USCIS Updates Its October Visa Bulletin In Wake Of EB-5 Regional Center Program Extension

United States

U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) has updated its October Visa Bulletin after a continuing resolution was signed into law late last week, extending the EB-5 Regional Center Program – which was set to expire on September 30, 2016 – through December 9, 2016.  As announced on the agency’s updated Adjustment of Status Visa Bulletin page, in October, it will only accept adjustment applications from beneficiaries of the EB-5 Regional and Non-Regional Programs whose priority date is current for final action under the State Department's October Visa Bulletin.  Under both EB-5 programs, the final action cutoff date for China will advance by one week to February 22, 2014, while remaining current for all other countries. 

USCIS reaffirmed that for all other employment-based categories, it will accept adjustment applications from those who are current for filing under the October bulletin. 

Employment-Based Priority Dates Accepted by USCIS in October 2016

To be eligible to file an employment-based adjustment application with USCIS in October, 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: 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 Non-Regional Center
China: February 22, 2014
Current for all other countries.

EB-5 Regional Center
China: February 22, 2014
Current for all other countries.

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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