August 2018 Visa Bulletin – Immediate EB-1 Worldwide Retrogression, Significant Advancement for EB-3 China

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At a glance

• EB-1 for all countries except India and China retrogresses immediately, to May 1, 2016.
• EB-3 China will advance by one and a half years, to July 1, 2014.
• EB-2 China will advance by two months, to March 1, 2015.
• EB-3 India will advance by two months, to January 1, 2009.

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The situation

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

• EB-1: All countries except India and China retrogress to May 1, 2016, effective immediately. EB-1 China and India will remain at January 1, 2012.
• EB-2: China will advance by two months, to March 1, 2015. India remains at March 15, 2009.
• EB-3 (Professional and Skilled Workers): China will advance by one and a half years to July 1, 2014. India will advance by two months, to January 1, 2009. Priority dates will remain current for most other countries.
• EB-3 (Other Workers): China will remain at May 1, 2007. India will advance by two months, to January 1, 2009.
• EB-5: China and Vietnam will remain at August 1, 2014.

The mid-month imposition of EB-1 cutoff dates is unexpected. It is not yet known whether USCIS will accept newly retrogressed EB-1 adjustment of status applications for the remainder of the month of July; an announcement is anticipated. The EB-1 Worldwide category is expected to become current in October 2018, the first month of FY 2019. It is also possible that a cutoff date for EB-2 Worldwide will be imposed in September, to be returned to current in October.  

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

FINAL ACTION CUT-OFF DATES FOR AUGUST 2018

EB-1
China: January 1, 2012
India: January 1, 2012
All other countries: May 1, 2016

EB-2
China: March 1, 2015
India: March 15, 2009
All other countries: Current

EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers
China: July 1, 2014
India: January 1, 2009
Philippines: June 1, 2017
All other countries: Current

EB-3 Other Workers
China: May 1, 2007
India: January 1, 2009
Philippines: June 1, 2017
All other countries: Current

EB-4
El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras: February 8, 2016
Mexico: February 8, 2016
India: February 8, 2016
All other countries: Current

EB-5
China: August 1, 2014
Vietnam: August 1, 2014
Current for all other countries and subcategories

FILING ELIGIBILITY CUT-OFF DATES FOR AUGUST 2018

EB-1
Current for all countries

EB-2
China: April 1, 2015
India: May 22, 2009
All other countries: Current

EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers
China: January 1, 2016
India: May 1, 2009
Philippines: July 1, 2017
All other countries: Current

EB-3 Other Workers
China: June 1, 2008
India: May 1, 2009
Philippines: July 1, 2017
All other countries: Current

EB-4
El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras: May 1, 2016
All other countries: Current

EB-5
China: October 1, 2014
Current for all other countries and subcategories

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