EB-5 Double Joy: Old Law Chart A Moves Forward 17 Days, New Law Continues No Queue

The U.S. Department of State's Visa Office has officially announced the April 2026 (the 7th month of the 2026 new fiscal year) immigrant visa bulletin. Let's take a look with World Trade Tong Group.

Chart A progresses forward 17 days, direct investment project categories C5 and T5 are consistent with the non-reserved visa categories I5 and R5 of the regional center project, moving from August 15, 2016, to September 1, 2016.

Chart B remains unchanged, direct investment project categories C5 and T5 are consistent with the non-reserved visa categories I5 and R5 of the regional center project, maintaining at October 1, 2016.

Under the new act, EB-5 visa reserved categories (20% reserved visas for rural investment projects, 10% reserved visas for high unemployment areas, 2% reserved visas for infrastructure projects) currently continue to have no queue status.

Chart A: Final Action Dates For Employment-Based Preference Cases 

(Note: Enter the U.S. embassy for visa interview)

Chart B: Dates For Filing Of Employment-Based Visa Applications

(Note: Legally residing in the U.S. and meeting relevant conditions, submit AOS identity conversion application to the immigration bureau)

April Chart B opens

Can submit I-485 adjustment of status application

The U.S. Immigration Bureau has announced: the opening of Chart B in April means that eligible applicants (priority date earlier than Chart B date of October 1, 2016, and within the U.S.) can submit I-485 adjustment of status application.

Important Reminder: New Law Benefit Window Still Open, Start Early

According to the latest April 2026 visa bulletin, EB-5 visa reserved categories for Mainland China investors still have no queue status. However, it is important to note that no queue does not mean it will always be no queue. As the number of applications increases, reserved visas may also face queue pressure in the future. The earlier you start, the more chances you have to secure the current benefit window.

No queue + double submission, the timing for identity planning is right: Currently, EB-5 reserved visas are still in no queue status, and applicants holding legal status within the U.S. can concurrently submit both I-526E and I-485 to more quickly initiate the identity conversion process. For students, OPT holders, and others with U.S. residency needs, this is a valuable pathway that balances study, work, and identity planning.

The grandfather clause window is clear; the later you start, the more passive you will be: Meanwhile, September 30, 2026, is a very critical time point. Submitting the I-526E application before the grandfather clause deadline means that you can sooner secure application rights under the existing policy framework, reducing uncertainty from future policy changes.

Rural EB-5 projects are prioritized for approval; the sooner you set up, the more advantage you have

Another policy advantage worth paying special attention to is the priority approval of rural EB-5 projects.

The U.S. Immigration Bureau has specified that from March 30, 2026, onwards, the "first in, first out" (FIFO) principle will be applied to allocate the order of I-526/I-526E application reviews. Under this mechanism, I-526E applications for rural projects will be prioritized for review. Only when the rural project queue is cleared, or the U.S. Immigration Bureau believes that a sufficient number of rural project applications have been processed, will they begin reviewing other I-526E applications (such as high unemployment area projects, infrastructure projects) and I-526 applications following the RIA act. (For details, please see the previous report by World Trade Tong: US Immigration Bureau's Self-Revealed EB-5 Approval Rules)

This means that rural EB-5 projects not only enjoy the advantage of reserved visas and the current no queue but also receive more significant policy tilt in review order, making them more attractive.

The benefits of prioritized approval for rural projects are already evident, the sooner you start, the sooner you can benefit. For applicants intending to quickly secure the U.S. identity channel through EB-5, it's advisable to evaluate early, start early, and lock in positions early.