Priority-date cutoffs will advance in most employment-based categories next month, according to the State Department’s October Visa Bulletin, which was released Thursday. The October bulletin is the first for the new fiscal year.

Key Movements in Final Action Dates:

EB-1

  • China EB-1 and India EB- 1 will advance three months to June 1, 2018.
  • All other countries under EB-1 will remain current.

EB-2

  • China EB-2 will advance 1½ months to March 1, 2016.
  • India EB-2 will advance almost two months to Sept. 1, 2009.
  • All other countries under EB-2 will remain current.

EB-3

  • China EB-3 will advance 4½ months to July 1, 2017.
  • India EB-3 will advance 3½ months Jan. 15, 2010.
  • The cutoff for all other countries will become current after having a date cutoff of April 1, 2019, in the September Visa Bulletin.

Final Action Dates for Employment-Based Preference Cases:

Preference All Other Countries China El Salvador Guatemala Honduras India Mexico Philippines Vietnam
EB-1 Current June 1, 2018 Current June 1, 2018 Current Current Current
EB-2 Current March 1, 2016 Current Sept. 1, 2009 Current Current Current
EB-3 Current July 1, 2017 Current Jan. 15, 2010 Current Current Current

The State Department also released its Dates for Filing chart for October. Applicants seeking to file for adjustment of status are reminded that the chart does not take effect unless U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services confirms that it does via a web posting after the Visa Bulletin is released. BAL will update clients once officials confirm whether the chart can be used.

Dates for Filing for Employment-Based Preference Cases:

Preference All Other Countries China El Salvador Guatemala Honduras India Mexico Philippines
EB-1 Current Sept. 1, 2020 Current Sept. 1, 2020 Current Current
EB-2 Current Oct. 1, 2016 Current May 15, 2011 Current Current
EB-3 Current June 1, 2018 Current Jan. 1, 2015 Current Current

Additional Information: The bulletin predicted “rapid forward movement” in most employment classifications later this year. This would be expected since there were many unused numbers from this year that will roll over to the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1.

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

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