U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has announced that in July it will only accept employment-based adjustment-of-status applications based on the Final Action Dates chart.

The Dates for Filing chart published in the State Department’s July Visa Bulletin will not apply. Employment-based immigrants must follow the Final Action Dates chart (below) to determine whether they are eligible to file their adjustment-of-status petitions with USCIS. Only applicants with priority dates earlier than the dates listed in the chart will be permitted to file their applications for adjustment of status in July.

Final Action Dates for Employment-Based Preference Cases:

Preference All Other Countries China El Salvador Guatemala Honduras India Mexico Philippines Vietnam
EB-1 Current Aug. 22, 2017 Current May 8, 2017 Current Current Current
EB-2 Current Nov. 8, 2015 Current July 8, 2009 Current Current Current
EB-3 April 15, 2018 June 22, 2016 April 15, 2018 June 1, 2009 April 15, 2018 April 15, 2018 April 15, 2018

BAL Analysis: July will mark the fourth time this fiscal year that USCIS will use Final Action Dates for employment-based adjustment-of-status applications. The Final Action Dates chart is less progressive than the Dates for Filing chart in a number of categories. Family-based applicants must use the applicable Dates for Filing chart, except for F2A category applicants, who may use Final Action Dates.

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

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