Priority cutoff dates for India EB-2 and all EB-3 categories will advance modestly next month, according to the State Department’s February Visa Bulletin.

Key movements in priority cutoff dates:

  • China EB-2 will advance by one month to Nov. 15, 2012, while China EB-3 will advance three weeks to Oct. 1, 2013.
  • India EB-2 will remain at April 15, 2008, while India EB-3 will advance by one week to March 22, 2005.
  • The Philippines EB-3 category will advance nearly three months to Oct. 15, 2011.
  • EB-3 categories for Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and All Other Chargeability Areas will advance by two months to Oct. 1, 2016.

Additional notes: All EB-1 categories will remain current. All EB-2 categories other than India and China will also 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 Current Current Current Current Current Current
EB-2 Nov. 15, 2012 Current April 15, 2008 Current Current Current
EB-3 Oct. 1, 2013 Oct. 1, 2016 March 22, 2005 Oct. 1, 2016 Oct. 15, 2011 Oct. 1, 2016

The State Department also released its Dates for Filing chart for February 2017. Applicants seeking to file for adjustment of status are reminded that the chart does not take effect unless USCIS confirms it 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 February.

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

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