April 2026 Visa Bulletin for Brazilians: EB-2 Current Despite Immigrant Visa Pause

Why It Matters

The current EB‑2 window offers Brazilian professionals a rare chance to secure permanent residency despite broader visa restrictions, accelerating talent retention for U.S. employers.

Key Takeaways

• EB-2 for Brazil is Current on both charts
• Domestic I-485 filing unaffected by visa pause
• Consular processing halted; final visa issuance paused
• Advance parole and EAD granted after I-485 filing

Pulse Analysis

The April 2026 Visa Bulletin marks a notable shift for Brazil‑born professionals, as the EB‑2 employment‑based category is listed as Current on both the Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing charts. Historically, Brazil’s EB‑2 dates have fluctuated, creating multi‑year waits for applicants. By removing the priority‑date cutoff, the bulletin opens an immediate pathway for those with approved I‑140 petitions, aligning Brazil with the few countries that enjoy a Current status and signaling a potentially more favorable immigration climate for high‑skill talent.

Simultaneously, the State Department’s immigrant‑visa pause, instituted in January 2026, restricts consular processing for Brazilian nationals abroad. This restriction applies only to the final visa‑issuance step; it does not impede the domestic adjustment‑of‑status process. Applicants inside the United States can file Form I‑485 under the Dates for Filing chart, securing an Employment Authorization Document and advance parole while their green‑card application proceeds. Legal counsel recommends filing promptly to lock in the Current status, as retrogression can occur later in the fiscal year, potentially erasing the advantage.

For U.S. employers, the convergence of a Current EB‑2 category and an operational adjustment‑of‑status route creates a strategic hiring window. Companies can sponsor Brazilian experts now, confident that the green‑card process will not be stalled by the consular pause. As the pause remains tied to broader security reviews, its duration is uncertain, making the present window especially valuable for talent acquisition and retention strategies in technology, engineering, and research sectors.