February 2020 Visa Bulletin: Family 2A Remains Current

There are a few ups and downs in the February visa bulletin. 

EB-1 Most countries advance by 2 months except China and India, which remain unchanged. 

EB-2 China moves forward to 07/15/2015 while India only advances 1 day. There are currently available visa numbers for the rest of the countries under the EB-2 category. 

EB-3 Philippines advances by 78 days to 06/01/2018. EB-3 India advances by 7 days. EB-3 China, which moves forward to 01/01/2016, is still faster than EB-2 China. It means that "down-grading" is still a viable option for Chinese-born applicants. 

EB-4 Mexico advances to 09/01/2017. EB-5 India advances by 4 months while EB-5 China and Vietnam both move forward by a week. 

In the family category, F-2A worldwide remains current. All categories for the Philippines move forward between 2.5 months to 4 months. But F-4 China and "Other Countries" retrogress 7 months to 07/01/2006. 

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Predictions:

F-4 (USC's siblings) has advanced rapidly recently.  The State Department expects to hold the cutoff date for several months for "Other Countries" to control visa usage.  Hence, expect no movement with F-4 Final Action Date in this category for a while. 

Due to large volume of adjustment cases filed with USCIS, the State Department expects EB-3 and Other Worker categories will have a cutoff date (no longer current) in March for "Other Countries".

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

Family		Other Countries	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
F1	AD	08/22/2013	08/22/2013	08/22/2013	08/22/1997	04/01/2009
	FD	03/22/2014	03/22/2014	03/22/2014	11/15/1999	10/01/2009
F2A	AD	C	C	C	C	C
	FD	12/01/2019	12/01/2019	12/01/2019	12/01/2019	12/01/2019
F2B	AD	08/22/2014	08/22/2014	08/22/2014	09/15/1998	05/01/2009
	FD	04/22/2015	04/22/2015	04/22/2015	05/15/1999	11/01/2009
F3	AD	11/22/2007	11/22/2007	11/22/2007	03/22/1996	05/01/1999
	FD	07/22/2008	07/22/2008	07/22/2008	07/15/2000	11/01/1999
F4	AD	07/01/2006	07/01/2006	11/22/2004	01/15/1998	07/01/1999
	FD	07/22/2007	07/22/2007	07/22/2005	01/01/1999	01/01/2000

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	12/01/2018	05/22/2017	12/01/2018	01/01/2015	12/01/2018	12/01/2018	12/01/2018
	FD	C	10/01/2017	C	03/15/2017	C	C	C
EB2	AD	C	07/15/2015	C	05/19/2009	C	C	C
	FD	C	08/01/2016	C	07/01/2009	C	C	C
EB3	AD	C	01/01/2016	C	01/08/2009	C	06/01/2018	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	05/01/2008	C	01/08/2009	C	06/01/2018	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	09/01/2017	C	C
	FD	C	C	08/15/2016	C	C	C	C
EB5	AD	C	12/01/2014	C	09/01/2018	C	C	12/15/2016
	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)

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 February 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 February 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 February 2020.

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