Green Cards in May 2026: USCIS Change Affects Those Awaiting Employment-Based Residency

La Nación reports on a significant upcoming change by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that will impact thousands of individuals seeking permanent residency through employment. Starting in May 2026, USCIS will exclusively use the "Final Action Dates" chart for processing these applications, abandoning the previously used "Dates of Filing" matrix.

This shift, detailed in the May Visa Bulletin, means that many individuals who might have expected to file their green card or adjustment of status applications in April will now have a drastically reduced window, potentially only two weeks, to do so. As immigration lawyer Ana Gabriel Urizar points out, "Due to the rule change at USCIS, thousands of people will only have two weeks in April to submit their green card application or adjustment of status. After that, they will have to wait and we don't know for how long." This abrupt change could leave many in limbo, awaiting an uncertain future.

In contrast, family-based visa categories will continue to benefit from a more flexible application process, utilizing the "Dates of Filing" chart. This disparity highlights a more constrained pathway for those seeking residency through employment compared to family ties. For many in Latin America and elsewhere who rely on employment-based visas to build a life in the United States, this change represents a considerable hurdle and a source of anxiety. La Nación will continue to monitor these developments and their implications for immigrants.

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Debido al cambio de regla en Uscis, miles de personas solo tendrán dos semanas en abril para presentar su solicitud de green card o ajuste de estatus. Después de eso, tendrán que esperar y no sabemos cuánto tiempo