July 2018 Visa Bulletin – Retrogression for EB-3 China, Advancements for EB-2 China and India, EB-3 India

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At a glance

• EB-3 China will retrogress by nearly two and a half years, to January 1, 2013.
• EB-2 China will advance by four months, to January 1, 2015.
• EB-2 India will advance by nearly three months, to March 15, 2009.
• EB-3 India will advance by six months, to November 1, 2008.

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The situation

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

• EB-1: EB-1 China and India will remain at January 1, 2012.
• EB-2: China will advance by four months, to January 1, 2015. India will advance by two months and three weeks, to March 15, 2009.
• EB-3 (Professional and Skilled Workers): China will retrogress by nearly two and a half years, to January 1, 2013. India will advance by six months, to November 1, 2008. Priority dates will remain current for most other countries.
• EB-3 (Other Workers): China will remain at May 1, 2007. India will advance by six months, to November 1, 2008.
• EB-5: China and Vietnam will remain at August 1, 2014.

EB-3 China retrogression resulted from an increase in downgrading from EB-2 China applicants. This date is expected to return to June 1, 2015 in October, the first month of FY 2019.

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 is current for filing eligibility in July. For China, EB-2 will advance two months, to April 1, 2015 and EB-5 will advance one month, to October 1, 2014. For India, EB-2 will advance over seven weeks, to May 22, 2009, and EB-3 will advance eight months, to May 1, 2009.

FINAL ACTION CUT-OFF DATES FOR JULY 2018

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

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

EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers
China: January 1, 2013
India: November 1, 2008
Philippines: January 1, 2017
All other countries: Current

EB-3 Other Workers
China: May 1, 2007
India: November 1, 2008
Philippines: January 1, 2017
All other countries: Current

EB-4
El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras: February 8, 2016
Mexico: 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 JULY 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.