December Visa Bulletin Update: USCIS to Honor Dates for Filing for Employment-Based Categories Next Month
November 23, 2020

At a Glance
USCIS will accept employment-based adjustment applications in December from foreign nationals with a priority date that is earlier than the Dates for Filing listed in the State Department's December Visa Bulletin.
Employment-Based Priority Date Cut-offs for December 2020
To be eligible to file an employment-based adjustment application in December, employer-sponsored foreign nationals must have a priority date that is earlier than the date listed below for their preference category and country.
USCIS has chosen the Dates for Filing chart for employment-based applications for the third month in a row. While the December Dates for Filing chart shows moderate advancement from last month in most employment-based categories, there is notably a one-year retrogression in the EB-3 India category, from January 1, 2015 to January 1, 2014.
USCIS Cutoff Dates for December 2020
EB-1
China: November 1, 2020
India: November 1, 2020
All other countries: Current
EB-2
China: October 1, 2016
India: May 15, 2011
All other countries: Current
EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers
China: June 1, 2018
India: January 1, 2014
All other countries: Current
EB-3 Other Workers
China: May 1, 2009
India: January 1, 2014
All other countries: Current
EB-4*
El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras: May 1, 2018
All other countries: Current
*Non-minister special immigrant religious worker program will become unavailable at midnight on December 10 unless reauthorized by legislation.
EB-5*
China: December 15, 2015
All other countries: Current
*Regional Center program will become unavailable at midnight on December 11 unless reauthorized by legislation.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.
Explore more at Fragomen
Media mentions
Partners Isha Atassi and Rahul Soni discuss US investment-based immigration options for Middle Eastern investors.
Blog post
Partner Ali Haider, Director Shoaib Khaleeli, Manager Ruaida Hussein and Senior Immigration Consultant Katerina Hornickova examine why degree equivalency has become mandatory in the United Arab Emirates and how the process affects employment, professional licensing and visa eligibility.
Video
Senior Associate Isabel Schnitzler explains key eligibility requirements for naturalization in Germany, including residence, language proficiency and financial self-sufficiency, as well as family eligibility considerations.
Media mentions
Partner Bo Cooper explains the impact of wage‑weighted selection on H‑1B registration and compliance.
Media mentions
Partner Aaron Blumberg explains how heightened government scrutiny affecting students from countries such as Venezuela is shaping travel guidance for those studying in the US.
Media mentions
Partner K. Edward Raleigh highlights how recent H-1B changes are shaping employer compliance strategies.
Media mentions
Practice Leader Colm Collins explains that processing delays, shifting demand in information and communication technology (ICT) and renewal cycles contributed to last year’s drop in work permit approvals.
Media mentions
Partner Rick Lamanna examines current pressures on Canada’s immigration system, including processing delays, reduced admissions and policy uncertainty and the implications for applicants and employers.
Blog post
Manager Mihaela Dumitru outlines how Swiss authorities assess Employer of Record and body-leasing models, highlighting key compliance risks, licensing requirements and a regulatory update affecting EU and EFTA nationals effective 1 January 2026.

Media mentions
Partner Karolina Schiffter discusses how courts in Poland are reinforcing timely processing and constitutional protections for foreigners.
Media mentions
Partners Isha Atassi and Rahul Soni discuss US investment-based immigration options for Middle Eastern investors.
Blog post
Partner Ali Haider, Director Shoaib Khaleeli, Manager Ruaida Hussein and Senior Immigration Consultant Katerina Hornickova examine why degree equivalency has become mandatory in the United Arab Emirates and how the process affects employment, professional licensing and visa eligibility.
Video
Senior Associate Isabel Schnitzler explains key eligibility requirements for naturalization in Germany, including residence, language proficiency and financial self-sufficiency, as well as family eligibility considerations.
Media mentions
Partner Bo Cooper explains the impact of wage‑weighted selection on H‑1B registration and compliance.
Media mentions
Partner Aaron Blumberg explains how heightened government scrutiny affecting students from countries such as Venezuela is shaping travel guidance for those studying in the US.
Media mentions
Partner K. Edward Raleigh highlights how recent H-1B changes are shaping employer compliance strategies.
Media mentions
Practice Leader Colm Collins explains that processing delays, shifting demand in information and communication technology (ICT) and renewal cycles contributed to last year’s drop in work permit approvals.
Media mentions
Partner Rick Lamanna examines current pressures on Canada’s immigration system, including processing delays, reduced admissions and policy uncertainty and the implications for applicants and employers.
Blog post
Manager Mihaela Dumitru outlines how Swiss authorities assess Employer of Record and body-leasing models, highlighting key compliance risks, licensing requirements and a regulatory update affecting EU and EFTA nationals effective 1 January 2026.

Media mentions
Partner Karolina Schiffter discusses how courts in Poland are reinforcing timely processing and constitutional protections for foreigners.


