Visa Bulletin January 2017
December 13, 2016
The Department of State has just released the January 2017 Visa Bulletin, which reflects slight movement forward for the China and India EB2 categories and the China EB3 category as well as other countries in the EB3 category, while India EB3 remains at March 15, 2005.
For the past 3 months, the USCIS announced it will accept employment-based adjustment of status applications pursuant to the Dates for Filing in the Visa Bulletin. We expect the USCIS will announce shortly whether applicants can rely on the Dates for Filing, or must follow the Application Final Action Dates for filing in January 2017. Applicants should check the USCIS website in the next few days.
“Application Final Action Dates” for Employment-Based Preference Cases January 2017
EB1
- All others still CURRENT
- China – still CURRENT
- India – still CURRENT
EB2
- All others – still CURRENT
- China – advances 1 month to October 15, 2012
- El Salvador/Guatemala/Honduras – still CURRENT
- India – advances 2 months to April 15, 2008
- Mexico – still CURRENT
- Philippines – still CURRENT
EB3
- All others – advances 1 month to August 1, 2016
- China – advances 2 months to September 8, 2013
- El Salvador/Guatemala/Honduras – advances 1 month to August 1, 2016
- India – no change at March 15, 2005
- Mexico – advances 1 month to August 1, 2016
- Philippines – advances more than 1 month to July 22, 2011
“Dates for Filing” for Employment-Based Cases January 2017 - no change from last month
EB1
- all still CURRENT
EB2
- All others – still CURRENT
- China – March 1, 2013
- India – April 22, 2009
- Mexico – still CURRENT
- Philippines – still CURRENT
EB3
- All others – still CURRENT
- China – May 1, 2014
- India – remains July 1, 2005
- Mexico – still CURRENT
