January 2022 Visa Bulletin: EB-2 India and China Advance

In the first Visa Bulletin of 2022, the Final Action Dates for EB-2 India and China have advanced as follows:

• EB-2 India:  Advancement of 9 weeks to 07/08/2012
• EB-2 China: Advancement of 3 weeks to 01/22/2019

The Final Action Date and Filing Date for of EB-3 and "Other Workers" for China-Mainland and India remain the same in January. 

The cutoff dates for Family visa categories have mostly stayed the same, except some advancements for Mexico.

USCIS announced that I-485 adjustment applicants must use the Dates for Filing chart (FD Chart) in both the family-based and employment-based cases, except the F2A category. F2A applicants can use the Final Action Date chart because final action dates are "current".  

Please see below for details.

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

Family		Other Countries	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
F1	AD	12/01/2014	12/01/2014	12/01/2014	09/08/1999	03/01/2012
	FD	05/15/2016	05/15/2016	05/15/2016	02/01/2001	04/22/2015
F2A	AD	C	C	C	C	C
	FD	10/01/2021	10/01/2021	10/01/2021	10/01/2021	10/01/2021
F2B	AD	09/22/2015	09/22/2015	09/22/2015	09/01/2000	10/22/2011
	FD	09/22/2016	09/22/2016	09/22/2016	03/01/2001	10/01/2013
F3	AD	11/22/2008	11/22/2008	11/22/2008	09/15/1997	06/08/2002
	FD	08/22/2009	08/22/2009	08/22/2009	10/08/2000	10/01/2003
F4	AD	03/22/2007	03/22/2007	09/15/2005	04/22/1999	08/22/2002
	FD	10/01/2007	10/01/2007	01/01/2006	08/22/1999	02/01/2004

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
EB1	AD	C	C	C	C	C	C
	FD	C	C	C	C	C	C
EB2	AD	C	01/22/2019	C	07/08/2012	C	C
	FD	C	04/01/2019	C	07/08/2013	C	C
EB3	AD	C	03/22/2018	C	01/15/2012	C	C
	FD	C	04/01/2018	C	01/22/2012	C	C
Other Workers	AD	C	03/01/2012	C	01/15/2012	C	C
	FD	C	05/01/2015	C	01/22/2012	C	C
EB4	AD	C	C	03/15/2019	C	04/01/2020	C
	FD	C	C	05/15/2019	C	C	C
EB5	AD	C	C	C	C	C	C
	FD	C	C	C	C	C	C

1st: Priority Workers (Extraordinary ability aliens, multinational companies’ executives/managers, outstanding professors/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) 

Employment-Based 5th Preference C5 & T5 Non-Regional Center Visa Categories is "Current" for January in all countries

 *(I5&R5 are still "Unavailable" in the January visa bulletin)

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