Cutoff priority dates will be imposed in the China EB-1 and India EB-1 employer-based categories, according to the State Department’s June Visa Bulletin. China EB-2 and India EB-2 and most EB-3 categories will advance modestly.

Key movements:

  • A cutoff priority date of Jan. 1, 2012 will be imposed in China EB-1 and India EB-1 categories.
  • China EB-2 will advance by three weeks to March 1, 2013, while China EB-3 will remain set at Oct. 1, 2014.
  • India EB-2 will advance eight days to July 1, 2008, while India EB-3 will advance by seven weeks to May 15, 2005.
  • Philippines EB-3 will advance by four months to May 1, 2013.
  • EB-3 categories for Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and All Other Chargeability Areas will advance by one month to April 15, 2017.

Additional notes: All EB-1 and EB-2 categories other than India and China will remain current. The imposition of cutoff priority date in China EB-1 and India EB-1, which have been current up to this point this year, is likely being undertaken to control the number of visas issued between now and the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30, as the number of available immigrant visas runs out. The number of immigrant visas will increase again under the 2018 fiscal year’s annual limits. China EB-1 and India EB-1 will likely become current again when the new fiscal year begins Oct. 1.

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 March 1, 2013 Current July 1, 2008 Current Current Current
EB-3 Oct. 1, 2014 April 15, 2017 May 15, 2005 April 15, 2017 May 1, 2013 April 15, 2017

The State Department also released its Dates for Filing chart for June. 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. BAL will update clients once officials confirm whether the chart can be used in June.

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

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