April 2019 Visa Bulletin: Some Movement Across EB-1, Except India and China; Solid Movement for EB-2 China

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At a glance

• EB-1 will advance by one month for most countries, to February 1, 2018; there will be no forward movement for EB-1 China or India.
• EB-2 will advance by three months for China, to April 1, 2016, and by only three days for India, to April 12, 2009. All other countries will remain current.
• The EB-3 subcategory for Professionals and Skilled Workers will remain current for most countries. China will advance by more than three weeks to August 1, 2015, and India will advance by one month to June 22, 2009.

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The situation

According to the State Department’s April Visa Bulletin, cutoff dates for issuance of an immigrant visa will be as follows:

• EB-1: All countries except China and India will advance by one month, to February 1, 2018. China and India will remain the same at February 22, 2017. 
• EB-2: All countries except for China and India will remain current. China will advance by three months, to April 1, 2016, while India will advance by only 3 days, to April 12, 2009. 
• EB-3 (Professional and Skilled Workers): Most countries will remain current, while China will advance by more than three weeks, to August 1, 2015, and India will advance by one month, to June 22, 2009. The Philippines will advance by three months, to March 1, 2018.
• EB-5: Both the Regional and Non-Regional Center categories will advance one week for China, to September 15, 2014. Vietnam will advance more than five weeks, to August 22, 2016. Visa Bulletin web page the cutoff dates for acceptance of adjustment of status applications next month.

In the coming days, USCIS is expected to announce on its own Visa Bulletin web page the cutoff dates for acceptance of adjustment of status applications next month.

Looking ahead

According to the State Department, cutoff date advancement in employment-based categories is expected to continue for at least the next few months, after which it is likely to slow or stop. The Bulletin notes that retrogression of cutoff dates could occur in some categories if visa demand exceeds Department predictions, though the timing of a slowdown, halt, or retrogression of cutoff dates is not yet known.

FINAL ACTION CUT-OFF DATES FOR APRIL 2019

EB-1
China and India: February 22, 2017
All other countries: February 1, 2018

EB-2
China: April 1, 2016
India: April 12, 2009
All other countries: Current

EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers
China: August 1, 2015
India: June 22, 2009
Philippines: March 1, 2018
All other countries: Current

EB-3 Other Workers
China: August 22, 2007
India: June 22, 2009
Philippines: March 1, 2018
All other countries: Current

EB-4
El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras: March 8, 2016
Mexico: April 1, 2018
All other countries: Current    

EB-5
China: September 15, 2014
Vietnam: August 22, 2016
All other countries: Current

FILING ELIGIBILITY CUT-OFF DATES FOR APRIL 2019

EB-1
China and India: October 1, 2017
All other countries: June 1, 2018

EB-2
China: July 1, 2016
India: June 1, 2009
All other countries: Current

EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers
China: January 1, 2016
India: April 1, 2010
Philippines: July 1, 2018
All other countries: Current

EB-3 Other Workers
China: June 1, 2008
India: April 1, 2010
Philippines: July 1, 2018
All other countries: Current

EB-4
El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras: May 15, 2016
All other countries: Current

EB-5
China: October 8, 2014
All other countries: Current

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.