December 2016 Visa Bulletin: Modest Advancements in EB-2 and EB-3 India and China Final Action Dates Next Month
November 9, 2016
Country / Territory
According to the State Department’s December Visa Bulletin, immigrant visa availability dates for final action will advance slightly for EB-2 China and India. Final action cutoffs for EB-2 India will advance by three months, to February 1, 2008, and EB-2 China will advance by just over two months, to September 22, 2012.
The EB-3 subcategory for professionals and skilled workers advanced by over two months for China, to July 1, 2013; for India by one week, to March 15, 2005; and for the Philippines by two months, to June 1, 2011, with no movement for any other countries. The other worker subcategory will advance by two months for China, to November 1, 2005; one week for India, to March 15, 2005; and two months for the Philippines, to June 1, 2011.
There will be no advancement in cutoff dates for eligibility to file an application for permanent residence in any backlogged employment category. In the coming days, USCIS is expected to announce on its own Visa Bulletin web page whether it will accept adjustment of status applications from foreign nationals with a priority date that makes them eligible to file in December.
FINAL ACTION CUT-OFF DATES FOR DECEMBER 2016
EB-1
Current for all countries.
EB-2
China: September 22, 2012
India: February 1, 2008
All other countries: Current
EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers
China: July 1, 2013
India: March 15, 2005
Philippines: June 1, 2011
All other countries: July 1, 2016
EB-3 Other Workers
China: November 1, 2005
India: March 15, 2005
Philippines: June 1, 2011
All other countries: July 1, 2016
EB-5
China: March 22, 2014
Current for all other countries.
FILING ELIGIBILITY CUT-OFF DATES FOR DECEMBER 2016
EB-1
Current for all countries.
EB-2
China: March 1, 2013
India: April 22, 2009
All other countries: Current
EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers
China: May 1, 2014
India: July 1, 2005
Philippines: September 1, 2013
All other countries: Current
EB-3 Other Workers
China: August 1, 2009
India: July 1, 2005
Philippines: September 1, 2013
All other countries: Current
EB-5
China: June 15, 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.
