A blog about U.S. immigration matters by Paul Szeto, a former INS attorney and an experienced immigration lawyer. We serve clients in all U.S. states and overseas countries. (All information is not legal advice and is subject to change without prior notice.)

Contact: 732-632-9888, http://www.1visa1.com/

Friday, September 25, 2015

Hold Your I-485s - October Visa Bulletin Filing Dates Changed!

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There is never a boring day practicing immigration law.  While we are getting clients ready to file their I-485s and when they are planning their trips to visit their long-missed families in their home countries, the DHS has just announced that the DOS has changed the October Visa Bulletin -  mostly the "filing date" charts.  The changes are as follows:

Family 1st Mexico:  From July 1, 1995 to April 1, 1995
Family 3rd Mexico: From Oct. 1, 1996 to May 1, 1995
Employment 2nd China: From May 1, 2014 to Jan. 1, 2013
Employment 2nd India: From July 1, 2011 to July 1, 2009
Employment 3rd and Other Workers Philippines:  From Jan. 1, 2015 to Jan. 1, 2010

As reported earlier, the October VisaBulletin provides two charts for both employment-based and family-based immigrant visa categories.  The new charts provide many benefits such as early filing of applications, which is good news for immigrant visa applicants.  

For employment categories, the changes are all backward. 

Unfortunately some applicants and their families would have to wait for the next opportunity to file their I-485 applications and the related EAD employment and AP travel applications. 


AD: Dates for Final Action
FD : Dates for Filing Applications

FAMILY
Other Countries
China
India
Mexico
Philippines
F1
AD
01/15/2008
01/15/2008
01/15/2008
11/22/1994
06/01/2001
FD
05/01/2009
05/01/2009
05/01/2009
04/01/1995
09/01/2005
F2A
AD
04/15/2014
04/15/2014
04/15/2014
03/01/2014
04/15/2014
FD
03/01/2015
03/01/2015
03/01/2015
03/01/2015
03/01/2015
F2B
AD
01/15/2009
01/15/2009
01/15/2009
08/01/1995
10/01/2004
FD
07/01/2010
07/01/2010
07/01/2010
01/01/1996
01/01/2005
F3
AD
05/22/2004
05/22/2004
05/22/2004
06/08/1994
10/01/1993
FD
04/01/2005
04/01/2005
04/01/2005
05/01/1995
08/01/1995
F4
AD
02/08/2003
02/08/2003
02/08/2003
03/22/1997
05/01/1992
FD
02/01/2004
02/01/2004
02/01/2004
05/01/1998
01/01/1993


1st: Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Citizens (about 23,000 per year).
2A: The 2 "A" preference is for Spouses and Children (under 21 & unmarried) of LPR's.
2B: The 2 "B" Preference is for Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 or older) of LPR's.
3rd: Married Sons and Daughters of Citizens.(about 23,000 per year)
4th: Brothers and Sisters of Adult Citizens.(about 65,000 per year)


EMPLOYMENT
Other Countries
China
India
Mexico
Philippines
EB1
AD
C
C
C
C
C
FD
C
C
C
C
C
EB2
AD
C
01/01/2012
05/01/2005
C
C
FD
C
01/01/2013
07/01/2009
C
C
EB3
AD
08/15/2015
10/15/2011
03/08/2004
08/15/2015
01/01/2007
FD
09/01/2015
10/01/2013
07/01/2005
09/01/2015
01/01/2010
Other Workers
AD
08/15/2015
01/01/2006
03/08/2004
08/15/2015
01/01/2007
FD
09/01/2015
01/01/2007
07/01/2005
09/01/2015
01/01/2010
EB4
AD
C
C
C
C
C
FD
C
C
C
C
C
EB5
AD
C
10/08/2013
C
C
C
FD
C
05/01/2015
C
C
C

1st: Priority Workers (Extraordinary ability aliens, multinational companies executives/managers, outstanding prof./researchers)
2nd: Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability.
3rd: Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers (Unskilled.)
4th: "Special Immigrants" (Religious & others)


5th: Employment Creation (Investors)

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