State Department February 2022 Visa Bulletin Summary

The Department of State has released the February Visa Bulletin. D&S provides a Monthly Summary of the employment-based priority dates. USCIS has confirmed that in February 2022, it will accept adjustment of status applications for family- and employment-based petitions based on Dates for Filing. 

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 move forward more than five weeks to March 1, 2019 and EB-2 India will move forward nearly six months to January 1, 2013. All EB-3 categories except India and China will remain current. EB-3 China will remain at March 22, 2018 and EB-3 India will remain at January 15, 2012. 

The EB-5 Regional Center program has not been reauthorized by Congress.  As a result, this category will not be available for November 2021. 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 December except EB-2 India, which advances nearly 2 months to September 1, 2013.

State Department January 2022 Visa Bulletin Summary

The Department of State has released the January Visa Bulletin. D&S provides a Monthly Summary of the employment-based priority dates. USCIS has confirmed that  in January 2022, it will accept adjustment of status applications for family- and employment-based petitions based on Dates for Filing. 

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 move forward three weeks to January 22, 2019 and EB-2 India will move forward just over three months to July 8, 2012. All EB-3 categories except India and China will remain current. EB-3 China will remain at March 22, 2018 and EB-3 India will remain at January 15, 2012. 

The EB-5 Regional Center program has not been reauthorized by Congress.  As a result, this category will not be available for November 2021. Final action dates for the EB-5 Non-Regional Center program will become  current for all countries of chargeability. 

With respect to Application Filing Dates, all categories will remain unchanged from December except EB-5 China non-regional center, which will become current.

State Department December 2021 Visa Bulletin Summary

The Department of State has released the December 2021 Visa Bulletin. D&S provides a Monthly Summary of the employment-based priority dates. USCIS has not yet confirmed whether, in December 2021, it will accept adjustment of status applications for employment-based petitions based on Final Action Dates or Dates for Filing. 

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 move forward six weeks to January 1, 2019 and EB-2 India will move forward five months to May 1, 2012. All EB-3 categories except India and China will remain current. EB-3 China will remain at March 22, 2018 and EB-3 India will remain at January 15, 2012. 

The EB-5 Regional Center program has not been reauthorized by Congress.  As a result, this category will not be available for December 2021. Final action dates for the EB-5 Non-Regional Center program will become  current for all countries of chargeability. 

With respect to Application Filing Dates, all categories will remain unchanged from September except EB-2 and EB-3 for both China and India. EB-2 China will move forward two months to April 1, 2019.   EB-2 India advances seven months to July 8, 2013. EB-3 China remains at April 1, 2018, and EB-3 India remains at January 22, 2012.

State Department November 2021 Visa Bulletin Summary

The Department of State has released the November Visa Bulletin. D&S provides a Monthly Summary of the employment-based priority dates. USCIS has advised that, in November 2021, it will accept adjustment of status applications for employment-based petitions based on Dates for Filing. 

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 move forward over four months to November 15, 2018  and EB-2 India will move forward three months to December 1, 2011. All EB-3 categories except India and China will remain current. EB-3 China will retrogress over nine months to March 22, 2018 and EB-3 India will retrogress almost two years to January 5, 2012. 

The EB-5 Regional Center program has not been reauthorized by Congress.  As a result, this category will not be available for November 2021. Final action dates for the EB-5 Non-Regional Center program remain current for all countries of chargeability except China, which will move forward one week to  November 22, 2015. 

With respect to Application Filing Dates, all categories will remain unchanged from September except EB-2 and EB-3 for both China and India. EB-2 China will  move forward five months to February 1, 2019.   EB-2 India advances six months January 8, 2013. EB-3 China retrogresses nine months to April 1, 2018, and EB-3 India and “Other Workers” India both retrogress almost two years to January 22, 2012.

Department of State September 2021 Visa Bulletin Summary

The Department of State has released the September Visa Bulletin. D&S provides a Monthly Summary of the employment-based priority dates. USCIS has advised that, in September 2021, it will continue to accept adjustment of status applications for employment-based petitions based on 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 advance three months to July 1, 2018 and EB-2 India will advance three months to September 1, 2011. All EB-3 categories except India and China will remain current. EB-3 China will remain at January  8, 2019, and EB-3 India will advance six  months to January 1, 2014.

The EB-5 Regional Center program has not been reauthorized by Congress.  As a result, this category will not be available for September 2021. Final action dates for the EB-5 Non-Regional Center program remain current for all countries of chargeability except China, which will remain at  November 15, 2015, and Vietnam, which will remain current. 

With respect to Application Filing Dates, all categories will remain unchanged from July except EB-2 China, which advances two months to September 1, 2018, and EB-3 India and Other Workers India, which both advance one month to March 1, 2014.

State Department August 2021 Visa Bulletin

The Department of State has released the August Visa Bulletin. D&S provides a Monthly Summary of the employment-based priority dates. USCIS has advised that, in August 2021, it will continue to accept adjustment of status applications for employment-based petitions based on 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 advance four months to April 1, 2018 and EB-2 India will remain at June 1, 2011. All EB-3 categories except India and China will remain current. EB-3 China will advance one week to January  8, 2019, and EB-3 India will advance over seven months to July 1, 2013.

The EB-5 Regional Center program has not been reauthorized by Congress.  As a result, this category will not be available for July 2021. Final action dates for the EB-5 Non-Regional Center program remain current for all countries of chargeability except China, which will retrogress two days to November 15, 2015, and Vietnam, which will become current. 

With respect to Application Filing Dates, all categories will remain unchanged from July.

Department of State April 2021 Visa Bulletin Summary

The Department of State has released the April Visa Bulletin. D&S provides a Monthly Summary of the employment-based priority dates. As of today, March 16, 2021, USCIS yes to confirm whether in April 2021, it will to accept adjustment of status applications for employment-based petitions based on the April Bulletin’s final action dates or application filing dates.

With respect to Final Action Dates, EB-1 China and EB-1 India will both become current. With the exception of India and China, all other EB-2 countries of chargeability will remain current. EB-2 China will advance two months to September 15, 2016 and EB-2 India will advance over three months to May 1, 2010. All EB-3 categories except India and China will remain current. EB-3 China will advance five weeks to March 15, 2018, and EB-3 India will advance two months to September 1, 2010. 

The EB-5 Regional Center program has been reauthorized by Congress until mid-2021.  As a result, final action dates remain current for March for all countries of chargeability except for China, which remains  subject to an August 15, 2015 final action date, and for Vietnam, which advances two months to a December 22, 2017 final action date. Final action dates for the EB-5 Non-Regional Center program remain current for all countries of chargeability except China, which will remain unchanged at August 15, 2015, and Vietnam, which will advance two months to December 22, 2017. 

With respect to Application Filing Dates, EB-1 China and EB-1 India will remain current. EB-2 China will move forward three months to January 1, 2017. EB-3 China will move forward two months to August 1, 2018. All other categories (with the exception of the “Other Workers”, EB-4 special immigrants, and “Certain Religious Workers” categories) will remain unchanged from March. 

Department of State March 2021 Visa Bulletin Summary

The Department of State has released the March 2021 Visa Bulletin. D&S provides a Monthly Summary of the employment-based priority dates. USCIS has advised that, in March 2021, it will accept adjustment of status applications for employment-based petitions based on the March Bulletin’s final action dates. 

With respect to Final Action Dates, with the exception of India and China, all other EB-1 categories will remain current. EB-1 China and EB-1 India will advance seven months to August 1, 2020. With the exception of India and China, all other EB-2 countries of chargeability will remain current. EB-2 China will advance one month to July 15, 2016 and EB-2 India will advance over three months to January 15, 2010. All EB-3 categories except India and China will remain current. EB-3 China will advance five weeks to February 8 2018, and EB-3 India will advance three months to July 1, 2010. 

The EB-5 Regional Center program has been reauthorized by Congress until mid-2021.  As a result, final action dates remain current for March for all countries of chargeability except for China, which remains  subject to an August 15, 2015 final action date, and for Vietnam, which advances three weeks to an October 22, 2017 final action date. Final action dates for the EB-5 Non-Regional Center program remain current for all countries of chargeability except China, which will remain unchanged at August 15, 2015, and Vietnam, which will advance three weeks to October 22 , 2017. 

With respect to Application Filing Dates, EB-1 China and EB-1 India will become current. All other categories (with the exception of the “Other Workers”, EB-4 special immigrants, and “Certain Religious Workers” categories) will remain unchanged from February.

Department of State August 2020 Visa Bulletin Summary

The Department of State has released the August 2020 Visa Bulletin. D&S provides a Monthly Summary of the employment-based priority dates. As of today, July 20, 2020, USCIS has not yet advised whether, in August 2020, it will once again accept adjustment of status applications for employment-based petitions based on the bulletin’s Final Action Dates, as it did in July.

With respect to Employment Based (EB) Final Action Dates, all EB-1 countries of chargeability, except India and China, will remain current. EB-1 China will advance just under six months to February 8, 2018 and EB-1 India will advance nine months, also to February 8, 2018. With the exception of India and China, all other EB-2 countries of chargeability remain current. EB-2 China will advance two months and one week to January 15, 2016, and EB-2 India will remain unchanged at July 8, 2009. All EB-3 categories except India and China will advance just under a year to April 1, 2019. EB-3 China will advance just under eight months to February 15, 2017, and EB-3 India will advance four months to October 1, 2009. All EB-5 countries of chargeability except China and Vietnam will remain current. EB-5 China will advance two weeks to August 8, 2015, while EB-5 Vietnam will advance over two months to July 22, 2017.

With respect to Employment Based Application Filing Dates, EB-1 Filing Dates for all countries of chargeability, except China and India, will remain current. EB-1 China and EB-1 India will advance eight months and eleven months respectively to July 1, 2018. Dates of filing for the EB-2 category will remain unchanged from July. With the exception of India and China, Application Filing Dates for all EB-3 countries of chargeability will advance one year to April 1, 2020. EB-3 China will advance two months to May 1, 2017 and EB-3 India will remain unchanged at February 1, 2010. Dates of filing for the EB-5 category will remain unchanged from July.

Department of State June 2020 Visa Bulletin Summary

The Department of State has released the June 2020 Visa Bulletin. D&S provides a Monthly Summary of the employment-based priority dates. As of today, May 21, 2020, USCIS has not yet advised whether, in June 2020, it will once again accept adjustment of status applications for employment-based petitions based on the bulletin’s Final Action Dates, as it has in May.

With respect to Employment Based (EB) Final Action Dates, all EB-1 countries of chargeability, except India and China, will remain current. EB-1 China will advance one month to August 15, 2017 and EB-1 India will advance over ten months to June 8, 2016. With the exception of India and China, all other EB-2 countries of chargeability remain current. EB-2 China will advance one month to November 1, 2015, and EB-2 India will advance ten days to June 12, 2009. All EB-3 categories except India and China will advance just over ten months to November 8, 2017. EB-3 China will advance one month to June 15, 2016, and EB-3 India will advance one month to April 1, 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 will advance two weeks to July 15, 2015, while EB-5 India will advance three months to January 1, 2020, and EB-5 Vietnam will advance three weeks to April 22, 2017. Application Filing Dates for EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, and EB-5 categories remain unchanged from May.

Department of State September 2019 Visa Bulletin Summary

The Department of State has released the September 2019 Visa Bulletin, which the Department has indicated is currently in effect prior to the start of the month for EB-1 and EB-3 China , EB-3 India, and the entire EB-4/religious workers category (which will be unavailable for the remainder of the fiscal year). In addition, the Department announced that, although not listed on the September Visa Bulletin, the EB-3 category across all countries of chargeability has been made unavailable for September, effective immediately. D&S provides a Monthly Summary of the employment-based priority dates.

With respect to Final Action Dates, All EB-1 categories, except India and China, have advanced to October 1, 2017. EB-1 China has retrogressed to January 1, 2014, and the State Department has confirmed that EB-1 India has been unavailable since July and will remain so for the remainder of FY2019, which ends September 30th. With the exception of India and China, all other EB-2 countries of chargeability have advanced to January 1, 2018, while EB-2 China remained unchanged at January 1, 2017, and EB-2 India progressed by only 6 days to May 8, 2009. All EB-3 countries of chargeability besides India and China remained unchanged at July 1, 2016, while EB-3 China retrogressed from that date to January 1, 2014 and EB-3 India retrogressed to July 1, 2005.

EB-5 Non-Regional Center and EB-5 Regional Center final action dates are current with the exception of China, India, and Vietnam. EB-5 China and Vietnam both advanced one week to October 22, 2014, while EB-5 India advanced dramatically to September 1, 2017.

Application filing dates remain unchanged with the exception of EB-2 China, which progressed four months to June 1, 2017, and EB-5 China which has progressed one week to November 22, 2014.

As of today, August 20, 2019, USCIS has advised that in September 2019 it will accept adjustment of status applications for employment-based petitions based on final action dates and family-based petitions based on application filing dates for all categories except the F2A category, which may file based on final action 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 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. 

Department of State June 2016 Visa Bulletin Summary

The Department of State released the June 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 with the exception of EB-3 Other Workers which saw forward movement of almost 14 months from April 8, 2008 to August 1, 2009.

There was significant retrogression in several employment-based categories including EB-2 India, which retrogressed over 4 years from November 22, 2008 to October 1, 2004.  EB-2 and EB-3 China also both experienced significant retrogression with EB-2 China retrogressing over 2 years from September 1, 2012 to January 1, 2010 and EB-3 China retrogressing over 3 years from August 15, 2013 to January 1, 2010, making EB-2 and EB-3 China priority dates the same for the coming month.

EB-3 India was the only employment-based category that moved forward with a modest advancement of 3 weeks from September 1, 2004 to September 22, 2004. Final Action dates for EB-3 Worldwide and EB-3 Mexico also remained unchanged and EB-3 Philippines progressed approximately 3 months.

The EB-5 China Final Action date advanced by just one week from February 8, 2014 to February 15, 2014.  

As of today, May 10, 2016, USCIS has not advised whether in June 2016, it will accept adjustment of status applications for family or employment-based petitions based on filing dates, rather than final action dates. USCIS anticipates that this information will be released within one week of the monthly Visa Bulletin.

D&S will provide further updates as they become available.