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

United States

According to the State Department’s March Visa Bulletin, immigrant visa availability dates for final action will advance by one month for EB-2 China, to December 15, 2012, and by over six weeks for EB-2 India, to June 1, 2008.

The EB-3 subcategory for professionals and skilled workers will advance by five and a half months for China, to March 15, 2014; five months for the Philippines, to March 15, 2012; and two months for all other countries, to December 1, 2016. The EB-3 other worker subcategory will advance by two months for China, to February 1, 2006; five months for the Philippines, to March 15, 2012; and two months for other countries, to December 1, 2006. India will remain at March 22, 2005 in the EB-3 and other worker subcategory.

Final action dates for EB-5 China will advance by two weeks, to May 1, 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 March.

Employment-Based Immigrant Visa Availability in the Coming Months

The State Department projects that EB-1 final action dates will remain current, but cutoff dates are likely to be imposed on China and India by August. Final action dates for EB-2 are expected to advance each month by up to five weeks per month for China, and up to a month for India.

EB-3 category final action dates are expected to advance each month by up to six months for China; Mexico will remain at the worldwide date; the Philippines will advance by up to six months per month; and worldwide dates will advance by up to three months per month.

EB-5 China is projected to advance by up to two weeks.

 

FINAL ACTION CUT-OFF DATES FOR MARCH 2017

EB-1
Current for all countries. 

EB-2
China: December 15, 2012
India: June 1, 2008
All other countries: Current

EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers
China: March 15, 2014
India: March 22, 2005
Philippines: March 15, 2012
All other countries: December 1, 2016

EB-3 Other Workers
China: February 1, 2006
India: March 22, 2005
Philippines: March 15, 2012
All other countries: December 1, 2016

EB-5
China: May 1, 2014
Current for all other countries.

 

FILING ELIGIBILITY CUT-OFF DATES FOR MARCH 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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