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EB5 Status

Priority Date

Also known as: PD

Foundational · EB-5 Glossary

Definition

The date on which an immigrant petition is filed with USCIS. For EB-5, the priority date is established when Form I-526E (or I-526) is received by USCIS. The priority date determines the investor's position in the visa queue: only petitioners whose priority date is earlier than the visa bulletin's final action date can proceed to the green card stage.

Context

Priority date is the single most important date in the EB-5 timeline for investors from backlogged countries. An earlier priority date means an earlier position in the queue. The grandfathering provision protects investors who file before September 30, 2026 from future investment amount increases.

Official Data|8 CFR § 204.6(d); USCIS Policy Manual Vol. 6, Part G

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Priority date movements, processing time changes, and policy updates.