Visa Bulletin February 2018: EB-2 and EB-3 Advance For China and India

The U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin February 2018 shows advancement in EB-2 and EB-3 for China and India in the Application Final Action Dates chart. EB-2 China 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 February 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.

February 2018 Visa Bulletin Highlights

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

  • Priority date for EB-1 continued to remain Current for all countries.
  • Priority date for EB-2 China advanced from August 8, 2013 to October 1, 2013.
  • In the EB-2 Category for India, the cut-off date advanced from November 22, 2008 to December 8, 2008.
  • The EB-2 Category continues to remain Current for all countries other than India and China.
  • In the EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers Category, priority date for mainland China advanced from April 15, 2014 to September 15, 2014.
  • Priority date for EB-3 India advanced from November 1, 2006 to December 1, 2006.
  • The priority date for mainland China under the EB-3 Other Workers Category advanced from December 22, 2006 to February 1, 2007.
  • EB-3 Philippines advanced from February 15, 2016 to March 1, 2016.
  • In the EB-3 category, priority date remained Current for all countries other than India, China, and Philippines.

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

  • Priority date for EB-2 China advanced from November 15, 2013 to November 15, 2014.
  • In the EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers Category, priority date for mainland China advanced from September 1, 2015, to January 1, 2016.

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 February 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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