April 2026 Visa Bulletin Movement Explained: FAQs You Need to Know

There have been significant and exciting movements in the March and April Visa Bulletin, and this is very meaningful news for many clients who have been patiently waiting for this moment.

The April 2026 Visa Bulletin has been released. For EB-3 Unskilled, the priority dates for April are:

Final action date: 01NOV21 (No movement from March Visa Bulletin)

Dates of filing: 1AUG22 (1 month movement from March Visa Bulletin)

USCIS has confirmed that for all employment-based preference categories, you must use the Dates for Filing Dates chart in the Department of State Visa Bulletin for April 2026.

Q: If your case is Adjustment of Status:

If your priority date (the date your LC was filed) is BEFORE August 1, 2022, you will be eligible to file your I-485 Green Card application, I-765 Employment Authorization Document (EAD), and I-131 Travel Permit applications in April 2026.

If your case is Consular Processing:

If your priority date is before November 1, 2021, you are now eligible to move forward with the immigrant visa process at the National Visa Center (NVC). This means that once your case is documentarily qualified, you may be scheduled for a visa interview at the U.S. consulate in your home country.

Keep in mind that interview scheduling depends on consular capacity and backlogs, so even if your date is current under the Dates for Filing chart, there may still be some wait time before your interview is scheduled.

Q: What are the next steps?

A: If your priority date is current, your attorney will be reaching out with detailed next steps, including what documents to gather, what information to provide, and which forms will need review and signature.

Because attorneys will be managing a high volume of cases, filings may not occur immediately, but as long as your case is properly received by USCIS, it will be processed under the current bulletin.

Our teams are working diligently to support this transition smoothly.

Q: What is my priority date (PD)?

A: Your priority date is the date your LC was filed. You can find it on your approved LC and inside your BDV account.

If you are unsure, please reach out through the BDV chat and our team will gladly confirm it for you.

Q: What documents should I start gathering?

A: Your attorney will provide a comprehensive list tailored to your case.

In the meantime, you may begin collecting:

• Passport
• Birth certificate (plus certified translation if applicable)
• Marriage certificate (if applicable)
• All prior immigration documents

Additional documents may be required depending on your case. Your attorney will guide you step by step.

Q: Do I have to pay any additional fees to have my I-485 filed?

Your attorney will confirm whether there have been any increases in the USCIS filing fees for Forms I-485 and I-765 since you were originally onboarded. If there has been a change in the government's filing fees, you will be responsible for paying the difference directly to the attorneys.

Please note that Form I-131 (Application for Travel Permit) is optional. If you choose to file it together with your I-485 application, there will be a separate government filing fee associated with it.

All of these fees are government filing fees paid to USCIS for processing your applications.

Discuss with your attorney the timing for obtaining the required medical examination to be filed with the I-485 application for you and any dependents. The cost of the medical exam is paid directly to the designated physician.

Q: What about my dependents?

A: If you plan to include dependent(s) in your Adjustment of Status filing, please notify your attorney.

If your dependent is present in the U.S. and maintaining a valid status, they generally may file an I-485 at the same time as you. The attorneys will confirm the exact documents your dependent will need to provide. As a reminder, no dependent fees were paid to the BDV. Any related legal fees (USCIS filing fees and attorney fees) will be paid directly to the attorneys.

Q: Now that my PD is current, how do I know my sponsor will continue?

A: BDV will also be notifying sponsors of this Visa Bulletin movement.

Just as you have been waiting for this moment, sponsors have also been anticipating the opportunity to welcome workers. This advancement is positive for both sides, and sponsors are very excited when employees are able to move forward, file for work authorization, and prepare to begin working with them soon!

Q: When can I contact my sponsor and relocate to the worksite?

At this stage of your process, BDV remains the point of contact with your sponsor. We will coordinate all necessary communications and documentation on your behalf to ensure everything is handled properly and at the appropriate time.

Please do not make any relocation plans yet. Our Client Services team will notify you when it is time to take the next steps, which will only occur after your work authorization or green card has been approved, whichever comes first. We will guide you carefully through that transition when the time comes.

Q: My priority date is not current for April, but it is very close. What should I do?

A: With this significant forward movement, we remain hopeful that the Visa Bulletin may continue progressing.

If your date is close but not yet current, there is no action required at this time. You may begin organizing basic documents if you would like to feel prepared, but attorneys will initiate contact once your priority date becomes current.

This is a very exciting milestone for many clients who have been on this journey for years. We recognize how much patience and perseverance this process requires, and we are honored to guide you through this next phase.

If you have any additional questions, please reach out through the BDV chat. Our team is here to support you.