The April 2026 Visa Bulletin reflects a notable development: the EB-3 Final Action Date remains unchanged compared to the previous month, while the Date for Filing continues to advance.
This highlights an important point:
EB-3 is not slowing down—it is operating exactly as designed under the visa allocation system, where certain periods involve “holding” Final Action while expanding filing capacity.
1. EB-3 Other Workers – Final Action Holds, Filing Continues to Advance
According to the April 2026 Visa Bulletin:
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Final Action Date: November 1, 2021
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Date for Filing: August 1, 2022
Comparison with March 2026:
Final Action Date
| Month | Priority Date |
| 03/2026 | 11/01/2021 |
| 04/2026 | 11/01/2021 |
→ No change
Date for Filing
| Month | Priority Date |
| 03/2026 | 06/22/2022 |
| 04/2026 | 08/01/2022 |
→ Increased by more than 1 month
Commentary:
Although Final Action remains unchanged, the continued increase in Filing indicates that:
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The system is still expanding its capacity to accept new applications
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The process is functioning normally
Importantly, this should be viewed in sequence:
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March 2026: Other Workers advanced by 2 months
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April 2026: Holding phase
This is a completely normal pattern in EB-3 processing.
2. EB-3 Skilled Workers – Strong Advancement and Fully Open Filing
According to the April 2026 Visa Bulletin:
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Final Action Date: June 1, 2024
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Date for Filing: Current (C)
Comparison with March 2026:
Final Action Date
| Month | Priority Date |
| 03/2026 | 10/01/2023 |
| 04/2026 | 06/01/2024 |
→ Advanced by 8 months
Date for Filing
| Month | Priority Date |
| 03/2026 | 01/15/2024 |
| 04/2026 | Current |
→ Fully open
Commentary:
This is a very positive signal:
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Strong advancement in Final Action
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Filing is fully open
It reflects excellent processing momentum for the Skilled category.
3. Overall View: EB-3 Continues to Operate Stably
Looking at both categories:
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Final Action: may hold periodically as part of allocation cycles
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Filing: continues to expand
This accurately reflects how EB-3 works:
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It does not move forward evenly every month
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There are natural adjustment phases
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But the overall trend continues forward
4. Key Insight: Understanding How to Read the Visa Bulletin
A common misunderstanding is focusing only on Final Action.
In reality:
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Final Action Date reflects when visas can be issued
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Date for Filing reflects when applicants can submit their applications
When Filing continues to move forward, it means the system remains open and active.
Conclusion
The April 2026 Visa Bulletin presents a clear picture:
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EB-3 continues to operate stably under the quota system
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Filing expansion indicates the system is still accepting applications
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The Skilled category shows strong momentum and is now Current for Filing
With current developments, EB-3 Skilled is becoming an optimal pathway for those seeking to shorten their timeline to the United States.
Applicants can:
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Submit applications immediately without waiting
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Take advantage of favorable visa bulletin conditions
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Increase their chances of reaching the U.S. sooner compared to the unskilled category
Meanwhile, the Other Workers category maintains steady progress and continues to move forward gradually, making it suitable for applicants with long-term planning.
The key is not whether the visa bulletin moves fast or slow at a given moment—but choosing the right timing and the right category based on your profile.
