February 2017 Visa Bulletin: Some Advancement in Final Action Dates for EB-2 China, EB-3 India and China

United States

According to the State Department’s February Visa Bulletin, immigrant visa availability dates for final action will advance by one month for EB-2 China, to November 15, 2012, while EB-2 India will remain at April 15, 2008.

The EB-3 subcategory for professionals and skilled workers will advance by three weeks for China, to October 1, 2013; one week for India, to March 22, 2005; nearly three months for the Philippines, to October 15, 2011; and two months for all other countries, to October 1, 2016. The EB-3 other worker subcategory will advance by one week for India, to March 22, 2005; nearly three months for the Philippines, to October 15, 2011; and two months for other countries, to October 1, 2016. EB-3 China in the other worker subcategory will remain at December 1, 2005.

Final action dates for EB-5 China will advance by one week, to April 15, 2014.

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 February.

 

FINAL ACTION CUT-OFF DATES FOR FEBRUARY 2017

EB-1
Current for all countries. 

EB-2
China: November 15, 2012
India: April 15, 2008
All other countries: Current

EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers
China: October 1, 2013
India: March 22, 2005
Philippines: October 15, 2011
All other countries: October 1, 2016

EB-3 Other Workers
China: December 1, 2005
India: March 22, 2005
Philippines: October 15, 2011
All other countries: October 1, 2016

EB-5
China: April 15, 2014
Current for all other countries.

 

FILING ELIGIBILITY CUT-OFF DATES FOR FEBRUARY 2017

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.

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