USCIS has announced a critical policy change that will restrict employment-based green card applicants from filing adjustment-of-status applications unless their priority dates are current under the Final Action Dates chart, effective May 2026. This shift will eliminate the more favorable Dates for Filing chart and render thousands of pending cases ineligible for adjustment.
Key Details:
- Effective date: May 2026
- Adjustment-of-status applications will only be accepted when priority dates are current under Final Action Dates.
- The Dates for Filing chart will be discontinued.
- Many pending cases will immediately become ineligible for adjustment.
This policy change particularly affects India-born professionals in the EB-2 and EB-3 categories, who may face significant challenges in their immigration process. Employers are urged to compare their employees’ priority dates to the Final Action chart and communicate these changes to affected foreign nationals. Considering consular processing alternatives may also be necessary as ancillary benefits like work authorization and advance parole will be eliminated.
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