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US
February 2020 Visa Bulletin: Modest Movement Continues for Most Countries; EB-3 Worldwide Still Likely to Retrogress in March
United States
At a glance
- All EB-1 countries except for China and India will advance by two months to December 1, 2018. China will remain at May 22, 2017, while India will remain at January 1, 2015.
- EB-2 China will advance by two weeks, to July 15, 2015, and EB-2 India will advance by one day, to May 19, 2009.
- EB-3 China will advance by one month, to January 1, 2016, EB-3 India will advance by one week to January 8, 2009, and EB-3 Philippines will advance by two and a half months, to June 1, 2018.
- Consistent with last month’s State Department projections, EB-3 Worldwide is expected to retrogress in March 2020.
A closer look
According to the State Department’s February Visa Bulletin, cutoff dates for issuance of an immigrant visa will be as follows:
- EB-1: All EB-1 countries except for China and India will advance by two months to December 1, 2018. China will remain at May 22, 2017, while India will remain at January 1, 2015.
- EB-2: China will advance by two weeks, to July 15, 2015, and India will advance by one day, to May 19, 2009.
- EB-3 Professional and Skilled Workers: China will advance by one month, to January 1, 2016, India will advance by one week, to January 8, 2009, and Philippines will advance by two and a half months, to June 1, 2018.
- EB-5: Most countries will remain current. China will advance by one week to December 1, 2014; India will advance by four months to September 1, 2018; and Vietnam will advance by one week to December 15, 2016.
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. It is not yet known whether USCIS will again accept adjustment applications based on the Dates for Filing chart, rather than the Final Action chart, as it has done for the last several months.
Cutoff dates in the Dates for Filing chart for February will remain unchanged from January 2020.
Immigrant visa availability in the coming months
In the February Bulletin, the State Department states that there has been consistently high levels of demand for employment-based immigrant visas, and especially for EB-3 Worldwide (all countries except India and China) visa numbers. As the agency predicted last month, EB-3 Worldwide is expected to retrogress in March 2020.
FINAL ACTION CUT-OFF DATES FOR FEBRUARY 2020
EB-1
China: May 22, 2017
India: January 1, 2015
All other countries: December 1, 2018
EB-2
China: July 15, 2015
India: May 19, 2009
All other countries: Current
EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers
China: January 1, 2016
India: January 8, 2009
Philippines: June 1, 2018
All other countries: Current
EB-3 Other Workers
China: May 1, 2008
India: January 8, 2009
Philippines: June 1, 2018
All other countries: Current
EB-4
El Salvador, Guatemala Honduras: July 1, 2016
Mexico: September 1, 2017
All other countries: Current
EB-5
China: December 1, 2014
India: September 1, 2018
Vietnam: December 15, 2016
All other countries: Current
DATES FOR FILING CUT-OFF DATES FOR FEBRUARY 2020
EB-1
China: October 1, 2017
India: March 15, 2017
All other countries: Current
EB-2
China: August 1, 2016
India: July 1, 2009
All other countries: Current
EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers
China: March 1, 2017
India: February 1, 2010
All other countries: January 1, 2019
EB-3 Other Workers
China: August 1, 2008
India: February 1, 2010
All other countries: January 1, 2019
EB-4
El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras: August 15, 2016
All other countries: Current
EB-5
China: May 15, 2015
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.