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.