Courtland C. Witherup

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The Visa Bulletin is released monthly by the Department of State and is used to determine when a sponsored foreign national can submit the final step of the green card process. The complete visa bulletin can be found here.

Below is a summary of the March Visa Bulletin, including Final Action Dates and changes from the previous month.

  • China: EB-1 moves forward two weeks to February 22, 2017, EB-2 jumps ahead three months to January 1, 2016, and EB-3 creeps forward one week to July 8, 2015
  • India: EB-1 advances two weeks to February 22, 2017, EB-2 crawls forward three days to April 9, 2009, and EB-3 continues to outpace EB-2, advancing one month to May 22, 2009
  • Philippines: EB-1 moves forward one month to January 1, 2018, EB-2 remains current, and EB-3 jumps ahead four months to December 1, 2017
  • All Other Countries: EB-1 remains backlogged, but moves forward one month to January 1, 2018, EB-2 and EB-3 remain current

NOTE: USCIS has not yet announced if they will accept I-485 applications in March based on the Department of State’s Dates for Filing chart.

The Visa Bulletin is released monthly by the Department of State and is used to determine when a sponsored foreign national can submit the final step of the green card process. The complete visa bulletin can be found here.

Below is a summary of the February Visa Bulletin, including Final Action Dates and changes from the previous month.

  • China: EB-1 moves forward two months to February 8, 2017, EB-2 advances two months to October 1, 2015, and EB-3 advances three weeks to July 1, 2015
  • India: EB-1 advances two months to February 8, 2017, EB-2 creeps forward five days to April 6, 2009, and EB-3 leaps seven weeks to April 22, 2009, outpacing EB-2 for the first time ever.
  • Philippines: EB-1 advances two months to December 1, 2017, EB-2 remains current, and EB-3 moves forward five weeks to August 1, 2017
  • All Other Countries: EB-1 remains backlogged, but moves forward two months to December 1, 2017, EB-2 and EB-3 remain current

NOTE: USCIS has not yet announced if they will accept I-485 applications in February based on the Department of State’s Dates for Filing chart.

The Visa Bulletin is released monthly by the Department of State and is used to determine when a sponsored foreign national can submit the final step of the green card process. The complete visa bulletin can be found here.

Below is a summary of the January Visa Bulletin, including Final Action Dates and changes from the previous month.

  • China: EB-1 advances three and a half months to December 15, 2016, EB-2 creeps ahead one month to August 1, 2015, and EB-3 stalls at June 8, 2015
  • India: EB-1 also advances three and a half months to December 15, 2016, EB-2 freezes at April 1, 2009, and EB-3 remains March 1, 2009
  • Philippines: EB-1 advances three months to October 1, 2017, EB-2 remains current, and EB-3 moves forward another week, advancing to June 22, 2017
  • All Other Countries: EB-1 remains backlogged, but advances three months to October 1, 2017, EB-2 and EB-3-remain current

NOTE: USCIS has announced that it will accept I-485 applications in January based on the Department of State’s Dates for Filing chart.

As mentioned in our December Visa Bulletin post, the employment-based first preference (EB-1) category remains backlogged for all countries. Despite previous expectations, it appears that the backlog is here to stay. The Department of State’s Charlie Oppenheim recently told the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) that the Final Action dates for the EB-1 category would reach June 1, 2018 (for all countries except China and India) within the next eight to twelve months. If this prediction proves true, the EB-1 category will never become current this fiscal year. Such a prolonged backlog is not only unprecedented, but alarming, as the employment-based second and third preference categories (EB-2 and EB-3) are current (for all but those born in China, India or the Philippines). This means that a foreign born Nobel Prize winning scientist or a chief executive at a multinational corporation will now wait years to receive a green card, while an entry-level worker could receive a green card much sooner.

The main culprit for such a lengthy backlog in the EB-1 category appears to be higher than usual demand in the employment-based fourth and fifth preference categories (EB-4 and EB-5). In the past, both the EB-4 and EB-5 categories rarely met their congressionally mandated limits and the extra visa numbers “spilled over” to the EB-1 category. This year, the EB-4 subcategories of Religious Workers and Special Immigrant Juveniles, as well as EB-5 investors, are all exceeding supply. In addition, there is increased usage of the EB-1 multinational executive/manager subcategory as many seek to avoid the traditional backlogs of the EB-2 and EB-3 categories. Overall demand for immigrant visas has also increased as growing uncertainty over changing immigration policies has led many to seek permanent residence while they still can.

In practice, the EB-1 backlog means that those that qualify for the category (Aliens of Extraordinary Ability, Outstanding Professors/Researchers and Multinational Executives/Managers) will not be able to submit applications for the last step of the green card process, the I-485 application to adjust status, until their priority date becomes current. In addition, they and their family members, will not be able to take advantage of the concurrent applications for employment and travel authorization. Because of these new delays, anyone wishing to apply in the EB-1 category should lock in their priority date as soon as possible by submitting a stand-alone I-140 immigrant petition to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services. In certain situations, other avenues for obtaining permanent residence may be more attractive, such as filing a PERM application or an EB-2 National Interest Waiver petition. For assistance with these issues, contact a Hunton Andrews Kurth immigration attorney.

The Visa Bulletin is released monthly by the Department of State and is used to determine when a sponsored foreign national can submit the final step of the green card process. The complete visa bulletin can be found here.

Below is a summary of the December Visa Bulletin, including Final Action Dates and changes from the previous month. Contrary to projections announced in the September Visa Bulletin, the EB-1 category will NOT return to current in December. In fact, despite some insignificant forward movement, unprecedented backlogs will continue in this category for all countries. The December Visa Bulletin does not include the customary note to explain this deviation.

  • China: EB-1 advances slightly to September 1, 2016, EB-2 advances another six weeks to July 1, 2015, and EB-3 creeps forward seven days to at June 8, 2015
  • India: EB-1 moves ahead three months to September 1, 2016, EB-2 advances six days to April 1, 2009, and EB-3 jumps forward two months to March 1, 2009
  • Philippines: EB-1 advances three months to July 1, 2017, EB-2 remains current, and EB-3 creeps forward one week to June 15, 2017
  • All Other Countries: EB-1 moves ahead three months to July 1, 2017, EB-2 and EB-3-remain current

NOTE: USCIS has not yet announced if it will accept I-485 applications in December based on the Department of State’s Dates for Filing chart.  However, the trend over the last several months has been to accept employment based I-485 applications based on the Date for Filing chart.

UPDATE: In November, USCIS will accept EB I-485 applications based on the Department of State’s Dates for Filing chart.

The Visa Bulletin is released monthly by the Department of State and is used to determine when a sponsored foreign national can submit the final step of the green card process. The complete visa bulletin can be found here.

Below is a summary of the November Visa Bulletin, including Final Action Dates and changes from the previous month:

  • China: EB-1 freezes at June 1, 2016, EB-2 advances six weeks to May 15, 2015, and EB-3 halts at June 1, 2015
  • India: EB-1 remains at June 1, 2016, EB-2 stalls at March 26, 2009, and EB-3 freezes at January 1, 2009
  • Philippines: EB-1 stalls at April 1, 2017, EB-2 remains current, and EB-3 slowly creeps forward, advancing seven days to June 8, 2017
  • All Other Countries: EB-1 remains backlogged to April 1, 2017, EB-2 and EB-3-remain current

NOTE: USCIS has not yet announced if it will accept I-485 applications in November based on the Department of State’s Dates for Filing chart.

The Visa Bulletin is released monthly by the Department of State and is used to determine when a sponsored foreign national can submit the final step of the green card process. The complete visa bulletin can be found here.

Below is a summary of the October Visa Bulletin, including Final Action Dates and changes from the previous month:

  • China: EB-1 jumps forward more than four years to June 1, 2016, EB-2 rebounds to April 1, 2015, and EB-3 continues to speed past EB-2 and moves to June 1, 2015
  • India: EB-1 jumps forward more than four years to June 1, 2016, EB-2 moves ahead two years to March 26, 2009, and EB-3 returns to the July 2018 date, advancing six years to January 1, 2009
  • Philippines: EB-1 moves ahead ten months to April 1, 2017, EB-2 returns to current, and EB-3 creeps forward seven months to June 1, 2017
  • All Other Countries: EB-1 remains backlogged, but advances ten months to April 1, 2017, EB-2 and EB-3-both return to current

NOTE: USCIS has not yet announced if it will accept I-485 applications in October based on the Department of State’s Dates for Filing chart. However, the trend over the last several months has been to NOT honor the Dates for Filing chart, and instead only accept I-485 applications based on the Final Action Dates as listed above.

The Visa Bulletin is released monthly by the Department of State and is used to determine when a sponsored foreign national can submit the final step of the green card process. The complete visa bulletin can be found here.

Below is a summary of the September Visa Bulletin, including Final Action Dates and changes from the previous month:

China: EB-1 remains stalled at January 1, 2012, EB-2 retrogresses to January 1, 2013, and EB-3 continues to move forward – advancing four months to November 1, 2014

India: EB-1 remains at January 1, 2012, EB-2 falls behind nearly two years to January 1, 2007, and EB-3 moves back six years to January 1, 2003

Philippines: EB-1 moves ahead one month to June 1, 2016, EB-2 retrogresses to January 1, 2013, and EB-3 moves to November 1, 2016

All Other Countries: EB-1 moves forward one month to June 1, 2016, EB-2 retrogresses to January 1, 2013 and EB-3 falls to November 1, 2016

The September Visa Bulletin includes the following important projections for future movement:

China:  

  • EB-1 backlogs are expected to remain until December, with “limited, if any forward movement” in October and November
  • EB-2 is expected to return to March 1, 2015 in October and move ahead slowly each month after that,
  • EB-3 is expected to return to July 1, 2014 in October and move forward approximately three weeks each month starting in November

India:   

  • EB-1 backlogs are expected to remain until December, with “limited, if any forward movement” in October and November
  • EB-2 is expected to return to March 15, 2009 in October and move forward “up to two weeks” per month beginning in November
  • EB-3 is expected to return to January 1, 2009 in October and may move ahead slowly each month after that

Philippines:       

  • EB-1 backlogs are expected to remain until December, with “limited, if any forward movement” in October and November
  • EB-2 is expected to become current in October and remain current for subsequent months
  • EB-3 is expected to return to June 1, 2017 in October, with “minimal” forward movement after October

All Other Countries:      

  • EB-1 backlogs are expected to remain until December, with “limited, if any forward movement” in October and November
  • EB-2 and EB-3 are expected to become current in October and remain current for subsequent months

NOTE: USCIS has not yet announced if it will accept I-485 applications in September based on the Department of State’s Dates for Filing chart. However, the trend over the last several months has been to NOT honor the Dates for Filing chart, and instead only accept I-485 applications based on the Final Action Dates as listed above.

The Visa Bulletin is released monthly by the Department of State and is used to determine when a sponsored foreign national can submit the final step of the green card process. The complete visa bulletin can be found here.

Below is a summary of the August Visa Bulletin, including Final Action Dates and changes from the previous month:

  • China: EB-1 remains backlogged to January 1, 2012, EB-2 moves forward – advancing two months to March 1, 2015 – and EB-3 leaps ahead eighteen months to July 1, 2014
  • India: EB-1 remains stuck at January 1, 2012, EB-2 freezes at March 15, 2009, and EB-3 advances two months to January 1, 2009
  • Philippines: EB-1 retrogresses to May 1, 2016, EB-2 remains current, and EB-3 springs ahead six months to June 1, 2017
  • All Other Countries: EB-1 retrogresses to May 1, 2016, while EB-2 and EB-3 remain current

NOTE: USCIS has not yet announced if it will accept I-485 applications in August based on the Department of State’s Dates for Filing chart. However, the trend over the last several months has been to NOT honor the Dates for Filing chart, and instead only accept I-485 applications based on the Final Action Dates as listed above.

The Visa Bulletin is released monthly by the Department of State and is used to determine when a sponsored foreign national can submit the final step of the green card process. The complete visa bulletin can be found here.

Below is a summary of the July Visa Bulletin, including Final Action Dates and changes from the previous month:

  • China: EB-1 remains backlogged to January 1, 2012, EB-2 jumps ahead four months to January 1, 2015, while EB-3 reverses course and retrogresses to January 1, 2013
  • India: EB-1 remains stalled at January 1, 2012, EB-2 continues to creep forward, moving to March 15, 2009, and EB-3 leaps ahead six months to November 1, 2018
  • Philippines: EB-1 and EB-2 remain current, while EB-3 remains backlogged to January 1, 2017
  • All Other Countries: All EB categories are current

NOTE: USCIS has not yet announced if it will accept I-485 applications in July based on the Department of State’s Dates for Filing chart. However, the trend over the last several months has been to NOT honor the Dates for Filing chart, and instead only accept I-485 applications based on the Final Action Dates as listed above.