Department of State April 2022 Visa Bulletin Summary

The Department of State has released the April Visa Bulletin. D&S provides a Monthly Summary of the family- and employment-based priority dates. USCIS has yet to confirm whether, in March 2022, it will accept adjustment of status applications for family- and employment-based petitions based on Dates for Filing or Final Action Dates.. 

With respect to Final Action Dates, EB-1 China and EB-1 India will both remain current. With the exception of India and China, all other EB-2 countries of chargeability will remain current. EB-2 China will remain unchanged at March 1, 2019, and EB-2 India will move forward over two months to July 8, 2013. All EB-3 categories except India and China will remain current. EB-3 China will remain unchanged at March 22, 2018, and EB-3 India will remain unchanged at January 15, 2012. 

The EB-5 Regional Center program has been reauthorized by Congress and certain Regional Center Program aspects of this legislation go into effect 60 days after the date of the reauthorization.  As a result, this category will not be available for April 2022. Final action dates for the EB-5 Non-Regional Center program will remain  current for all countries of chargeability. 

With respect to Application Filing Dates, all categories will remain unchanged from March 2022 with the exception of EB-2 India, which advances on year to September 1, 2014.

Department of State March 2020 Visa Bulletin Summary

The Department of State has released the March 2020 Visa Bulletin. D&S provides a Monthly Summary of the employment-based priority dates. Today, February 19, 2020, USCIS advised that in March 2020, it will once again accept adjustment of status applications for both employment-based and family-based petitions based on the March Bulletin’s application filing dates, with the exception of F2A, which can rely on Final Actions dates to determine filing eligibility. In addition, USCIS has instructed that because Vietnam is not listed on the Dates for Filing chart, adjustment applicants from Vietnam should use the worldwide dates for determining filing eligibility.

With respect to Employment Based (EB) Final Action Dates, all EB-1 countries of chargeability, except India and China, will advance three months to March 1, 2019. EB-1 China will advance one week to June 1, 2017 and EB-1 India will advance 2 months to March 1, 2015. With the exception of India and China, all other EB-2 countries of chargeability remain current. EB-2 China will advance one month to August 15, 2015, and EB-2 India will advance by just three days to May 22, 2009. All EB-3 categories except India and China will have a priority date of January 1, 2017 imposed starting in March (all, with the exception of the Philippines, had been current prior to this). EB-3 China will advance 15 weeks to March 22, 2016, EB-3 India will advance one week to January 5, 2009.

EB-5 Non-Regional Center and EB-5 Regional Center Final Action Dates remain current with the exception of China, India and Vietnam. EB-5 China advanced 5.5 months to May 15, 2015, EB-5 India advanced just under two months to October 22, 2018, and EB-5 Vietnam advanced one month to January 15, 2017.

With respect to Application Filing Dates most categories remain unchanged with the exception of EB-5 China with progressed seven months to December 15, 2015.

Department of State June 2019 Visa Bulletin Summary

The Department of State has released the June 2019 Visa Bulletin. D&S provides a Monthly Summary of the employment-based priority dates.

With respect to Final Action Dates, EB-1 China remains backlogged at February 22, 2017. EB-1 India has retrogressed over 2 years to January 1, 2015. All other EB-1 categories progressed by just over 1 month to April 22, 2018. EB-2 China progressed by 6 weeks to August 1, 2016 and EB-2 India progressed by only 3 days to April 19, 2009. All other EB-2 chargeability areas remain current. EB-3 Philippines progressed by 5 months to November 1, 2018. EB-3 India remained at July 1, 2009 and EB-3 China progressed modestly to September 15, 2015, respectively. All other EB-3 areas of chargeability remain current. EB-5 Non-Regional Center and EB-5 Regional Center final action dates are current with the exception of China and Vietnam, which are backlogged at October 1, 2014 and October 1, 2016 respectively.

Application filing dates for all EB-1 areas of chargeability remain unchanged. EB-2 India also remained unchanged and EB-3 China progressed 2 months to November 1, 2016. All other EB-2 application filing dates remain current. EB-3 workers across all areas of chargeability remain unchanged, except for EB-3 Philippines which progressed by 3 months to January 1, 2019. Application filing dates for EB-5 Regional Center and Non-Regional Center remain current with the exception of China, which is backlogged at November 1, 2014.

USCIS has advised that, in June 2019, it will accept adjustment of status applications for employment-based petitions based on final action dates and family-based adjustment of status applications based on application filing dates.

Department of State December 2018 Visa Bulletin Summary

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

With respect to Final Action Dates, all EB-1 chargeability areas progressed by 3 months. EB-2 China progressed by 1.5 months to July 1, 2015 and EB-2 India progressed by 1 week to April 1, 2009. All other EB-2 chargeability areas remain current. EB-3 China progressed by 1 week to June 8, 2015 and EB-3 India progressed by 2 months to March 1, 2009. All other EB-3 chargeability areas remain current. EB-5 Regional Center and Non-Regional Center China progressed by a week to August 22, 2014 and EB-5 Regional Center and Non-Regional Center Vietnam progressed by 3 months to May 1, 2016. All other EB-5 Regional Center and Non-Regional Center chargeability areas remain current.

Application filing dates for EB-1 workers across all areas of chargeability remain unchanged. EB-2 China progressed by 2.5 months to September 8, 2015. All other EB-2 areas of chargeability remain unchanged. Application filing dates for EB-3 China progressed by 4 months to December 1, 2015, EB-3 India progressed by 3 months to January 1, 2010. Application filing dates for EB-5 Regional Center and Non-Regional Center remain current with the exception of China which remains backlogged at October 1, 2014.

As of today, November 14, 2018, USCIS has advised that in December 2018, it will accept adjustment of status applications for family and employment-based petitions based on application filing dates.

Department of State September 2018 Visa Bulletin Summary

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

EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 Worldwide will no longer be current in September, retrogressing to June 1, 2016, January 1, 2013, and November 1, 2016 respectively. They are expected to become progress or become current again at the start of the new fiscal year in October.  EB-1 China remains unchanged, EB-2 China retrogressed more than 2 years to January 1, 2013, and EB-3 China progressed 4 months to November 1, 2014. EB-1 India remained unchanged, EB-2 India retrogressed more than 2 years to January 1, 2007, and EB-3 India retrogressed 6 years to January 1, 2003.  EB-5 regional center and non-regional center filings remain current except for China and Vietnam, both of which progressed one week to April 8, 2014.

Application Filing Dates remain unchanged across all areas of chargeability for September 2018, with exception of F2B Worldwide, China and India, which progressed over 2 years from January 8, 2012 to March 22, 2014.

As of today, August 9, 2018, USCIS has not advised whether, in September 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 April 2018 Visa Bulletin Summary

The Department of State has released the April 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 China and India have each retrogressed significantly to January 1, 2012. All other areas of chargeability remain current under EB-1. EB-2 China has progressed by nearly eight months to August 1, 2014 and EB-2 India has progressed by one week to December 22, 2008. All other EB-2 areas of chargeability remain current. EB-3 China has progressed nearly 7 months to June 1, 2015, EB-3 India has progressed by more than one year to February 1, 2008, and EB-3 Philippines has progressed by eight months to January 1, 2017. 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 April 1, 2007, India, which has progressed to February 1, 2008, and the Philippines, which has progressed to January 1, 2017. EB-4 El Salvador/Guatemala/Honduras has progressed slightly to December 15, 2015 and EB-4 Mexico has progressed slightly to August 8, 2016. All other areas of chargeability remain unchanged. Certain Religious Workers are now unavailable across all areas of chargeability. EB-5 for non-regional centers remains unchanged and EB-5 for regional centers is now unavailable across all areas of chargeability in light of the pending legislative deadline.

Application Filing Dates for all categories and across all areas of chargeability are unchanged in April 2018, with the exceptions of EB-3 India and Other Workers India, which have each progressed to April 1, 2008, and EB-3 Philippines and Other Workers Philippines, which have both progressed to July 1, 2017.

As of today, March 13, 2018, USCIS has not advised whether, in April 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 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 January 2018 Visa Bulletin Summary

The Department of State has released the January 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 August 8, 2013 and November 22, 2008 respectively. All other EB-2 areas of chargeability remain current. EB-3 remains unchanged across all areas of chargeability, with the exceptions of EB-3 China, which has progressed slightly to April 15, 2014. EB-3 India, which has progressed two weeks to November 1, 2006, and EB-3 Philippines, which has progressed one month to February 15, 2016. Similarly, Other Workers remain unchanged across all areas of chargeability with the exceptions of China, which has progressed to December 22, 2006, India, which has progressed to November 1, 2006, and the Philippines, which has progressed to

February 15, 2016. EB-4 El Salvador/Guatemala/Honduras has progressed less than a month to December 1, 2015 and EB-4 Mexico has progressed by less than two months to June 1, 2016. All other areas of chargeability remain unchanged. Certain Religious Workers are unavailable across all areas of chargeability. EB-5 for non-regional centers remain current across all areas of chargeability, with the exception of China, which has progressed slightly to July 22, 2014. EB-5 for regional centers are unavailable across all areas of chargeability at this time in light of the continuing resolution extending the availability of the regional center program only through December 22, 2017, until Congress passes more long-term legislation.

Application Filing Dates for all categories and across all areas of chargeability are unchanged in January 2018.

As of today, December 14, 2017, USCIS has not advised whether, in January 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 December 2017 Visa Bulletin Summary

The Department of State has released the December 2017 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 July 1, 2013 and November 1, 2008 respectively. All other EB-2 areas of chargeability remain current. EB-3 remains unchanged across all areas of chargeability, with the exceptions of EB-3 China, which has progressed slightly to March 8, 2014. Similarly, Other Workers China has progressed 3 months to July 1, 2006 while all other areas of chargeability remain unchanged. EB-4 also remains unchanged across all areas of chargeability, with the exceptions of EB-4 El Salvador/Guatemala/Honduras, which has progressed 7 days to November 8, 2015, and EB-4 Mexico, which has progressed 21 days to April 22, 2016. EB-5 for both regional centers and non-regional centers remains current across all areas of chargeability, with the exception of China, which has progressed slightly to July 15, 2014.

Application Filing Dates for all categories and across all areas of chargeability are unchanged in December 2017.

As of today, November 13, 2017, USCIS has not advised whether, in December 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 November 2017 Visa Bulletin Summary

The Department of State has released the November 2017 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 June 15, 2013 and October 8, 2008 respectively. All other EB-2 areas of chargeability remain current. EB-3 remains unchanged across all areas of chargeability, with the exceptions of EB-3 China, which has progressed 1 month to February 1, 2014, and EB-3 Philippines, which has progressed 1.5 months to January 15, 2016. Similarly, Other Workers China has progressed 3 months to April 1, 2006 and Other Workers Philippines has progressed 1.5 months to January 15, 2016. All other areas of chargeability remain unchanged. EB-4 also remains unchanged across all areas of chargeability, with the exception of EB-4 Mexico, which has progressed 1 month to April 1, 2016. EB-5 for both regional centers and non-regional centers remains current across all areas of chargeability, with the exception of China, which has progressed slightly to July 1, 2014.

Application Filing Dates for all categories and across all areas of chargeability are unchanged in November 2017.

As of today, October 12, 2017, USCIS has not advised whether, in November 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 October 2017 Visa Bulletin Summary

The Department of State has released the October 2017 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 is now current across all areas of chargeability.  The EB-2 category is now current across all areas of chargeability, with the exception of EB-2 China, which has progressed 1 week to May 22, 2013, and EB-2 India, which has progressed by less than 1 month to September 15, 2008. There has been significant progression of 2 years for EB-3 China, while EB-3 India remains unchanged at October 15, 2006. EB-3 Philippines progressed mone month to December 1, 2015, while all other areas of chargeability remain unchanged. EB-4 India is now current and EB-4 Mexico progressed nearly 5 months to March 1, 2016. All other areas of chargeability are now current.

EB-5 for both regional centers and non-regional centers remains current, with the exception of China, which has progressed by 1 week to June 22, 2014.

Application Filing Dates for EB-1, EB-2 and EB-3 Worldwide are current, as are Application Filing Dates for EB-1 across all areas of chargeability. EB-2 China has progressed by 1.5 months to November 15, 2013 and EB-2 India has progressed by 1 week to February 2, 2009.  All other categories remain current. EB-3 China remains unchanged at September 1, 2015 and EB-3 India, which has progressed by 1 year to January 1, 2008. EB-3 Philippines has progressed by 7 months to August 1, 2016, and all other areas of chargeability remain current. EB-4 El Salvador/Guatemala/Honduras retrogressed to April 15, 2016, while all other areas of chargeability are now current, and both regional center and non-regional center EB-5 remains current across all areas of chargeability with the exception of China, which has progressed 1 month to October 1, 2014.

As of today, September 12, 2017, USCIS has not advised whether, in October 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 August 2017 Visa Bulletin Summary

The Department of State has released the August 2017 Visa Bulletin.  D&S provides a Monthly Summary of the family and employment-based priority dates.  

With respect to Final Action Dates, there is significant retrogression in the EB-2 worldwide category to April 1, 2015.    EB-1 China and EB-1 India remain unchanged at January 1, 2012. EB-2 China progressed by one month to April 22, 2013 and EB-3 China remains unchanged at January 1, 2012.  EB-2 India remains unchanged at July 22, 2008 and EB-3 India progressed by five months to July 15, 2006.  EB-3 worldwide is current. EB-2 Mexico and Philippines have retrogressed to April 1, 2015 and EB-3 Mexico is now current.  EB-3 Philippines has progressed one year to June 1, 2015.

EB-5 for both regional centers and non-regional centers remains current, with the exception of China, which has progressed by one week to June 15, 2014.

Application Filing Dates for EB-1, EB-2 and EB-3 Worldwide are current.  Additionally, Application Filing Dates for China remain unchanged in both the EB-2 and EB-3 categories with EB-2 China at October 1, 2013 and EB-3 China at September 1, 2015.  Similarly, Application Filing Dates for India in the EB-2 category remains unchanged at February 1, 2009.  The EB-3 India category progressed by three months to January 1, 2007.  Application Filing Dates for EB-3 Philippines progressed by six months to January 1, 2016.  Application Filing Dates for EB-5 China remain unchanged at September 1, 2014.

USCIS has announced that both family-based and employment-based adjustment of status applicants must use the Final Action Dates chart in the Department of State Visa Bulletin for August 2017.