EB-5 set-aside visas (rural, high-unemployment, infrastructure) remain “Current” for Chinese applicants in the May 2026 Visa Bulletin — meaning no backlog, no wait.
This is the window everyone has been watching. Rural set-asides get 20% of annual EB-5 visas; high-unemployment gets 10%. Demand has been building. Once the backlog forms, waiting times could stretch to several years.
The grandfather clause protecting investors who file before September 30, 2026, adds urgency. After that date, a lapse in the program could leave pending applicants exposed.