Department of State October 2018 Visa Bulletin Summary

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

Final action dates for EB-1 China and EB-1 India have progressed by 4.5 years to June 1, 2016. All other EB-1 areas of chargeability have progressed by 8 months to April 1, 2017. EB-2 China and EB-2 India have each progressed by a little over 2 years to April 1, 2015 and March 26, 2009 respectively. EB-3 China has progressed by 7 months to June 1, 2015, while EB-3 India has progressed by 6 years to January 1, 2009. EB-3 Philippines has progressed by 7 months to June 1, 2017. Other Workers China remains unchanged, while Other Workers India has progressed by 6 years to January 1, 2009. EB-4 El Salvador/Guatemala/Honduras remains unchanged, while EB-4 Mexico has progressed by approximately 8 months to October 22, 2016. Certain Religious Workers are now unavailable across all areas of chargeability, as is EB-5 Regional Center. EB-5 Non-Regional Center China has progressed by 1 week to August 15, 2014 and EB-5 Non-Regional Center Vietnam has progressed by approximately 1.5 years to January 1, 2016. All other Employment Based categories across all areas of chargeability are now current.

F1 Worldwide, China and India have progressed to June 1, 2011, while F-1 Mexico and F-1 Philippines remain unchanged. Likewise, F2A Worldwide, China and India have progressed by 1 month to August 22, 2016, and F2A Mexico and F2A Philippines have progressed to August 1, 2016 and August 22, 2016 respectively. F2B Worldwide, China and India have progressed by 3 weeks to November 22, 2011, with F2B Mexico and F2B Philippines progressing by less than a month to May 15, 1997 and May 15, 2007 respectively. F3 Worldwide, China and India has progressed by 1.5 months to June 15, 2006, while F3 Philippines has progressed by 1 week to June 8, 1995. F3 Mexico remains unchanged. F4 Worldwide and China have progressed by about 1 month to February 15, 2005. Similarly F4 India has progressed to May 1, 2004. F4 Mexico and F4 Philippines have progressed by about 1 week to January 22, 1998 and June 8, 1995 respectively.

Application filing dates for EB-1 China and EB-1 India have retrogressed to October 1, 2017 and EB-1 for all other areas of chargeability has retrogressed to June 1, 2018. EB-2 China has progressed by 2.5 months to June 15, 2015 but EB-3 China has retrogressed by approximately 4 months to August 8, 2015. EB-3 India has progressed by 4 months to October 1, 2009, as has Other Workers India. All other Employment Based categories across all areas of chargeability remain unchanged.

Application filing dates for F1 Mexico have progressed to October 8, 1998. F2B Mexico has progressed by approximately 2 weeks to June 22, 1997. F3 Worldwide, China and India have progressed by nearly 4 months to January 8, 2007, while F3 Mexico has progressed by approximately 2 months to December 22, 1998. Similarly, F3 Philippines has progressed by more than 1 year to June 1, 1997. F4 Worldwide, China and India have progressed by 1 month to June 1, 2005, while F4 Mexico has progressed by 3 weeks to June 22, 1998, and F4 Philippines has progressed by 4 months to April 8, 1996. All other categories across all areas of chargeability remain unchanged.

As of today, September 13, 2018, USCIS has not advised whether, in October 2018, it will accept adjustment of status applications for family and employment-based petitions based on final action dates or application filing dates.