A blog about U.S. immigration matters by Paul Szeto, a former INS attorney and an experienced immigration lawyer. We serve clients in all U.S. states and overseas countries. (All information is not legal advice and is subject to change without prior notice.)

Contact: 732-632-9888, http://www.1visa1.com/

Friday, December 20, 2019

January 2020 Visa Bulletin: Family and EB-1 Advance


There are moderate movements in the January 2020 Visa Bulletin. 

EB-1 China advances 7 days to 05/22/2017. EB-1 India stays the same. All other countries advances 2.5 months under the EB-1 category. 

EB-2 and EB-3 China move forward for 9 days and 1 month respectively. Chinese applicants can consider downgrading since EB-3 is still faster than EB-2.

EB-5 India advances 4 months to 05/01/2018 while EB-2 India moves forward for only 3 days.

Family F2A remains current. F1 other countries, China, and India advance 2 months to 07/15/2013. F1 Philippines advances 2.5 months. F2B and F3 Philippines advance 2 months and 4 months respectively.

To find out how to use the Visa Bulletin, please click here.

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

      Family
Other Countries
      China
India
Mexico
Philippines
F1
AD
07/15/2013
07/15/2013
07/15/2013
08/08/1997
01/15/2009
FD
03/15/2014
03/15/2014
03/15/2014
11/15/1999
09/15/2009
F2A
AD
      C
      C
      C
      C
      C
FD
11/01/2019
11/01/2019
11/01/2019
11/01/2019
11/01/2019
F2B
AD
08/08/2014
08/08/2014
08/08/2014
08/22/1998
02/01/2009
FD
04/08/2015
04/08/2015
04/08/2015
04/22/1999
10/01/2009
F3
AD
11/15/2007
11/15/2007
11/15/2007
03/01/1996
01/01/1999
FD
07/15/2008
07/15/2008
07/15/2008
07/15/2000
09/01/1999
F4
AD
02/01/2007
02/01/2007
11/08/2004
01/08/1998
03/01/1999
FD
07/22/2007
07/22/2007
07/08/2005
01/01/1999
11/01/1999

1st: Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Citizens (about 23,400 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 23,400 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

Vietnam
EB1
AD
    10/01/2018
   
05/22/2017

10/01/2018
  01/01/2015

10/01/2018

10/01/2018

10/01/2018
FD
C
10/01/2017
C
03/15/2017
C
C
C
EB2
AD

C

07/01/2015
C
  05/18/2009

C

C
        
C
FD
C
08/01/2016
C
07/01/2009
C
C
C
EB3
AD
C
12/01/2015
C
01/01/2009
C
03/15/2018
C
FD
01/01/2019
03/01/2017
01/01/2019
02/01/2010
01/01/2019
01/01/2019
01/01/2019
Other Workers
  AD
C
04/01/2008
C
01/01/2009
C
03/15/2018
C
FD
01/01/2019
08/01/2008
01/01/2019
02/01/2010
01/01/2019
01/01/2019
01/01/2019
EB4
AD
C
C
07/01/2016
C
08/08/2017
C
C
FD
C
C
08/15/2016
C
C
C
C
EB5
AD
C
11/22/2014
C
05/01/2018
C
C
12/08/2016
FD
C
05/15/2015
C
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"  for all countries in January 2020:
- Certain Religious Workers
- 5th Regional Center (I5 and R5)


What happens if the Final Action Date is "current" or later than the Filing Date? 
If this happens in a particular immigrant visa category, applicants in that visa category may file using the Final Action Dates chart during that month.

For Family-Sponsored Filings:
In the F2A category, there is a cutoff date on the Dates for Filing chart. However, the category is “current” on the Final Action Dates chart. This means that applicants in the F2A category may file using the Final Action Dates chart for January 2020.

For all the other family-based preference categories, you must use the Dates for Filing chart in the Department of State Visa Bulletin for January 2020.

For Employment-Based Preference Filings:
In the EB-3 and Other Workers “All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed” categories, there is a cutoff date on the Dates for Filing chart. However, the categories are “current” on the Final Action Dates chart. This means that applicants in the EB-3 and Other Workers from all other chargeability areas may file using the Final Action Dates chart for January 2020.

For all other employment-based preference categories, you must use the Dates for Filing chart in the Department of State Visa Bulletin for January 2020.


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