Visa bulletin May 2026: US says demand for EB-5 from India increasing, situation being monitored

The US State Department published the Visa bulletin for May 2026 with not much change in the dates but it added a note of caution for the EB-5 Green Card category specifically from India. “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. This situation will be continually monitored, and any necessary adjustments will be made accordingly,” the bulletin said.

What is EB-5 program?

The EB-5 program allows foreigners to get a green card by investing money in the US and creating jobs. One has to create at least 10 jobs in the US to qualify for this Green Card program. Though this requires a large amount of investment in the US, it is an easier way to become a Green Card holder in the US as no job offer or employer sponsorship is needed. The current Final Action Date for EB-5 for India is May 1, 2022 which means only applicants with a priority date before this can get a Green Card in this category now. As demand for this category from India is rising, the State Department warned about possible retrogression or unavailability. Final Action Date for EB-1 remains unchanged at April 1, 2023 for India, for EB-2, it is July 15, 2014, and for EB-3, it is November 15, 2013.A majority of professionals file for a Green Card in the EB-2 and EB-3 categories and they have a very long backlog. EB-1 is for the top-tier talent and priority workers while EB-2 is for professionals holding an advanced degree. EB-3 is for skilled workers. In the April bulletin, EB-2 and EB-3 categories for India advanced significantly but the dates are frozen there.

What is US visa bulletin?

It is the monthly movement of each category of Green Card programs by the country of birth. If your priority date is before the cutoff, you are eligible to take the next step in the green card process.

Final Action Date vs Date for Filing

The Final Action Date determines when USCIS can approve your green card. The Date for Filing (DFF) determines when you can submit your I-485 application.The dates generally advance forward each month but sometimes they are frozen and of the demand exceeds supply, they move backward.