May 7, 2026

For many families applying for U.S. permanent residency, the phrase “Visa Bulletin” has become a monthly must-follow. However, not everyone understands what the Visa Bulletin truly is and why it is so important.

The Visa Bulletin is a newsletter published monthly by the U.S. Department of State to update the status of immigrant visa availability for various categories, including family-sponsored, EB2, EB3, EB5, and more.

Put simply, it is a “waiting list” that indicates which applications have reached their turn for further processing or visa issuance.

Every immigration file has a “Priority Date.” This is usually the date the application was first filed with the U.S. immigration system.

Each month, the Visa Bulletin publishes a specific cutoff date. If an applicant's Priority Date is earlier than or equal to the date posted in the Visa Bulletin, the application is considered “current,” meaning it is now their turn for the next processing step.

Example:
If the EB3 Unskilled Workers category for May 2026 is processing dates up to February 1, 2022, then files with a Priority Date before this date may be eligible to proceed with the green card or immigrant visa application process.

Conversely, files with a Priority Date after that cutoff will continue to wait.

The Visa Bulletin is typically divided into two charts:
• Dates for Filing — dates for preparing and submitting paperwork.
• Final Action Dates — dates when a visa can actually be issued or final approval granted.

Depending on the month, USCIS will decide which chart to use for filing Adjustment of Status applications within the U.S.

What worries many people is that the visa dates can:
• Advance
• Stay the same
• Or retrogress — meaning they move backward because the number of applications exceeds the annual visa quota.

However, immigration attorneys note that retrogression does not mean an application is canceled. It is primarily an issue of visa allocation under U.S. immigration law.

For those in the EB3 category, the Visa Bulletin is currently seen as a “countdown clock” for their immigration journey. Although progress may be slow, many valid applications continue to be processed step by step.

Experts recommend that applicants monitor the Visa Bulletin monthly from the official U.S. Department of State source, while also preparing finances, documents, and maintaining a steady mindset during the wait.