July 2018 Visa Bulletin: EB-3 China Retrogressed 2.5 years!

In July, the headline news is the major retrogression of EB-3 China by 2.5 years to 01/01/2013, while EB-2 China has moved forward by 4 months.

India's EB-2 cutoff date moves forward by 3 months while EB-3 and EB-4 advance 6 months. Mexico's EB-4 has moved back 8.5 months.

Family F-1 categories have also advanced. Cutoff dates for India and China have moved forward 2 months. Mexico has moved forward 1.5 months. The Philippines date moved forward 4.5 months. F-2A for all countries has advanced 70 days to 12/01/2017. China and India's F-2B dates move forward by 4 months to 1/8/2012. The Philippines has it's F-2B final action cutoff date moves forward by 3.5 months while Mexico has it moved forward only 1 month.

The changes can be observed in the tables below:

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

Family		Other Countries	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
F1	AD	04/22/2011	04/22/2011	04/22/2011	08/01/1997	06/01/2006
	FD	03/08/2012	03/08/2012	03/08/2012	09/01/1998	02/15/2008
F2A	AD	06/22/2016	06/22/2016	06/22/2016	06/08/2016	06/22/2016
	FD	12/01/2017	12/01/2017	12/01/2017	12/01/2017	12/01/2017
F2B	AD	08/15/2011	08/15/2011	08/15/2011	03/08/1997	02/01/2007
	FD	01/08/2012	01/08/2012	01/08/2012	06/08/1997	12/15/2007
F3	AD	05/01/2006	05/01/2006	05/01/2006	12/01/1995	04/15/1995
	FD	09/22/2006	09/22/2006	09/22/2006	10/08/1998	08/01/1995
F4	AD	11/15/2004	11/15/2004	03/22/2004	01/15/1998	03/22/1995
	FD	05/01/2005	05/01/2005	01/01/2005	06/01/1998	12/01/1995

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)

Employement		Other Countries	China	El Salvador Guatemala Honduras	India	Mexico	Philippines
EB1	AD	C	01/01/2012	C	01/01/2012	C	C
	FD	C	C	C	C	C	C
EB2	AD	C	01/01/2015	C	03/15/2009	C	C
	FD	C	04/01/2015	C	05/22/2009	C	C
EB3	AD	C	01/01/2013	C	11/01/2008	C	01/01/2017
	FD	C	01/01/2016	C	05/01/2009	C	07/01/2017
Other Workers	AD	C	05/01/2007	C	11/01/2008	C	01/01/2017
	FD	C	06/01/2008	C	05/01/2009	C	07/01/2017
EB4	AD	C	C	02/08/2016	C	02/08/2016	C
	FD	C	C	05/01/2016	C	C	C
EB5	AD	C	08/01/2014	C	C	C	C
	FD	C	10/01/2014	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)