Department of State July 2017 Visa Bulletin Summary

The Department of State has now released the July 2017 Visa Bulletin.  D&S provides a Monthly Summary of the family and employment-based priority dates.  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.  Application Filing Dates for EB-2 India remain unchanged at February 1, 2009 and EB-3 India progressed by nearly six months to October 1, 2006.  Application Filing Dates for EB-3 Philippines remain progressed by one year to July 1, 2015.  Application Filing Dates for EB-5 China remain unchanged at September 1, 2014.

With respect to Final Action Dates, EB-1 China and EB-1 India remain unchanged at January 1, 2012.  EB-2 China advanced by 21 days to March 22, 2013, but EB-3 China retrogressed by about 2.5 years to January 1, 2012.  Both EB-2 and EB-3 India progressed slightly to July 22, 2008 and February 15, 2006 respectively.  

EB-2 Worldwide remains current, while EB-3 Worldwide progressed nearly two months to June 8, 2017.  EB-3 Mexico progressed by approximately two months to June 8, 2017 and EB-3 Philippines advanced by one year to May 15, 2014. EB-5 for both regional centers and non-regional centers remains current, with the exception of EB-5 China, which remains unchanged at June 8, 2014.

As of today, June 13, 2017, USCIS has not advised whether, in July 2017, it will accept adjustment of status applications for family and employment-based petitions based on final action dates or application filing dates.

Elimination of Visa Page Inserts for U.S. Passports

The U.S. Department of State announced that beginning January 1, 2016, DOS will no longer add visa pages into U.S. passports. As a result of this policy change, applicants in need of additional pages in their valid passports must obtain a new passport by mail. Previously, U.S. passport holders had the option to pay for the insertion of 24 additional visa page inserts into their current, valid passport if it lacked adequate space for entry or exit visa stamps.

Requests for additional 24 page visa inserts will only be accepted until December 31, 2015. Beginning January 1, 2016, applicants in need of additional pages in their passports must obtain a new passport by mail.

DOS indicates that this decision was made to enhance the security of the U.S. passport and in adherence with international passport standards.

Applicants with passports without adequate space for visa stamps are encouraged to apply for their new passport as early as possible in advance of travel.

UPDATE: 165 Consular Posts (85% of Nonimmigrant Visa Demand) Back Online

The most recent alert by the Department of State (DOS) indicates that 165 consular posts, representing more than 85 percent of the worldwide nonimmigrant visa demand, are now online and issuing visas. With the system largely restored, consular posts overseas issued more than 82,000 visas on June 24th and more than 238,000 non-immigrant visas this week alone.

D&S will continue to provide updates as they become available.