Department of State November 2019 Visa Bulletin Summary

The Department of State has released the November 2019 Visa Bulletin. D&S provides a Monthly Summary of the employment-based priority dates. As of today, October 18, 2019, USCIS has advised that, in November 2019, it will once again accept adjustment of status applications for both employment-based and family-based petitions based on the November Bulletin’s application filing dates for all categories except for the F2A family-based category, which may file based on final action dates. As Vietnam is not listed on the “Dates for Filing” chart, adjustment applicants from Vietnam should use the worldwide dates found in the “All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed” column. All Application Filing Dates categories remain unchanged from October 2019.

As for Final Action Dates, all EB-1 categories, except India and China, will advance to June 1, 2018. EB-1 China will advance three months to February 1, 2017, and EB-1 India will remain unchanged at January 1, 2015. With the exception of India and China, all EB-2 countries of chargeability will remain current. EB-2 China will advance by two and a half months to March 15, 2015, and EB-2 India will advance by one day to May 13, 2009. All EB-3 countries of chargeability besides India, China, and the Philippines will remain current. EB-3 China and India will remain unchanged, while the Philippines will advance three and a half months to February 1, 2018. 

The EB-5 Regional Center program has been extended until November 21, 2019. Final action dates for this category will follow the EB-5 Non-Regional Center final action dates until November 22, 2019, when, if there is no legislative action extending the program for FY-2020, the EB-5 Regional Center final action dates would immediately become “Unavailable” for November for all countries. The final action dates for the EB-5 Non-Regional Center program, which will not be affected, will remain current with the exception of China, India, and Vietnam. EB-5 China will advance to November 1, 2014, while EB-5 India will advance to December 8, 2017, and EB-5 Vietnam will advance to November 15, 2016.

Department of State March 2018 Visa Bulletin Summary

The Department of State has released the March 2018 Visa Bulletin.  D&S provides a Monthly Summary of the family and employment-based priority dates.  

With respect to Final Action Dates, the EB-1 category remains current across all areas of chargeability. EB-2 China and EB-2 India have progressed slightly to December 8, 2013 and December 15, 2008 respectively. All other EB-2 areas of chargeability remain current. EB-3 China has progressed by two months to November 15, 2014, EB-3 India has progressed by one month to January 1, 2007, and EB-3 Philippines has progressed by two months to May 1, 2016. All other areas of chargeability remain unchanged. Similarly, Other Workers remain unchanged across all areas of chargeability with the exceptions of China, which has progressed to March 1, 2007, and India, which has progressed to January 1, 2007. EB-4 Mexico has progressed slightly to July 1, 2016. All other areas of chargeability remain unchanged. Certain Religious Workers are now current across all areas of chargeability, with the exceptions of El Salvador/Guatemala/Honduras, which has progressed to December 1, 2015, and Mexico, which has progressed to July 1, 2016. EB-5 for non-regional centers remains unchanged and EB-5 for regional centers is now current across all areas of chargeability with the exception of China, which has returned to July 22, 2014.

Application Filing Dates for all categories and across all areas of chargeability are unchanged in March 2018, with the exception of EB-2 China, which has progressed nearly four months to February 1, 2015, EB-3 Philippines and Other Workers Philippines, which have both progressed to October 1, 2016.

As of today, February 12, 2018, USCIS has not advised whether, in March 2018, it will accept adjustment of status applications for family and employment-based petitions based on final action dates or application filing dates.

Department of State March 2017 Visa Bulletin Summary

The Department of State has released the March 2017 Visa Bulletin.  D&S provides a Monthly Summary of the family and employment-based priority dates.  For the employment-based preference categories, Application Filing dates remain unchanged.

EB-3 India remains unchanged at March 22, 2005 and EB-2 India progressed 1.5 months to June 1, 2008.  EB-2 China, progressed 1 month to December 15, 2012 and EB-3 China progressed 5.5 months to March 15, 2014.  

Final Action dates for EB-3 Worldwide and EB-3 Mexico progressed 2 months to December 1, 2016 and EB-3 Philippines progressed just under 5 months to March 15, 2012.

EB-5 China Final Action dates progressed 2 weeks to May 1, 2014

As of today, February 14, 2017, USCIS has not advised whether, in March 2017, it will accept adjustment of status applications for family and employment-based petitions based on final action dates or application filing dates.

Department of State September 2016 Visa Bulletin Summary

The Department of State released the September 2016 Visa Bulletin this week.  D&S provides a Monthly Summary of the family and employment-based priority dates.  For the second and third employment-based preference categories, Application Filing dates remained unchanged.

There was forward movement of just over 3 months for EB-2 and EB-3 India.  EB-2 and EB-3 China, remain unchanged with priority dates for both categories remaining at January 1, 2010.  Additionally, EB-1 China remains at January 1, 2010 after retrogressing last month.

EB-2 Worldwide remains backlogged to February 1, 2014, but is expected to become current again next month with the start of the new fiscal year.

Final Action dates for EB-3 Worldwide remain unchanged, EB-3 Mexico progressed 6 weeks to May 1, 2016, and EB-3 Philippines progressed 14 months to July 1, 2010.

EB-5 China Final Action dates continue to remains static at February 15, 2014.

Today, August 10, 2016, USCIS advised that in September 2016, it will accept adjustment of status applications for family and employment-based petitions based on final action dates.