The State Department released the November Visa Bulletin, showing priority-date cutoffs will advance in EB-2 categories and retrogress in EB-3 categories next month. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) confirmed that it will follow the State Department’s Dates for Filing chart to determine filing eligibility next month.

Dates for Filing – Key Movements:

EB-1

  • All countries under EB-1 will remain current.

EB-2

  • China EB-2 advanced by five months to Feb. 1, 2019.
  • India EB-2 advanced by six months to Jan. 8, 2013.
  • All other countries under EB-2 will remain current.

EB-3

  • China EB-3 retrogressed by nine months and 14 days to April 1, 2018.
  • India EB-3 retrogressed by nearly two years to Jan. 22, 2012.
  • All other countries under EB-3 will remain current.

Dates for Filing Employment-Based Preference Cases:

Preference All Other Countries China El Salvador Guatemala Honduras India Mexico Philippines Vietnam
EB-1 Current Current Current Current Current Current Current
EB-2 Current Feb. 1, 2019 Current Jan. 8, 2013 Current Current Current
EB-3 Current April 1, 2018 Current Jan. 22, 2012 Current Current Current

Additional Information: USCIS confirmed that it will also use Dates for Filing for family-based applicants, except for F2A category applicants, who may use Final Action Dates.

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

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