The U.S. Department of State has released the Visa Bulletin for May 2026, showing very little movement across most employment-based Green Card categories. However, it has issued a cautionary note specifically for the EB-5 category, particularly affecting applicants from India.
According to the bulletin, rising demand and increased usage by Indian applicants in the EB-5 unreserved visa category could lead to retrogression of the Final Action Date or even make the category temporarily unavailable in order to stay within the FY 2026 annual visa limits. Officials have indicated that the situation will be closely monitored and necessary adjustments will be made depending on demand.
The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program allows foreign nationals to obtain a Green Card by making a qualifying investment in the United States and creating at least 10 full-time jobs. While the investment requirement is substantial, it is often considered one of the more straightforward pathways to permanent residency since it does not require employer sponsorship.
Currently, the Final Action Date for EB-5 applicants from India stands at May 1, 2022, meaning only those with a priority date earlier than this are eligible for approval. With demand steadily increasing, there is a strong possibility of further delays or restrictions in the near future.
In other categories, there has been no significant movement. The Final Action Date for EB-1 remains at April 1, 2023 for India, while EB-2 stands at July 15, 2014, and EB-3 at November 15, 2013. Although EB-2 and EB-3 categories showed some forward movement in previous bulletins, they have now largely stalled.
The Visa Bulletin is a monthly update that determines the availability of Green Cards based on category and country of birth. Applicants can move forward in the process only if their priority date is earlier than the cut-off date listed. The Final Action Date indicates when a Green Card can be approved, while the Date for Filing determines when applicants can submit their I-485 application. These dates usually move forward over time, but can also remain unchanged or even move backward if demand exceeds the available visa quota.
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