March Visa Bulletin update: Final Action Dates to determine filing eligibility

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has announced that in March it will only accept employment-based adjustment-of-status applications based on the Application Final Action Dates chart.

The Dates for Filing chart published in the State Department’s March Visa Bulletin will not apply. Employment-based immigrants must follow the Application Final Action Dates chart (below) to determine whether they are eligible to file their adjustment-of-status petitions with USCIS. Only applicants with priority dates earlier than the dates listed in the chart will be permitted to file their applications for adjustment of status in March.

Application Final Action Dates for Employment-Based Preference Cases:

Family-based immigrants will be permitted to use the Dates for Filing chart applicable to family-sponsored immigrants, which was also published in the March Visa Bulletin.

BAL Analysis: The announcement will affect Chinese and Indian nationals in the second and third preference categories, and Philippine nationals in the third preference category. For other nationalities, the categories are current in both the Final Action and Dates for Filing charts for employment-based first, second and third preferences.

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

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