October Visa Bulletin: EB3 India Filing Date Advances 5 Years

 

(UPDATE:   USCIS has decided to use Filing Date Chart for Employment-Based categories.  Hence, downgrading from EB-2 to EB-3 will be extremely beneficial for many Indian and Chinese applicants. )

Finally the October 2020 Visa Bulletin has been released last night.  

As expected, there is little or no movement at all with the Family-Based visa categories.

For Employment-Based categories, there are substantial movements in the Filing Dates Chart.  

• EB-1:  China and India advanced 2 years and 2 months
• EB-2: China advances 2 months; India 1 year and 9 months
• EB-3:  China advances 1 year 1 month; India almost 5 years; Worldwide, Mexico, Philippines all current

Interestingly, the Final Action Date Charts have movements but not as substantial.  

• EB-1:  China advances 3 months; India 3 months
• EB-2 China advances 1.5 months; India 2 months
• EB-3: China advances 4.5 months; India 3.5 months; Worldwide, Mexico, Philippines all current
• EB-4: Unavailable for Religious Workers for all countries
• EB-5 (Regional Centers): Unavailable for Religious Workers for all countries

It appears that although visa numbers are plentiful, the State Department does not want to advance the Final Action Dates as much. Instead, it allows USCIS to control the number of green card applications to accept.  If USCIS decided to accept more I-485 adjustment applications, it would choose to use the Filing Date Chart.  

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

Family		Other Countries	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
F1	AD	09/15/2014	09/15/2014	09/15/2014	01/08/1998	12/15/2011
	FD	07/22/2015	07/22/2015	07/22/2015	02/22/2000	10/08/2012
F2A	AD	C	C	C	C	C
	FD	08/01/2020	08/01/2020	08/01/2020	08/01/2020	08/01/2020
F2B	AD	07/08/2015	07/08/2015	07/08/2015	04/08/1999	08/01/2011
	FD	05/01/2016	05/01/2016	05/01/2016	12/01/1999	04/01/2012
F3	AD	06/15/2008	06/15/2008	06/15/2008	08/01/1996	02/15/2002
	FD	06/01/2009	06/01/2009	06/01/2009	08/15/2000	12/22/2002
F4	AD	09/22/2006	09/22/2006	03/08/2005	06/22/1998	01/01/2002
	FD	09/15/2007	09/15/2007	11/22/2005	04/22/1999	09/01/2002

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	C	06/01/2018	C	06/01/2018	C	C	C
	FD	C	09/01/2020	C	09/01/2020	C	C	C
EB2	AD	C	03/01/2016	C	09/01/2009	C	C	C
	FD	C	10/01/2016	C	05/15/2011	C	C	C
EB3	AD	C	07/01/2017	C	01/15/2010	C	C	C
	FD	C	06/01/2018	C	01/01/2015	C	C	C
Other Workers	AD	C	12/01/2008	C	01/15/2010	C	C	C
	FD	C	10/01/2008	C	01/01/2015	C	C	C
EB4	AD	C	C	08/01/2017	C	09/01/2018	C	C
	FD	C	C	02/01/2018	C	C	C	C
EB5	AD	C	08/15/2015	C	C	C	C	C
	FD	C	12/15/2015	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)

(Immigration laws and policies change regularly.  If you have any questions regarding this article, please visit www.1visa1.com to schedule legal consultation.)