April 2017 Visa Bulletin: Family 1st Advances 4 1/2 Months / EB-3 China Advances 5 Months

In the April 2017 Visa Bulletin, EB-3 China advances 5 months to August 15, 2014 while EB-2 China moves forward by 1 month to January 15, 2013.  EB-3 China is now 19 months ahead of EB-2 China, which means that "downgrading" continues to be a good way to shorten one's waiting time for an immigrant visa.

EB-2 India advances 3 weeks while EB-3 India only tiptoed forward by 2 days!

EB-1 continues to be current for all categories this month. 

Many family visa categories advance moderately.  Family First (F-1) advances significantly by 4 1/2 months for many countries including India, China and Other Countries.  F-1 Philippines moves forward by one month.  Most F-2 categories including China, India, Philippines and Other Countries also moves forward by 1 month to June 8, 2015.  

AD: Dates for Final Action (Approval)
FD : Dates for Filing Applications

FAMILY		Other Countries	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
F1	AD	10/15/2010	10/15/2010	10/15/2010	05/22/1995	01/15/2006
	FD	01/01/2011	01/01/2011	01/01/2011	06/01/1995	05/01/2006
F2A	AD	06/08/2015	06/08/2015	06/08/2015	05/22/2015	06/08/2015
	FD	11/22/2015	11/22/2015	11/22/2015	11/22/2015	11/22/2015
F2B	AD	09/15/2010	09/15/2010	09/15/2010	12/22/1995	06/15/2006
	FD	02/08/2011	02/08/2011	02/08/2011	06/01/1996	02/01/2007
F3	AD	05/15/2005	05/15/2005	05/15/2005	01/08/1995	09/15/1994
	FD	08/22/2005	08/22/2005	08/22/2005	05/01/1995	01/01/1995
F4	AD	05/08/2004	05/08/2004	08/15/2003	06/15/1997	09/08/1993
	FD	07/01/2004	07/01/2004	05/01/2004	12/01/1997	04/01/1994

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	El Salvador Guatemala Honduras	India	Mexico	Philippines
EB1	AD	C	C	C	C	C	C
	FD	C	C	N/A	C	C	C
EB2	AD	C	12/15/2012	C	06/22/2008	C	C
	FD	C	03/01/2013	N/A	04/22/2009	C	C
EB3	AD	02/15/2017	08/15/2014	02/15/2017	03/24/2005	02/15/2017	09/15/2012
	FD	C	05/01/2014	N/A	07/01/2005	C	09/01/2013
Other Workers	AD	02/15/2017	03/01/2006	02/15/2017	03/24/2005	02/15/2017	12/15/2012
	FD	C	08/01/2009	N/A	07/01/2005	C	09/01/2013
EB4	AD	C	C	07/15/2015	C	07/15/2015	C
	FD	C	C	N/A	C	C	C
EB5	AD	C	05/22/2014	C	C	C	C
	FD	C	06/15/2014	N/A	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)