September Visa Bulletin: Advancement across most EB-2, EB-3 categories

September Visa Bulletin: Advancement across most EB-2, EB-3 categories

Priority cutoff dates will advance nine months in the EB-2 categories for El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, Mexico, the Philippines and All Other Chargeability Areas, according to the State Department’s September Visa Bulletin. The advancement comes after priority dates were imposed in these categories last month for the first time this year. Cutoff priority dates will remain the same in all EB-1 categories and will either advance modestly or remain current across most other EB-2 and EB-3 categories.

Key movements in priority cutoff dates: 

  • The cutoff priority dates in the EB-2 categories for El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, Mexico, the Philippines and All Other Chargeability Areas will advance by nine months to Jan. 1, 2016.
  • China EB-2 will advance by three weeks to May 15, 2013, while China EB-3 will remain set at Jan. 1, 2012.
  • India EB-2 will advance one month to Aug. 22, 2008, and India EB-3 will advance by three months to Oct. 15, 2006.
  • Philippines EB-3 will advance by five months to Nov. 1, 2015.

Additional notes: All EB-1 categories other than those for China and India will remain current. The cutoff priority date for EB-1 China and EB-1 India will remain at Jan. 1, 2012. The EB-3 categories for El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, Mexico and All Other Chargeability Areas will remain current.

Application Final Action Dates for Employment-Based Preference Cases:

Preference China El Salvador Guatemala Honduras India Mexico Philippines All Other Countries
EB-1 Jan. 1, 2012 Current Jan. 1, 2012 Current Current Current
EB-2 May 15, 2013 Jan. 1, 2016 Aug. 22, 2008 Jan. 1, 2016 Jan. 1, 2016 Jan. 1, 2016
EB-3 Jan. 1, 2012 Current Oct. 15, 2006 Current Nov. 1, 2015 Current

The State Department also released its Dates for Filing chart for September 2017. Applicants seeking to file for adjustment of status are reminded that the Dates for Filing chart does not take effect unless USCIS confirms that it does via a web posting in the next week or so. BAL will update clients once the State Department confirms whether the Dates for Filing chart can be used in September.

This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice group. For additional information, please contact BerryApplemanLeiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2017 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.

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