January 2016 Visa Bulletin: Family Categories Advance

In January 2016's Visa Bulletin, there is forward movement in both the "filing dates" and the "final action dates" for many of the family-based categories.  There is also forward movement in the "final action dates" for EB-2 India, EB-3 China, India, Mexico, and the Philippines.  The current visa programs for EB-4 (Special Religious Immigrants) and EB-5 (Regional Center Investment) are set to expire in December 2015, and visas will become unavailable in January unless they are extended by Congress.

AD: Dates for Final Action

FD : Dates for Filing Applications

FAMILY		Other Countries	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
F1	AD	05/15/2008	05/15/2008	05/15/2008	12/22/1994	06/01/2003
	FD	10/01/2009	10/01/2009	10/01/2009	04/01/1995	09/01/2005
F2A	AD	08/01/2014	08/01/2014	08/01/2014	06/01/2014	08/01/2014
	FD	06/15/2015	06/15/2015	06/15/2015	06/15/2015	06/15/2015
F2B	AD	04/01/2009	04/01/2009	04/01/2009	09/08/1995	01/01/2005
	FD	12/15/2010	12/15/2010	12/15/2010	04/01/1996	05/01/2005
F3	AD	08/01/2004	08/01/2004	08/01/2004	08/01/1994	11/01/1993
	FD	08/01/2005	08/01/2005	08/01/2005	05/01/1995	08/01/1995
F4	AD	04/22/2003	04/22/2003	04/22/2003	04/01/1997	07/22/1992
	FD	05/01/2004	05/01/2004	05/01/2004	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	02/01/2008	C	C
	FD	C	01/01/2013	07/01/2009	C	C
EB3	AD	10/01/2015	07/01/2012	05/15/2004	10/01/2015	11/01/2007
	FD	01/01/2016	10/01/2013	07/01/2005	01/01/2016	01/01/2010
Other Workers	AD	10/01/2015	12/01/2006	05/15/2004	10/01/2015	11/01/2007
	FD	01/01/2016	01/01/2007	07/01/2005	01/01/2016	01/01/2010
EB4	AD	C	C	C	C	C
	FD	C	C	C	C	C
EB5	AD	C	01/08/2014	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)