Priority-date cutoff dates for most employment-based categories will advance modestly next month, according for the Final Action Dates chart published in the April 2019 Visa Bulletin.

Key movements:

EB-1

  • China EB-1 and India EB-1 will not move, with both categories remaining at Feb. 22, 2017.
  • All other EB-1 categories will advance one month to Feb. 1, 2018.

EB-2

  • China EB-2 will advance three months to April 1, 2016.
  • India EB-2 will advance three days to April 12, 2009.
  • All other EB-2 countries will remain current.

EB-3

  • China EB-3 will advance a little more than three weeks to Aug. 1, 2015.
  • India EB-3 will advance one month to June 22, 2009.
  • The Philippines EB-3 will advance three months to March 1, 2018.
  • All other EB-3 countries will remain current.

Additional notes: The EB-4 category for religious workers (other than ministers) and the EB-5 Regional Center (I5 and R5) Immigrant Investor program will be funded through the remainder of the fiscal year under the budget bill President Donald Trump signed last month. The EB-4 category will remain current for April for all countries except El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, which will be subject to a March 8, 2016 final action date, and Mexico, which will be subject to an April 1, 2018 date. In the EB-5 category, final action dates will remain current in April for all countries except China I5 and R5, which will be subject to a Sept. 15, 2014 final action date, and Vietnam I5 and R5, which will be subject to an Aug. 22, 2016 final action date.

Application Final Action Dates for Employment-Based Preference Cases:

Category China El Salvador Guatemala Honduras India Mexico Philippines Vietnam All Other Countries
EB-1 Feb. 22, 2017 Feb. 1, 2018 Feb. 22, 2017 Feb. 1, 2018 Feb. 1, 2018 Feb. 1, 2018 Feb. 1, 2018
EB-2 April 1, 2016 Current April 12, 2009 Current Current Current Current
EB-3 Aug. 1, 2015 Current June 22, 2009 Current March 1, 2018 Current Current

The State Department also released its Dates for Filing chart for April. Applicants seeking to file for adjustment of status are reminded that the chart does not take effect unless U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) confirms that it does via a web posting in the coming days. BAL will update clients once the State Department confirms whether the chart can be used in April.

This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2019 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.