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Effective month: 2026-05 · Live from travel.state.gov
China Visa Bulletin — Current Final Action & Filing Dates
China-mainland-chargeable employment-based applicants face significant but not India-level backlogs. EB-1 China retrogressed in 2024-2025 to a 2-3 year wait after years of being current. EB-2 China typically runs 3-5 years; EB-3 China similar. EB-5 China has its own backlog dynamics tied to the Regional Center program reauthorization.
Final Action Dates — China
The date at which final approval (green card) is possible. Your priority date must be EARLIER than this date.
| Category | Cutoff | Behind today |
|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | Apr 1, 2023 | 3.1 yr |
| EB-2 | Sep 1, 2021 | 4.7 yr |
| EB-3 | Jun 15, 2021 | 4.9 yr |
| EB-3-Other | Feb 1, 2019 | 7.3 yr |
| EB-5 | Sep 22, 2016 | 9.7 yr |
Dates for Filing — China
The earlier cutoff that USCIS sometimes adopts for accepting I-485 filings. Check the USCIS monthly “which chart applies” notice.
| Category | Cutoff | Behind today |
|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | Dec 1, 2023 | 2.5 yr |
| EB-2 | Jan 1, 2022 | 4.4 yr |
| EB-3 | Jan 1, 2022 | 4.4 yr |
| EB-3-Other | Oct 1, 2019 | 6.6 yr |
| EB-5 | Mar 1, 2017 | 9.2 yr |
Run your priority-date lookup
Enter your exact priority date on the main Visa Bulletin tracker to see months/years behind cutoff for every category at once.
Backlog context for China
EB-2 China and EB-3 China have moved in fits and starts in 2025-2026. EB-2 China FAD has tracked roughly 4 years behind current; EB-3 China has been somewhat similar in 2026. The EB-1 China retrogression that began in 2024 reflects elevated EB-1A and EB-1B filing volume from Chinese researchers. The Dates for Filing (DFF) chart for China consistently leads the FAD by 6-18 months, which means I-485 concurrent filing is often available even when final action is years away.
What this means for your case
If you're China-born and considering EB-1A: the post-2024 retrogression doesn't reduce eligibility, just expected processing time. Most China-born applicants with strong publication or executive records still pursue EB-1 because the 3-year wait beats EB-2's 4-5. If you're EB-3 China considering downgrade-to-upgrade strategies: confirm with counsel before filing — the EB-3-to-EB-2 upgrade math has been net-negative for some 2025 cohorts due to relative movement.
Category reference
EB-1
EB-1 (Extraordinary ability, outstanding researchers, multinational execs)
EB-2
EB-2 (Advanced degree / exceptional ability)
EB-3
EB-3 (Skilled workers, professionals)
EB-3-Other
EB-3 Other Workers (Unskilled)
EB-5
EB-5 (Investors)
Frequently asked questions
What does "Final Action Date" mean for China EB-2?
The Final Action Date is the cutoff priority date at which USCIS or DOS can actually issue the green card. If your priority date is BEFORE the Final Action Date listed for China EB-2 this month, your case is eligible for final approval. The separate "Dates for Filing" chart governs when you can submit the I-485 application — but only when USCIS announces it will follow that chart instead of the FAD chart for filing.
Can I file I-485 if China EB-2 has a Date for Filing earlier than my priority date?
Only when USCIS announces "Dates for Filing" is the filing chart for that month and category. USCIS publishes that announcement on its website around the same time the State Department publishes the bulletin. When DFF is the controlling chart and your priority date is earlier than the listed DFF, you can submit I-485 concurrently. When FAD is the controlling chart for filing, you must wait until your priority date is earlier than the FAD.
Will China backlogs move faster in FY2027?
Movement depends on three things: (1) how DOS allocates the ~140,000 employment-based visas across categories, (2) per-country 7% caps and the spillover rules, and (3) actual demand. Projections from CATO Institute, IPI, and DOL data suggest the structural India EB-2/EB-3 wait will not materially shorten without legislation. Smaller chargeability areas can move faster within a fiscal year if demand drops below the per-country allocation.
Should I pursue EB-1A/NIW instead of waiting in EB-2 China?
If you have publications, citations, awards, or proprietary work that maps to the Kazarian / Dhanasar criteria, yes — the EB-1A and EB-2 NIW pathways skip PERM entirely and (for China) often have shorter or no priority-date wait than the standard EB-2 backlog. See /eb1a-niw-scorer and /eb2-niw-evidence-builder for self-assessment tools.
What happens to my priority date if I change employers?
Under AC21 §106(d) (now codified at INA §204(j)), your I-140 priority date "ports" to a same-or-similar position with a new employer as long as the underlying I-140 was approved and has not been revoked for fraud or material misrepresentation. The priority date stays with you; you do NOT restart the line. The new employer must file a new I-140 (the role/title/duties may differ) — but your place in the China backlog is preserved.
Other chargeability areas
India
India-born EB-2 and EB-3 are the longest employment-based waits in the world. EB-1 is the only category with a non-trivial advance pace.
Mexico
Mexico EB-2 and EB-3 are mostly current. EB-3 Other Workers and EB-4 have backlogs that affect specific categories.
Philippines
Philippines EB-2 and EB-3 Skilled are mostly current. EB-3 Other Workers and family-based categories have material backlogs.
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