December 2015 Visa Bulletin: EB-2 India and China EB-3 Advance

For December, in terms of the AD (Action Date), family immigration categories continue to move forward slowly. Surprisingly EB2 India has a 10-month advancement.  In addition, China's EB3 category moves forward by four (4)  months, exceeding its EB2 category once again. 

According to the most recent State Department predictions, India’s EB2 category can advance by as much as eight (8) months in the coming months.  On the other hand, China’s EB3 may require corrective action if the recent advancement generates a large number of filings, while China EB2 most likely will not move during the following months because of the recent advancements and visa demands in 2015.

USCIS Adjustment of Status

For December 2015, USCIS announced that only family-based petitions may use the Dates for Filing Visa Applications chart for December 2015.   Employment-based petitions must use the Application Final Action Dates chart (slower) in the Department of State Visa Bulletin. 

Click here to learn more about Adjustment of Status.

AD: Dates for Final Action

FD : Dates for Filing Applications

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