February 2018 Visa Bulletin: EB-3 China Advances 5 Months

For February, there are some advancements for the EB-2 and EB-3 categories.  Most significantly, EB-3 China moves forward by 5 months while EB-2 China advances by 7 weeks.  India's EB-2 and EB-3 move forward by 2 weeks and 1 month respectively.  It should be noted that the Filing Date for EB-2 China also advances by 1 year, which should help overseas applicants to start the processing a lot quicker.  

Advancement of China's EB-3 category is expected to continue and, hence, Chinese applicants with I-140 approvals under the EB-2 category should consider downgrading to take advantage of the situation.

There are some moderate advancements in the family-based categories.  Family 1st for Philippines moves up by 7 months in February. 

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

Family		Other Countries	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
F1	AD	03/15/2011	03/15/2011	03/15/2011	07/01/1996	08/01/2005
	FD	01/01/2012	01/01/2012	01/01/2012	11/01/1996	10/01/2007
F2A	AD	03/01/2016	03/01/2016	03/01/2016	02/01/2016	03/01/2016
	FD	11/01/2016	11/01/2016	11/01/2016	11/01/2016	11/01/2016
F2B	AD	01/15/2011	01/15/2011	01/15/2011	08/15/1996	07/01/2006
	FD	09/01/2011	09/01/2011	09/01/2011	01/01/1997	09/01/2007
F3	AD	11/15/2005	11/15/2005	11/15/2005	06/22/1995	03/15/1995
	FD	12/01/2005	12/01/2005	12/01/2005	10/01/1995	06/15/1995
F4	AD	07/22/2004	07/22/2004	01/08/2004	11/08/1997	09/01/1994
	FD	11/15/2004	11/15/2004	06/22/2004	02/08/1998	03/01/1995

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 Counties	China	El Salvador Guatemala Honduras	India	Mexico	Philippines
EB1	AD	C	C	C	C	C	C
	FD	C	C	C	C	C	C
EB2	AD	C	10/01/2013	C	12/08/2008	C	C
	FD	C	11/15/2014	C	02/08/2009	C	C
EB3	AD	C	09/15/2014	C	12/01/2006	C	03/01/2016
	FD	C	01/01/2016	C	01/01/2008	C	08/01/2016
Other Workers	AD	C	02/01/2007	C	12/01/2006	C	03/01/2016
	FD	C	06/01/2008	C	01/01/2008	C	08/01/2016
EB4	AD	C	C	12/01/2015	C	06/22/2016	C
	FD	C	C	04/15/2016	C	C	C
EB5	AD	C	07/22/2014	C	C	C	C
	FD	C	09/01/2014	C	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)

Notes:  The following two categories (not listed above) have become "unavailable" in February 2018:

- Certain Religious Workers for all countries.