The U.S. Department of State's Visa Office has just officially released the Visa Bulletin for May 2026 (the 8th month of the 2026 fiscal year). For the EB-5 investment immigration category, which is of great concern to many investors, this bulletin brings a “two-pronged, major positive”: a significant advancement in priority dates for the legacy act and continued visa availability for the new act!
Facing ever-changing immigration policies, how can you accurately time your application? The WorldWay Group provides you with an in-depth analysis of the bulletin's core highlights to help you firmly grasp the policy dividends! Please join WorldWay for a closer look.
Core Highlight 1:
Legacy Act (Non-Reserved Category) “Dual-Track Surge”
For legacy EB-5 investors who have been suffering through long priority dates, this month brings a long-awaited “major sprint.”
• Table A (Final Action Dates): Advanced by 21 days to September 22, 2016
The steady advancement of Table A means that more legacy investors will have the opportunity to obtain green cards, substantially reducing the backlog of cases.
• Table B (Dates for Filing): Surged by 151 days to March 1, 2017
The significant one-time leap in Table B is a strong positive signal, meaning that legacy investors currently in the United States will have a greater opportunity to file Form I-485 for adjustment of status based on Table B, locking in “quasi-green card” status in advance and allowing them to legally live, work, and study in the United States.
【WorldWay Interpretation】: The continued advancement of legacy priority dates releases a clear signal that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is accelerating the processing of historical EB-5 backlogged cases. The overall priority date channel is gradually widening; legacy investors, please remain patient!
Core Highlight 2:
New Act (Reserved Visa Category) Continues to be “Current”
Under the new act, the EB-5 visa reserved categories (20% for rural area projects, 10% for high-unemployment area projects, and 2% for infrastructure projects) remain current with no priority dates.
【WorldWay Interpretation】: The dividend window of “no priority dates” for the new act remains open! For families eager to resolve children's education planning and wanting to land in the United States quickly, choosing compliant new act reserved projects now still allows for “concurrent filing” (filing I-526E and I-485 simultaneously), enabling them to obtain legal status in the U.S. (Combo card) in as fast as about 90 days, achieving a rapid move to the United States.
Table A: Final Action Dates For Employment-Based Preference Cases
(Note: For consular processing at U.S. Embassies/Consulates)
Table B: Dates For Filing Of Employment-Based Visa Applications
(Note: For those legally residing in the U.S. and meeting relevant conditions, filing Form I-485 for Adjustment of Status with USCIS)
May 2026 Employment-Based Table B Closed
USCIS has announced that Table B for employment-based immigration is closed for May, with only Table B for family-based immigration remaining open.
Key Reminder:
The dividend of no priority dates for the new act is fleeting
Seize the current golden window
According to the latest Visa Bulletin for June 2026, the EB-5 visa reserved category for investors born in mainland China remains current with no priority dates. However, it should be noted that as the number of applicants continues to increase, the reserved visa quota may also face pressure. Once a priority date appears, the current advantage of the “concurrent filing” fast track will no longer exist, and the application pace and waiting time will change fundamentally.
At the same time, the grandfather clause will expire on September 30; the investment amount may also be increased from $800,000 to $900,000 or more on January 1, 2027. In other words, time is opportunity. The earlier you act, the more likely you are to lock in advantages before policy changes and complete your status planning with ease.
Rural EB-5 Projects Priority Processing
The earlier you plan, the more you gain the upper hand
USCIS has clarified that starting March 30, 2026, it will adopt the “First-In, First-Out” (FIFO) principle to allocate the processing order for I-526/I-526E applications. Under this mechanism, I-526E applications for rural projects will enter the review queue with priority. This means that rural EB-5 projects not only enjoy the advantages of reserved visas and current status, but also receive more significant policy preference in the order of processing, making them more attractive. For applicants who intend to lock in the U.S. status channel as soon as possible through EB-5, it is advisable to evaluate, start, and lock in your position early.
WorldWay holds high-quality rural EB-5 projects with official I-956F approval. The “North Carolina Sugar Mountain Hilton Hotel”, a continuation of our successful experience in collaborating with the multi-billion dollar PeachTree Group for the fourth time, helps investors achieve their U.S. status planning steadily, efficiently, and without priority dates, quickly embarking on a new life in the United States.
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