USCIS Final Action Dates Rule 2026 EB1A: Major Filing Change

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has introduced a major policy shift in 2026 that directly impacts employment-based green card applicants, including EB1A self-petitioners.

What Changed in 2026?

Starting with the May 2026 Visa Bulletin, USCIS now requires applicants to use the Final Action Dates chart only when filing adjustment of status (Form I-485).

Previously, applicants could often use the more flexible Dates for Filing chart, allowing earlier submission of green card applications.

Impact on EB1A Applicants

This USCIS policy change means:

❗ No early filing advantage
❗ Must wait until priority date is current
❗ Delayed access to EAD and Advance Parole

For many applicants, especially from high-demand countries, this significantly extends the green card timeline.

Current Trend: Slower Movement

Recent data shows minimal forward movement in green card priority dates, increasing wait times across categories.

Additionally, per-country caps continue to create long backlogs for applicants from India and China.

What This Means for EB1A Strategy

Even though EB1A is a top-tier category:

Filing timing is now more critical
Priority date tracking is essential
Delays may still occur despite strong qualifications

Bottom Line

The Final Action Dates rule marks a stricter filing system.
For EB1A applicants, planning ahead is now more important than ever.

May 2, 2026May 2, 2026

USCIS Strengthens Screening and Vetting in 2026 EB1A

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has implemented stricter screening and vetting procedures across all immigration categories in 2026, including employment-based green cards like EB1A.

Key Changes Impacting EB1A Applicants

1. Expanded Background Checks
USCIS now conducts deeper cross-agency reviews using federal law enforcement and intelligence databases. Even highly qualified EB1A applicants will undergo more rigorous verification.

2. Enhanced Fingerprint Vetting
As of April 2026, all applications must clear updated FBI fingerprint screening before approval. Pending cases may also be re-screened.

3. Longer Processing Times
Stricter vetting protocols may lead to delays, including:

Additional background checks
Possible repeat biometrics appointments
Slower final approvals

4. Continuous Monitoring
Certain benefits (like EADs) may have shorter validity periods, enabling more frequent re-vetting.

What This Means for EB1A Self-Petitioners

Even though EB1A is a high-priority, merit-based category, applicants should be prepared for:

Increased scrutiny of personal and professional history
Longer wait times despite premium processing (for I-140)
Greater importance of consistency across all documents

Tips to Handle USCIS Screening and Vetting 2026 EB1A

Double-check all submitted information
Maintain consistency across documents
Respond quickly to USCIS requests
Prepare for possible delays in processing

Final Thoughts

The USCIS screening and vetting 2026 EB1A update reflects a shift toward a “vet first, approve later” system. While EB1A remains a premium immigration category, applicants must now meet higher verification standards in addition to demonstrating extraordinary ability.

March 7, 2026May 2, 2026

USCIS Green Card Extension 36 Months: Renewal Rule Update

The USCIS green card extension 36 months update from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) allows lawful permanent residents to maintain proof of their status for a longer period while waiting for renewal.

According to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, receipt notices issued for certain green card renewal applications can extend the validity of an expired permanent resident card for up to 36 months. This change helps lawful permanent residents maintain proof of status while their renewal application is being processed.

What This Means for Green Card Holders

If you file a green card renewal application and receive a receipt notice from United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, you may use that notice together with your expired green card as evidence of your continued lawful permanent resident (LPR) status.

This extended validity period allows applicants to demonstrate that they remain authorized to live and work in the United States while waiting for their new card.

Documents That May Serve as Temporary Proof of Status

While your green card renewal is pending, you may be able to present one of the following combinations as proof of lawful permanent residence:

An expired green card together with the USCIS receipt notice showing the extension period
A valid passport containing a USCIS ADIT stamp
A valid Form I-94 with an ADIT stamp, along with a DHS seal and a printed photograph of the lawful permanent resident

These documents can serve as temporary evidence of permanent resident status in the United States.

Important Travel Note

While these documents may demonstrate lawful permanent resident status for U.S. purposes, they may not automatically be accepted by other countries as valid travel documentation.

Travelers planning to leave the United States should verify entry requirements with the destination country before departing.

Why This Update Matters

Green card renewal processing times can sometimes be lengthy. The 36-month extension provides additional assurance that lawful permanent residents can maintain valid documentation of their status while waiting for their renewed card.

Applicants should always review the most current guidance directly from United States Citizenship and Immigration Services when preparing or managing their immigration documentation.

November 27, 2025November 27, 2025

USCIS Fee Increase 2026

USCIS announces immigration fee increases starting January 1, 2026.

The USCIS fee increase 2026 will affect immigration applicants nationwide beginning January 1, 2026. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has confirmed that several immigration-related application fees will rise due to inflation between July 2024 and July 2025. These changes may impact visa applicants, Green Card filers, and individuals applying for work authorization or family sponsorship.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced upcoming increases to certain immigration-related application fees effective January 1, 2026. These changes are required under federal law and reflect inflation that occurred between July 2024 and July 2025.

The USCIS fee increase 2026 applies to select fees established under H.R. 1 and will be adjusted annually starting in Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). These adjustments are designed to account for the rising cost of labor, technology, security improvements, and administrative services required to process applications efficiently and securely.

If you submit an immigration application or petition that requires one of the affected fees on or after January 1, 2026, you must include the updated, inflation-adjusted amount. Filing with the old fee may result in your application being rejected or returned, which can lead to processing delays and missed deadlines.

USCIS has published a complete list of updated fees in the Federal Register, which applicants should review carefully before submitting any forms in 2026. This is especially important for applicants filing for work authorization, permanent residency, family sponsorship, or employment-based benefits.

How to prepare for the USCIS fee increase 2026:

Review the updated USCIS fee list before applying
File early to avoid paying higher fees
Double-check payment methods and mailing dates
Save proof of payment
Use official USCIS resources only

Staying informed about immigration policy changes can help you avoid mistakes and protect your application timeline.

You can access the list from the USCIS provided Table. Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization – Initial Parole EAD : Previous fee : $ 550, New Fee: $560 ; Form I-131, Part 9 – EAD requested upon authorization of a new period of Parole (Re-parole)  Previous fee : $ 275, New Fee: $280

April 22, 2023November 27, 2025

USCIS Removes 60-Day Rule for Medical Exam Form I-693

USCIS has updated the I-693 medical exam rule, eliminating the 60-day deadline for civil surgeon signatures. Green card applicants can now submit Form I-693 up to two years after it has been signed, reducing the risk of RFEs and allowing more flexibility when selecting a qualified physician

Green card applicants can now submit their medical exam results form up to two years after the civil surgeon signed it. Previously, green card applicants were required to have a civil surgeon sign Form I-693 within 60 days of submitting their green card application or risk its rejection with USCIS. This requirement placed an additional burden on immigrants and raised their risk of receiving a Request for Evidence (RFE).

The removal of the 60-day deadline will give applicants more time and flexibility when searching for a qualified physician who can sign off on their medical examinations. It could also reduce delays caused by having to resubmit documents if they submitted their form more than 60 days from when the civil surgeon signed it.

“While the 60-day rule was intended to enhance operational efficiency and reduce the need to request updated Forms I-693 from applicants, in practice these efficiencies have not been realized,” USCIS said in a press release.

September 2, 2022September 4, 2022

USCIS Encourages Employment–Based Green Card Applicants to Submit I-693 (Medical Exams) before Sept 30, 2022

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is encouraging certain employment-based adjustment of status (green card) applicants with approved I-140 petitions to complete their medical examinations (I-693 Form) before the end of the fiscal year (FY) on September 30, 2022. Consular closures during the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a surplus of unused employment-based immigrant visas. According to USCIS, there are approximately double the usual number of immigrant visas available for FY 2022. USCIS stated that it remained committed to using “as many available employment-based visas as possible” before the end of FY 2022, though the agency indicated that its efforts had been stymied by missing or invalid medical exam filings.

Green card applicants must submit a valid Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, to establish that they are not inadmissible to the United States on public health grounds.

USCIS recommends the following:

For eligible employment-based applicants within the United States who have yet to file their green card applications, USCIS recommends including a valid Form I-693 at the time of filing.
For applicants in the United States with approved I-140 petitions and current priority dates, but who filed their green card applications without including a valid Form I-693, USCIS recommends visiting a civil surgeon to get a valid Form I-693 before USCIS sends the request. According to USCIS, applicants should not send their medical examinations to the agency until formally requested to do so. Form I-693 is valid for two years from the date that the civil surgeon signs the form.

USCIS is also working closely with the U.S. Department of State to process employment-based immigrant visas for applicants living outside the United States.

March 18, 2022November 27, 2025

USCIS to process more Employment Green Cards FY21-22

USCIS announces additional EB Green Cards FY21-22, providing more opportunities for foreign nationals in high-priority employment categories. Applicants in EB-1 and EB-2 categories can now consider transferring or filing their I-485 applications under these priority allocations

As per US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) news alert ( Release Date: Feb 18, 2022),

“U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services urges eligible employment-based green card applicants to consider transferring their pending adjustment of status (I-485) applications to the first (priority workers) or second (noncitizens in professions with advanced degrees or with exceptional ability) employment-based preference categories, as there is an exceptionally high number of employment-based immigrant visas available in these categories during this fiscal year (October 2021 through September 2022)”.

If you are a Ph.D., Ph.D. student, Postdoc, or even a Master student, you can apply for a U.S. Green Card yourself (Self-Petition) under Extraordinary Ability Criteria (EB1-EA) or EB2-NIW (National Interest Waiver).

Under the March 2022 Visa Bulletin, the first employment-based categories, EB-1, remain “current” for all chargeability areas (China, India, Mexico, Philippines, Vietnam, Central America, and the rest of the world). This means that all applicants chargeable to this allocation may continue to file adjustment status applications in March 2022.

February 1, 2022December 29, 2024

Feb’22 VISA Bulletin EB1 Dates Remain “Current”

Feb 2022 Visa Bulletin: The Bulletin includes both Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing Visa Applications.

Under the Feb 2022 Visa Bulletin, the first employment-based categories, EB-1, remain “current” for all chargeability areas (China, India, Mexico, Philippines, Vietnam, Central America, and the rest of the world). This means that all applicants chargeable to this allocation may continue to file adjustment status applications in Feb 2022.

The priority Date “Current” means no backlog or no wait time for a green card. A green card is available to you within the Employment-based VISA preference category.

Priority Dates: Generally, the priority date is the date when the immigrant petition is properly filed with USCIS. In some instances, the priority date is when the labor certification application was accepted for processing by the Department of Labor.

Final Action Dates: Final action dates are based on both the green card category and the chargeability area- your country of origin.

For Foreign Nationals/Immigrants: If you are a Ph.D., Ph.D. student, Postdoc, or even a Master student, you can apply for a U.S. Green Card yourself (Self-Petition) under Extraordinary Ability Criteria (EB1-EA)

US Dept of State releases monthly VISA Bulletin news detailing the availability of visa numbers for family and employment based categories — US Dept of State VISA Bulletin News

August 10, 2021September 21, 2021

USCIS Released August 2021 Visa Bulletin: EB-1 Priority dates remain “Current”

August 2021 Visa Bulletin: The Bulletin includes both Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing Visa Applications.

Under the August 2021 Visa Bulletin, the first employment-based categories, EB-1, remain “current” for all chargeability areas (China, India, Mexico, Philippines, Vietnam, Central America, and the rest of the world). This means that all applicants chargeable to this allocation may continue to file adjustment status applications in August 2021.

There are slow-to-moderate advancements in priority dates for India and China in the employment-based final action dates (EB2 & EB3). It is predicted that the new fiscal year will fetch noteworthy advancements in all impacted classifications, particularly EB2 and EB3 for India and China.

Final Action Dates: Final action dates are based on both the green card category and the chargeability area- your country of origin.