The U.S. Department of State released the May 2026 Visa Bulletin on April 2, 2026. But for applicants planning to file Form I-485, the DOS bulletin is only half the story — the other half is USCIS’s monthly determination of which chart adjustment-of-status applicants can use. That decision can make the difference between filing now and waiting another year.
USCIS has now published its May 2026 determination. Here’s the short answer:
USCIS will accept I-485 applications using the Dates for Filing chart. F2A is fully Current across every country; F1 All Other / China / India filing is at Oct 1, 2018. This is the more favorable chart for family applicants.
USCIS will accept I-485 applications only under the Final Action Dates chart. This means EB-2 India applicants need a priority date before Jul 15, 2014 — not the more favorable Jan 15, 2015 filing date.
The authoritative source is USCIS’s monthly page at uscis.gov/visabulletininfo. USCIS publishes its determination within one week of DOS’s Visa Bulletin release. Always verify on the USCIS page before filing.
Why the Split Matters
Each month, USCIS compares the supply of available visa numbers against the demand — both pending I-485 applications and documentarily qualified consular cases. If supply exceeds demand for a given preference group, USCIS allows applicants to file under the more generous Dates for Filing chart. If demand exceeds supply, applicants must use the stricter Final Action Dates chart.
For May 2026, USCIS determined there is still slack in family-sponsored numbers — demand has not caught up with the historic advances seen in April. On the employment-based side, however, the April advances were so dramatic (EB-2 India +303 days, EB-2 ROW → Current, EB-3 ROW +244 days, EB-4 +365 days) that demand is already closing in on the annual ceiling. USCIS is using the Final Action Dates chart to slow the filing flow and stay within FY-2026 limits.
In April 2026, some employment-based categories had the benefit of the more generous Filing Dates chart. In May, employment applicants are restricted to the stricter Final Action Dates chart. If you are an EB-2 India applicant with a priority date between Jul 15, 2014 and Jan 15, 2015, you are no longer able to file I-485 this month even though your priority date was arguably eligible under the Filing Dates chart. Your window opens when your PD is earlier than the Final Action Date.
Family-Sponsored: Dates for Filing (May 2026)
Because USCIS accepts the Dates for Filing chart for family-sponsored categories in May, applicants with priority dates earlier than the following can file Form I-485:
📋 Family Dates for Filing — May 2026 (The chart that applies to you)
F2A (spouses and minor children of green card holders) remains Current across every country under Dates for Filing. Every F2A applicant can file I-485 in May regardless of priority date. This is the biggest practical benefit of USCIS’s family-sponsored chart choice.
Employment-Based: Final Action Dates (May 2026)
Because USCIS requires the Final Action Dates chart for employment-based categories in May, applicants need a priority date earlier than the following to file Form I-485:
📋 Employment Final Action Dates — May 2026 (The chart that applies to you)
Section E of the May 2026 DOS Visa Bulletin explicitly warns that “sufficient demand and increased number use by India in the EB-5 unreserved visa categories may make it necessary to retrogress the final action date or make the category unavailable to hold number use within the maximum allowed under the FY 2026 annual limit.” If your EB-5 India priority date is at or near May 1, 2022, file immediately — the window may close before FY-2026 ends.
What You Should Do Right Now
Family-sponsored = Dates for Filing chart. Employment-based = Final Action Dates chart. Use the correct chart for your category and compare your priority date against the appropriate row and country column above.
Visit uscis.gov/visabulletininfo to confirm the May 2026 determination. USCIS occasionally updates its chart choice mid-month or adds clarifying guidance. The USCIS page is the authoritative source — not the DOS Visa Bulletin alone.
Both the April and May 2026 bulletins explicitly warn that retrogression may be necessary later in FY-2026. If you are eligible to file under the chart USCIS has designated, file now. Use our May 2026 I-485 eligibility checker for an instant verdict.
When you file I-485, include Form I-765 (Employment Authorization) and Form I-131 (Advance Parole) — both are fee-free when filed concurrently and provide work and travel authorization while your case is pending.
The USCIS chart determination changes monthly. If you’re waiting near a cutoff date, bookmark uscis.gov/visabulletininfo and check it within one week of every DOS Visa Bulletin release.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does USCIS use different charts for family and employment categories?
USCIS determines chart usage separately for each preference group based on supply-and-demand analysis. Family-sponsored visa demand remained manageable relative to available FY-2026 numbers, so USCIS can accept the more generous Filing Dates chart. On the employment side, April’s historic advances surged filed demand, so USCIS has to restrict May filings to the Final Action Dates chart to stay within annual limits.
Can I file under the Dates for Filing chart as an employment-based applicant in May 2026?
No. USCIS designated the Final Action Dates chart for employment-based categories in May 2026. Your priority date must be earlier than the Final Action Date for your category and country. USCIS will reject filings that rely on the Dates for Filing chart for employment-based cases this month.
What if I filed I-485 in April under the Filing Dates chart — is my case still valid?
Yes. Filings are judged under the chart that applied the month they were properly received. If your April 2026 filing was accepted by USCIS, it remains pending regardless of what chart USCIS uses in subsequent months. This is one of the biggest reasons to file as soon as you are eligible — you lock in the current chart rules.
What does “Current” mean on the chart?
“Current” (often shown as “C”) means there is no cutoff date — all applicants in that category and country can file regardless of priority date. In May 2026, EB-1/EB-2/EB-5 Unreserved for ROW, Mexico, and Philippines are Current on Final Action. F2A is Current across every country on Dates for Filing.
When will USCIS announce the June 2026 chart determination?
USCIS publishes its monthly determination within one week of the Department of State’s Visa Bulletin release. DOS typically releases the bulletin in the second or third week of the prior month, so the June 2026 determination should appear on the USCIS page in mid-May 2026.
Can USCIS change the chart mid-month?
It’s rare but possible. USCIS occasionally posts clarifications or addenda to its determination. Always check the USCIS page before filing, and keep screenshots of the determination in effect on the day you mail or submit your application.
What is the difference between Final Action Date and Dates for Filing?
The Final Action Date is when a visa number is actually available and your green card can be approved. The Dates for Filing is an earlier date that lets you submit your I-485, get EAD and Advance Parole, and benefit from AC21 portability while you wait — but your final approval still depends on the Final Action Date becoming current. See our detailed explainer in the May 2026 I-485 eligibility checker article.
