March Visa Bulletin Update: USCIS to Honor Employment-Based Final Action Dates Only Next Month

United States

USCIS has determined that, next month, it will only accept employment-based adjustment of status applications from foreign nationals with a priority date that is current for final action according to the State Department’s March Visa Bulletin. 

Employer-sponsored foreign nationals with a priority date that makes them eligible for filing, but not final action, will not be able to submit an adjustment application next month, despite the State Department announcing significant advancements in the cutoff dates for filing eligibility.   

Employment-Based Final Action Dates for March 2016

To be eligible to file an employment-based adjustment application in March, employer-sponsored foreign nationals must have a priority date that is earlier than the date listed below for their preference category and country.

 

EB-1

Current for all countries.

 

EB-2 

China: August 1, 2012

India:  October 15, 2008 

All other countries: Current

 

EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers 

China: June 1, 2013

India: July 15, 2004

Philippines: March 15, 2008

All other countries:  January 1, 2016

 

EB-3 Other Workers 

China: February 1, 2007

India: July 15, 2004

Philippines: March 15, 2008

All other countries: January 1, 2016

 

EB-5 

China: January 22, 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.

 

_{© 2016 Fragomen}