Visa Bulletin October 2016
September 12, 2016
The October Visa Bulletin announced several employment based categories becoming current at the start of the fiscal year and some significant movement for EB2 China and India. China EB2 advanced just over 2 years and EB3 advanced over 3 years. India EB2 advanced nearly 2 years while EB3 showed slight movement of 2 weeks.
The USCIS has been accepting for filing only the cases with priority dates listed in the Application Final Action Dates (not the Dates for Filing). Applicants should check the USCIS website in the next few days to confirm, though we do not anticipate a change in their practice.
“Application Final Action Dates” for Employment-Based Preference Cases October 2016
EB1
- All others still CURRENT
- China – CURRENT
- India – CURRENT
EB2
- All others – CURRENT
- China – advances 2 years to February 15, 2012
- El Salvador/Guatemala/Honduras – CURRENT
- India – advances nearly 2 years to January 15, 2007
- Mexico – CURRENT
- Philippines – CURRENT
EB3
- All others – advances to June 1, 2016
- China – advances 3 years to January 22, 2013
- El Salvador/Guatemala/Honduras – advances 1 month to June 1, 2016
- India – advances 2 weeks to March 1, 2005
- Mexico – advances one month to June 1, 2016
- Philippines – advances 5 months to December 1, 2010
“Dates for Filing” for Employment-Based Cases October 2016
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
- Philippines – September 1, 2013
