EB-5 Visa Bulletin

The May 2026 EB-5 visa bulletin from the U.S. Department of State shows China advancing modestly while India holds steady. After three consecutive months without movement, the China unreserved final action date advanced 21 days to September 22, 2016.

China (mainland born) advances to a final action date of September 22, 2016, breaking a three month plateau that began in February 2026. The 21 day advance is small relative to the 220 day and 31 day jumps in December 2025 and January 2026, respectively. China still carries an approximate 9.5 year backlog from the current date. Chinese investors filing under reserved categories (rural, high unemployment area, and infrastructure) continue to see Current status across all three set aside designations. For Chinese investors seeking to avoid the unreserved backlog, the rural set aside category offers immediate visa availability with no per country wait.

India holds at a final action date of May 1, 2022 for the fourth consecutive month. The four year backlog remains stable following the significant 304 day advancement in January 2026. Reserved categories remain Current for Indian investors. Like China, the rural set aside category provides an immediate pathway without retrogression.

Vietnam and all other countries remain Current across all categories. No backlog exists for these chargeability areas, and visa numbers are immediately available upon petition approval.

What to watch: The modest 17 day China advancement after three months of stasis suggests the Department of State is beginning to release additional visa numbers as FY2026 enters its second half. The July 2026 bulletin will be particularly important, as the Department historically makes larger adjustments in the fourth fiscal quarter to manage annual visa allocation. Investors considering the EB-5 program should note the September 30, 2026 grandfathering deadline, after which minimum investment amounts are expected to increase. For investors from retrogressed countries, filing under the rural set aside category before this deadline provides both immediate visa availability and grandfathered investment amounts. Investors navigating these filing decisions may benefit from consulting an experienced EB-5 immigration attorney to evaluate timing and category selection.

Visa bulletin data is most useful when interpreted in the context of your specific filing category, country of chargeability, and priority date. Here is how different investor profiles should read this month’s bulletin:

• Investors from retrogressed countries (China, India): If you hold an approved I-526E in the unreserved category, check whether your priority date falls before the Final Action Date. If it does, you may proceed with consular processing or adjustment of status. If not, monitor monthly movement and consider whether a reserved category filing could accelerate your timeline.
• New investors evaluating the program: The bulletin confirms that all three reserved set aside categories remain Current for every country. Filing under a rural, high unemployment, or infrastructure project eliminates the visa wait entirely. This is the single most impactful strategic decision for new investors.
• Investors approaching the grandfathering deadline: Filing before September 30, 2026 locks in the current $800,000 TEA minimum. The bulletin data helps you evaluate whether concurrent filing is viable based on current visa availability in your category.

Every investor’s situation involves unique variables: source of funds complexity, derivative beneficiary considerations, concurrent filing eligibility, and country specific regulatory requirements. A qualified immigration attorney can analyze your priority date in context and recommend the right filing strategy.