Visa Bulletin May 2018: EB-2 China And EB-3 India Advance

The U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin May 2018 shows marginal advancement in EB-2 China and EB-3 India in the Application Final Action Dates chart. EB-2 India also advanced in the Dates for Filing Applications chart for the employment-based visa preference categories.

USCIS is yet to announce which chart may be used in May 2018 for filing applications for Adjustment of Status with USCIS. Unless USCIS indicates otherwise, applicants seeking to file for adjustment of status must follow the dates in the Application Final Action Dates chart to determine when they could file their adjustment of status applications.

May 2018 Visa Bulletin Highlights

The following are the key highlights in the Application Final Action Dates chart of May 2018 Visa Bulletin:

  • Priority date for EB-1 remained stagnant at January 1, 2012 for China and India, and Current for all other countries other than China and India.
  • Priority date for EB-2 China advanced from August 1, 2014 to September 1, 2014.
  • In the EB-2 Category for India, the cut-off date remained stagnant at December 22, 2008.
  • The EB-2 Category continues to remain Current for all countries other than China and India.
  • In the EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers Category, priority date for mainland China remained stagnant at June 01, 2015.
  • Priority date for EB-3 India advanced from February 1, 2008 to May 01, 2008.
  • Priority date for EB-3 Philippines remained stagnant at January 1, 2017.
  • The priority date for mainland China under the EB-3 Other Workers Category advanced from April 1, 2007 to May 1, 2007.
  • In the EB-3 category, priority date remained Current for all countries other than China, India, and Philippines.
  • Priority date for EB-5 Vietnam retrogressed from Current to July 22, 2014.

The following are the key highlights in the Dates for Filing Applications chart of May 2018 Visa Bulletin:

  • Priority date for EB-2 India advanced from February 08, 2009 to April 01, 2009.
  • Priority date for EB-3 India advanced from April 01, 2008 to September 01, 2008.

About Visa Bulletin

The Department of State (DOS) publishes two separate charts for the employment based and family based visa preference categories every month:

  1. Chart 1 – Application Final Action Dates; and
  2. Chart 2 – Dates for Filing Applications

The “Application Final Action Dates” chart prescribes the dates when visas can be issued to immigrant visa applicants. Immigrant visas will be authorized for issuance only for applicants whose priority date is on or before the cut-off dated listed in the “Application Final Action Dates” chart.

The “Dates for Filing Applications” chart prescribes the earliest dates that applicants may be able to apply for an immigrant visa. Applicants whose priority date is on or before the date listed in the “Dates for Filing Applications” chart will be eligible to assemble and submit the required documents to the National Visa Center (NVC).

USCIS will, each month, post the relevant DOS Visa Bulletin chart that applicants can use to determine when to file their Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. Applicants whose priority date is on or before the date on the chart posted by USCIS may file their Adjustment of Status application. USCIS is yet to announce which chart may be used in May 2018 for filing applications for Adjustment of Status with USCIS.

Next Steps

Green Card applicants who have a priority date earlier than the cut-off date listed in the relevant Visa Bulletin charts are eligible to apply for Adjustment of Status or an immigrant visa.

Check out the latest visa bulletin for a complete listing of the current cut-off dates and availability of immigrant visa numbers.

Schedule a FREE Case Evaluation with our experienced immigration attorneys if you have any questions about your eligibility for filing an Adjustment of Status or an immigrant visa application.

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