March 2021 Visa Bulletin: Strong Advancement Across Employment-Based Categories, Rapid Movement Continues for EB-1 India and China; USCIS to Honor Final Action Dates for Employment-Based Categories

A closer look 

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

• EB-1: All countries except for China and India will remain current in March. China and India will advance by seven months to August 1, 2020.
• EB-2: China will advance by one month to July 15, 2016, while India will advance by three months to January 15, 2010. All other countries will remain current.

• EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers: Cutoff dates for China will advance five weeks to February 8, 2018, and for India will advance three months to July 1, 2010. All other countries will remain current in March.
• EB-5: The Regional and Non-Regional Center programs will remain current for all countries except China and Vietnam. China will remain at August 15, 2015, while Vietnam will advance by three weeks to October 22, 2017.

USCIS Employment-based Priority Date Cut-offs in March 2021

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced on its Visa Bulletin web page that it will honor the State Department’s Final Action Date chart for adjustment of status filings in March. To be eligible to file an employment-based adjustment application in March, employer-sponsored foreign nationals must have a priority date that is earlier than the date listed below for their preference category and country.

Impact of Presidential Proclamation 10014

Prior to leaving office, former President Trump extended the April 22, 2020 proclamation temporarily suspending the entry of certain immigrants to March 31, 2021. It remains unclear as to whether President Biden will rescind the proclamation. Until further notice, the bar will continue to limit the issuance of immigrant visas by U.S. consulates abroad.

Final Action cut-off dates for March 2021

EB-1 
China: August 1, 2020
India: August 1, 2020
All other countries: Current                                                                            

EB-2  
China: July 15, 2016
India: January 15, 2010
All other countries: Current

EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers  
China: February 8, 2018
India: July 1, 2010
All other countries: Current

EB-3 Other Workers  
China: May 1, 2009
India: July 1, 2010
All other countries: Current

EB-4
El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras: June 1, 2018
Mexico: January 1, 2019
All other countries: Current

EB-5
China: August 15, 2015
Vietnam: October 22, 2017
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.