The State Department released the December Visa Bulletin, showing significant regression for India EB-2 under Final Action Dates and moderate advancement for EB-3 categories next month. Priority-date cutoffs for Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing charts for El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, the Philippines and all other countries for EB-2 will move from current to Nov. 1, 2022, or Dec. 1, 2022, respectively.

Final Action Dates: Key Movements

EB-1

  • All countries under EB-1 will remain current.

EB-2

  • China EB-2 will remain at June 8, 2019.
  • India EB-2 will regress over five months to Oct. 8, 2011.
  • El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, Mexico, the Philippines and all other countries for EB-2 will change from current to Nov. 1, 2022.

EB-3

  • China EB-3 will advance over a month to Aug. 1, 2018.
  • India EB-3 will advance over two months to June 15, 2012.
  • All other countries under EB-3 will remain current.

Final Action Dates for Employment-Based Preference Cases:

Preference All Other Countries China El Salvador Guatemala Honduras India Mexico Philippines
EB-1 Current Current Current Current Current Current
EB-2 Nov. 1, 2022 June 8, 2019 Nov. 1, 2022 Oct. 8, 2011 Nov. 1, 2022 Nov. 1, 2022
EB-3 Current Aug. 1, 2018 Current June 15, 2012 Current Current

Dates for Filing: Key Movements

EB-1

  • All countries under EB-1 will remain current.

EB-2

  • China EB-2 will remain at July 8, 2019.
  • India EB-2 will remain at May 1, 2012.
  • El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, Mexico, the Philippines and all other countries for EB-2 will change from current to Dec. 1, 2022.

EB-3

  • China EB-3 will advance over a month to Sept. 1, 2018.
  • India EB-3 will advance one month to Aug. 1, 2012.
  • All other countries under EB-3 will remain current.

Dates for Filing for Employment-Based Preference Cases:

Preference All Other Countries China El Salvador Guatemala Honduras India Mexico Philippines
EB-1 Current Current Current Current Current Current
EB-2 Dec. 1, 2022 July 8, 2019 Dec. 1, 2022 May 1, 2012 Dec. 1, 2022 Dec. 1, 2022
EB-3 Current Sept. 1, 2018 Current Aug. 1, 2012 Current Current

Additional Information: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has not yet announced whether it will use the Final Action Dates or Dates for Filing chart in December. BAL will update clients once USCIS announces which chart will be used. The December Visa Bulletin estimates that 197,000 employment-based green cards will be available for FY2023 due to unused family-based immigrant visas that will roll over from last year. The Department of State also indicated that it expects to impose priority-date cutoffs for EB-1 China and India in coming months.

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

Copyright © 2022 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.