November 2015 Visa Bulletin

The November Visa Bulletin has no significant changes.  As reported last month, the State Department has added a new set of dates for each visa category to advise applicants when they may apply for adjustment of status or an immigrant visa.  The October Visa Bulletin was revised subsequently which significantly retreated some of the filing dates including some EB-2 and EB-3 categories.  A federal judge recently declined to issue a temporary restraining order requiring the USCIS to accept I-485 applications submitted in reliance of of the earlier filing dates published by the State Department. But litigation and advocacy efforts still continue to convince the government to honor the initial October Visa Bulletin.

AD: Dates for Final Action

FD : Dates for Filing Applications

FAMILY		Other Countries	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
F1	AD	02/22/2008	02/22/2008	02/22/2008	12/01/1994	06/01/2002
	FD	05/01/2009	05/01/2009	05/01/2009	04/01/1995	09/01/2005
F2A	AD	05/15/2014	05/15/2014	05/15/2014	04/01/2014	05/15/2014
	FD	03/01/2015	03/01/2015	03/01/2015	03/01/2015	03/01/2015
F2B	AD	02/08/2009	02/08/2009	02/08/2009	08/22/1995	11/01/2004
	FD	07/01/2010	07/01/2010	07/01/2010	04/01/1996	05/01/2005
F3	AD	06/15/2004	06/15/2004	06/15/2004	06/15/1994	10/08/1993
	FD	04/01/2005	04/01/2005	04/01/2005	05/01/1995	08/01/1995
F4	AD	03/01/2003	03/01/2003	03/01/2003	04/01/1997	06/15/1992
	FD	02/01/2004	02/01/2004	02/01/2004	06/01/1998	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	02/01/2012	08/01/2006	C	C
	FD	C	01/01/2013	07/01/2009	C	C
EB3	AD	08/15/2015	01/01/2012	04/01/2004	08/15/2015	06/15/2007
	FD	09/01/2015	10/01/2013	07/01/2005	09/01/2015	01/01/2010
Other Workers	AD	08/15/2015	04/01/2006	04/01/2004	08/15/2015	06/15/2007
	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	11/22/2013	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)