May 1, 2021 | Jun 15, 2021 | Jun 15, 2021 | +45d | 0 days | OFFICIAL | |
| India | Nov 15, 2013 | Nov 15, 2013 | Nov 15, 2013 | 0 days | 0 days | OFFICIAL | |
| Mexico | Oct 1, 2023 | Jun 1, 2024 | Jun 1, 2024 | +244d | 0 days | OFFICIAL | |
| Philippines | Aug 1, 2023 | Aug 1, 2023 | Aug 1, 2023 | 0 days | 0 days | OFFICIAL | |
| Other Workers | All Other | Nov 1, 2021 | Nov 1, 2021 | Feb 1, 2022 | 0 days | +92d | OFFICIAL |
| China | Dec 8, 2018 | Feb 1, 2019 | Feb 1, 2019 | +55d | 0 days | OFFICIAL | |
| India | Nov 15, 2013 | Nov 15, 2013 | Nov 15, 2013 | 0 days | 0 days | OFFICIAL | |
| Mexico | Nov 1, 2021 | Nov 1, 2021 | Feb 1, 2022 | 0 days | +92d | OFFICIAL | |
| Philippines | Nov 1, 2021 | Nov 1, 2021 | Nov 1, 2021 | 0 days | 0 days | OFFICIAL | |
| EB-4 | All Countries | Jul 15, 2021 | Jul 15, 2022 | Jul 15, 2022 | +365d | 0 days | OFFICIAL |
| SR (Religious) | All Countries | Jul 15, 2021 | Jul 15, 2022 | Jul 15, 2022 | +365d | 0 days | OFFICIAL |
| EB-5 Unreserved | All Other | Current | Current | Current | — | — | OFFICIAL |
| China | Aug 15, 2016 | Sep 1, 2016 | Sep 22, 2016 | +17d | +21d | OFFICIAL | |
| India | May 1, 2022 | May 1, 2022 | May 1, 2022 | 0 days | 0 days | OFFICIAL | |
| Mexico | Current | Current | Current | — | — | OFFICIAL | |
| Philippines | Current | Current | Current | — | — | OFFICIAL |
EB-5 Set-Aside Categories
All EB-5 Set-Aside categories (Rural 20%, High Unemployment 10%, Infrastructure 2%) remain Current for all countries in May 2026. The bulletin notes, however, that EB-5 Unreserved India may be retrogressed or made unavailable later in FY 2026 due to sufficient demand and increased number use.
Employment-Based Dates for Filing: May 2026 Official
The May Dates for Filing chart is mostly a hold pattern, with one standout advance: EB-5 Unreserved China advanced 151 days (from October 1, 2016 to March 1, 2017). Every other category held exactly at its April value. Applicants watching these categories should check USCIS to confirm which chart is honored for I-485 adjustment filings in May.
| Category | Country | Mar 2026 | Apr 2026 | May 2026 | Mar→Apr | Apr→May | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | China / India | Dec 1, 2023 | Dec 1, 2023 | Dec 1, 2023 | 0 days | 0 days | OFFICIAL |
| EB-2 | India | Nov 1, 2014 | Jan 15, 2015 | Jan 15, 2015 | +75d | 0 days | OFFICIAL |
| EB-2 | China | Jan 1, 2022 | Jan 1, 2022 | Jan 1, 2022 | 0 days | 0 days | OFFICIAL |
| EB-2 | ROW / MX / PH | Current | Current | Current | — | — | OFFICIAL |
| EB-3 | India | Aug 15, 2014 | Jan 15, 2015 | Jan 15, 2015 | +153d | 0 days | OFFICIAL |
| EB-3 | ROW / Mexico | Jan 15, 2024 | Current | Current | → Current | — | OFFICIAL |
| EB-3 | China | Jan 1, 2022 | Jan 1, 2022 | Jan 1, 2022 | 0 days | 0 days | OFFICIAL |
| EB-3 | Philippines | Jan 1, 2024 | Jan 1, 2024 | Jan 1, 2024 | 0 days | 0 days | OFFICIAL |
| OW | All Other | Jun 22, 2022 | Aug 1, 2022 | Aug 1, 2022 | +40d | 0 days | OFFICIAL |
| OW | India | Aug 15, 2014 | Jan 15, 2015 | Jan 15, 2015 | +153d | 0 days | OFFICIAL |
| OW | China | Oct 1, 2019 | Oct 1, 2019 | Oct 1, 2019 | 0 days | 0 days | OFFICIAL |
| OW | Mexico | Jun 22, 2022 | Aug 1, 2022 | Aug 1, 2022 | +40d | 0 days | OFFICIAL |
| OW | Philippines | Jun 22, 2022 | Aug 1, 2022 | Aug 1, 2022 | +40d | 0 days | OFFICIAL |
| EB-4 / SR | All Countries | Jan 1, 2023 | Jan 1, 2023 | Jan 1, 2023 | 0 days | 0 days | OFFICIAL |
| EB-5 | India (Unreserved) | May 1, 2024 | May 1, 2024 | May 1, 2024 | 0 days | 0 days | OFFICIAL |
| EB-5 | China (Unreserved) | Oct 1, 2016 | Oct 1, 2016 | Mar 1, 2017 | 0 days | +151d | OFFICIAL |
India EB Categories: Detailed May 2026 Analysis
After April’s transformative 10-month advance, EB-2 India has been frozen at July 15, 2014 in May. For a detailed breakdown of what this means for your priority date, see our April 2026 EB-2 India analysis. Meanwhile, EB-3 India remains completely frozen at November 15, 2013 — the gap between EB-2 and EB-3 India sits at 8 months.
🇮🇳 India Final Action Dates (May 2026)
🇮🇳 India Dates for Filing (May 2026)
EB-2 vs EB-3 India Gap Remains at 8 Months
The gap between EB-2 India Final Action (Jul 15, 2014) and EB-3 India Final Action (Nov 15, 2013) sits at 8 months (242 days) in May — unchanged from April. For applicants with priority dates between Nov 2013 and Jul 2014, EB-2 is clearly the faster path. Consider upgrading from EB-3 to EB-2 if you hold an advanced degree or have exceptional ability credentials.
EB-5 India Retrogression Warning
Section E of the May 2026 bulletin specifically warns that EB-5 Unreserved India may need to be retrogressed or made unavailable due to “sufficient demand and increased number use by India in the EB-5 unreserved visa categories.” If you hold an EB-5 Unreserved India case with a priority date near May 1, 2022, file immediately — the window may close before the end of FY 2026.
🇮🇳 India EB-2 Status: Hold After April’s Advance
Priority Date: 2014
Eligible now (before Jul 15, 2014)
Priority Date: 2015
Filing chart eligible (before Jan 15, 2015)
Priority Date: 2018
Multi-year wait ahead
Priority Date: 2021+
Long-term wait (policy dependent)
China EB Categories: Detailed May 2026 Analysis
Chinese applicants saw nearly identical charts to April. EB-2 China Final Action remains frozen at September 1, 2021, and EB-3 China held at June 15, 2021. EB-1 China held at April 1, 2023. The only forward movement for China this month was EB-5 Unreserved China advancing 21 days from September 1, 2016 to September 22, 2016.
🇨🇳 China Final Action Dates (May 2026)
🇨🇳 China Dates for Filing (May 2026)
China EB-5 Backlog: Nearly 10 Years
EB-5 Unreserved China Final Action Date at September 22, 2016 still represents a ~10-year backlog, even with the 21-day advance. The Dates for Filing chart remains frozen at March 1, 2017. Chinese investors should strongly consider EB-5 Set-Aside categories (Rural 20%, High Unemployment 10%, Infrastructure 2%), which remain Current with zero backlog.
Family-Sponsored Categories: May 2026 Official
Family-sponsored categories posted the most forward movement in May. F2A advanced six full months across every region, F1 ROW/Mexico advanced 4-6 months, F3 Philippines jumped 144 days, and F4 Philippines jumped 164 days. F1 Philippines, F2B (all regions), F3 Mexico, F4 India, and F4 Mexico held at their April values. No family category retrogressed in May.
Family Final Action Dates (May 2026)
| Category | Country | Mar 2026 | Apr 2026 | May 2026 | Apr→May | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | All Other / CN / IN | Nov 8, 2016 | May 1, 2017 | Sep 1, 2017 | +123d | OFFICIAL |
| Mexico | Dec 22, 2006 | Feb 15, 2007 | Aug 15, 2007 | +181d | OFFICIAL | |
| Philippines | Mar 1, 2013 | May 1, 2013 | May 1, 2013 | 0 days | OFFICIAL | |
| F2A | All Other / CN / IN / PH | Feb 1, 2024 | Feb 1, 2024 | Aug 1, 2024 | +181d | OFFICIAL |
| Mexico | Feb 1, 2023 | Feb 1, 2023 | Aug 1, 2023 | +181d | OFFICIAL | |
| F2B | All Other / CN / IN | Dec 1, 2016 | May 22, 2017 | May 22, 2017 | 0 days | OFFICIAL |
| Mexico | Feb 15, 2009 | Feb 15, 2009 | Feb 15, 2009 | 0 days | OFFICIAL | |
| Philippines | Dec 22, 2012 | Apr 8, 2013 | Apr 8, 2013 | 0 days | OFFICIAL | |
| F3 | All Other / CN / IN | Sep 8, 2011 | Dec 22, 2011 | Feb 15, 2012 | +55d | OFFICIAL |
| Mexico | May 1, 2001 | May 1, 2001 | May 1, 2001 | 0 days | OFFICIAL | |
| Philippines | Mar 1, 2005 | Jul 1, 2005 | Nov 22, 2005 | +144d | OFFICIAL | |
| F4 | All Other / China | Jan 8, 2008 | Jun 8, 2008 | Sep 15, 2008 | +99d | OFFICIAL |
| India | Nov 1, 2006 | Nov 1, 2006 | Nov 1, 2006 | 0 days | OFFICIAL | |
| Mexico | Apr 8, 2001 | Apr 8, 2001 | Apr 8, 2001 | 0 days | OFFICIAL | |
| Philippines | Sep 1, 2006 | Feb 1, 2007 | Jul 15, 2007 | +164d | OFFICIAL |
Family Dates for Filing (May 2026)
| Category | Country | Apr 2026 | May 2026 | Apr→May | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | All Other / CN / IN | Mar 1, 2018 | Oct 1, 2018 | +214d | OFFICIAL |
| Mexico | Apr 15, 2008 | Oct 1, 2008 | +169d | OFFICIAL | |
| Philippines | Apr 22, 2015 | Apr 22, 2015 | 0 days | OFFICIAL | |
| F2A | All Countries | Current | Current | — | OFFICIAL |
| F2B | All Other / CN / IN | Aug 8, 2017 | Jan 1, 2018 | +146d | OFFICIAL |
| Mexico | May 15, 2010 | May 15, 2010 | 0 days | OFFICIAL | |
| Philippines | Oct 1, 2013 | Oct 1, 2013 | 0 days | OFFICIAL | |
| F3 | All Other / CN / IN | Nov 22, 2012 | Dec 8, 2012 | +16d | OFFICIAL |
| Mexico | Jul 1, 2001 | Jul 15, 2001 | +14d | OFFICIAL | |
| Philippines | Jul 15, 2006 | Aug 8, 2006 | +24d | OFFICIAL | |
| F4 | All Other / China | May 15, 2009 | Sep 1, 2009 | +109d | OFFICIAL |
| India | Dec 15, 2006 | Dec 15, 2006 | 0 days | OFFICIAL | |
| Mexico | Apr 30, 2001 | Apr 30, 2001 | 0 days | OFFICIAL | |
| Philippines | Mar 22, 2008 | Mar 22, 2008 | 0 days | OFFICIAL |
F2A Exempt / Subject Structure
For May, F2A numbers exempt from the per-country limit are authorized for priority dates earlier than Aug 1, 2023 (up from Feb 1, 2023 in April — a full six-month advance). F2A numbers subject to the per-country limit are authorized for all countries except Mexico with priority dates between Aug 1, 2023 and Aug 1, 2024. All F2A numbers provided for Mexico remain exempt from the per-country limit. If USCIS accepts the Dates for Filing chart, F2A remains Current for all countries — file immediately.
Diversity Visa (DV-2026): May Cut-Offs
The May 2026 bulletin publishes official DV-2026 cut-offs for May and advance notice for June. All May DV cut-offs are at the statutory maximums for each region. The one advance notice change for June: Nepal’s ASIA cut-off rises from 10,000 to 11,000.
Official May 2026 DV Cut-Off Numbers
AFRICA: 55,000 (Algeria 37,000, Egypt 30,000) · ASIA: 35,000 (Nepal 10,000) · EUROPE: 20,000 · NORTH AMERICA (Bahamas): 50 · OCEANIA: 1,500 · SOUTH AMERICA & CARIBBEAN: 3,000. Note: NACARA plus NDAA reductions have lowered the DV-2026 annual limit to approximately 52,000 visas. DV-2026 deadline: September 30, 2026.
June 2026 DV Advance Notice (From May Bulletin)
Same cut-offs as May except ASIA Nepal rises from 10,000 to 11,000. All other regions hold: AFRICA 55,000 (Algeria 37,000, Egypt 30,000), EUROPE 20,000, North America (Bahamas) 50, OCEANIA 1,500, South America & Caribbean 3,000.
Summary: May 2026 Key Takeaways
| Category | Chart | Country | Apr 2026 | May 2026 | Movement | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-2 | Final Action | India | Jul 15, 2014 | Jul 15, 2014 | 0 days (frozen) | OFFICIAL |
| EB-2 | Filing | India | Jan 15, 2015 | Jan 15, 2015 | 0 days (frozen) | OFFICIAL |
| EB-3 | Final Action | ROW / Mexico | Jun 1, 2024 | Jun 1, 2024 | 0 days (frozen) | OFFICIAL |
| EB-3 | Filing | India | Jan 15, 2015 | Jan 15, 2015 | 0 days (frozen) | OFFICIAL |
| EB-2 | Final Action | ROW / MX / PH | Current | Current | — | OFFICIAL |
| EB-1 | Final Action | China / India | Apr 1, 2023 | Apr 1, 2023 | 0 days (frozen) | OFFICIAL |
| EB-3 | Final Action | India | Nov 15, 2013 | Nov 15, 2013 | 0 days (frozen) | OFFICIAL |
| EB-2 | Final Action | China | Sep 1, 2021 | Sep 1, 2021 | 0 days (frozen) | OFFICIAL |
| EB-4 / SR | Final Action | All Countries | Jul 15, 2022 | Jul 15, 2022 | 0 days (frozen) | OFFICIAL |
| EB-5 | Final Action | China (Unreserved) | Sep 1, 2016 | Sep 22, 2016 | +21 days | OFFICIAL |
| F1 | Final Action | All Other / CN / IN | May 1, 2017 | Sep 1, 2017 | +123 days | OFFICIAL |
| F2A | Final Action | All Other / CN / IN / PH | Feb 1, 2024 | Aug 1, 2024 | +181 days | OFFICIAL |
| F1 | Filing | All Other / CN / IN | Mar 1, 2018 | Oct 1, 2018 | +214 days | OFFICIAL |
| OW | Final Action | ROW / Mexico | Nov 1, 2021 | Feb 1, 2022 | +92 days | OFFICIAL |
| EB-5 | Filing | China (Unreserved) | Oct 1, 2016 | Mar 1, 2017 | +151 days | OFFICIAL |
📐 Source Data & Context
- Primary Source: U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin, Number 14, Volume XI, May 2026 (CA/VO: April 2, 2026)
- Demand Cut-Off: Allocations in the May 2026 bulletin were made in chronological order of reported priority dates for demand received by April 2, 2026
- Fiscal Year Context: May 2026 is Month 8 of FY 2026; the Department is in the second half of the fiscal year and managing numbers to stay within annual limits
- Policy Context: Presidential Proclamation 10949, Presidential Proclamation 10998, and the Immigrant Visa Processing Updates continue to reduce issuance rates for certain countries, which is why the Department advanced dates earlier in FY 2026
- Retrogression Driver: April’s extraordinary advances generated a surge of qualifying demand; the State Department is now pulling dates back in several family categories to stay within annual limits
- EB-5 India Warning: Section E of the May bulletin explicitly flags EB-5 Unreserved India for possible retrogression or unavailability later in FY 2026
📚 Official Sources & References
- U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin (Official)
- USCIS Visa Availability and Priority Dates
- May 2026 Visa Bulletin: Number 14, Volume XI (CA/VO: April 2, 2026)
- April 2026 Visa Bulletin: Number 13, Volume XI (CA/VO: March 4, 2026)
- VisaVerge: April vs March 2026 Visa Bulletin Key Differences
Disclaimer: This article reflects the official May 2026 Visa Bulletin (Number 14, Volume XI) as published by the U.S. Department of State on April 2, 2026. The bulletin explicitly warns that “retrogression may be necessary later in the fiscal year to keep issuances within annual limits” and flags EB-5 Unreserved India for possible retrogression or unavailability. This analysis is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Always verify dates on the official State Department website and consult a licensed immigration attorney regarding your specific case.
