A blog about U.S. immigration matters by Paul Szeto, a former INS attorney and an experienced immigration lawyer. We serve clients in all U.S. states and overseas countries. (All information is not legal advice and is subject to change without prior notice.)

Contact: 732-632-9888, http://www.1visa1.com/

Friday, November 24, 2017

December 2017 Visa Bulletin: Philippines Family 1st Moves Back by 2 Years



December's Visa Bulletin brings only small advancements in general.  Philippines' Family 1st Preference retrogresses by 2 years to January 1, 2005.  EB-3 India advances 3 weeks.  EB-3 China advances 5 weeks. Final Action Dates for EB-3 China remain ahead of EB-2 China.  Hence, Chinese EB-2 employment-based applicants may still take advantage of the "downgrading" mechanism to apply for I-485 adjustment applications earlier.   

See here for more information on Adjustment of Status.

AD: Dates for Final Action (Approval)FD : Dates for Filing Applications
      Family
Other Coountries
      China
India
Mexico
Philippines
F1
AD
02/01/2011
02/01/2011
02/01/2011
04/01/1996
01/01/2005
FD
01/01/2012
01/01/2012
01/01/2012
11/01/1996
10/01/2007
F2A
AD
12/22/2015
12/22/2015
12/22/2015
11/15/2015
12/22/2015
FD
11/01/2016
11/01/2016
11/01/2016
11/01/2016
11/01/2016
F2B
AD
11/22/2010
11/22/2010
11/22/2010
07/22/1996
07/01/2006
FD
09/01/2011
09/01/2011
09/01/2011
01/01/1997
09/01/2007
F3
AD
09/08/2005
09/08/2005
09/08/2005
05/22/1995
03/08/1995
FD
12/01/2005
12/01/2005
12/01/2005
10/01/1995
06/15/1995
F4
AD
06/08/2004
06/08/2004
11/22/2003
10/08/1997
08/01/1994
FD
11/15/2004
11/15/2004
06/22/2004
02/08/1998
03/01/1995
1st: Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Citizens (about 23,000 per year).2A: The 2 "A" preference is for Spouses and Children (under 21 & unmarried) of LPR's.2B: The 2 "B" Preference is for Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 or older) of LPR's.3rd: Married Sons and Daughters of Citizens.(about 23,000 per year)4th: Brothers and Sisters of Adult Citizens.(about 65,000 per year)



Employment
Other Counties
China

El Salvador
Guatemala
Honduras
India
Mexico
Philippines
EB1
AD
C
         C
C
          C
C
C
FD
C
C
C
C
C
C
EB2
AD
 C
07/01/2013
C
  11/01/2008
C
C
FD
C
11/15/2013
C
02/08/2009
C
C
EB3
AD
C
03/08/2014
C
10/15/2006
C
01/15/2016
FD
C
09/01/2015
C
01/01/2008
C
08/01/2016
Other Workers
AD
C
07/01/2006
C
10/15/2006
C
01/15/2016
FD
C
06/01/2008
C
01/01/2008
C
08/01/2016
EB4
AD
C
C
11/08/2015
C
04/22/2016
C
FD
C
C
04/15/2016
C
C
C
EB5
AD
C
07/15/2014
C
C
C
C
FD
C
10/01/2014
C
C
C
C

1st: Priority Workers (Extraordinary ability aliens, multinational companies executives/managers, outstanding prof./researchers)2nd: Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability.3rd: Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers (Unskilled.)4th: "Special Immigrants" (Religious & others) 5th: Employment Creation (Investors)


USCIS announced that regarding the filing of I-485 adjustment of status:


For Family-Sponsored Filings:
Applicants must use the Dates for Filing chart in the Department of State Visa Bulletin for December 2017.

For Employment-Based Preference Filings:
Applicants must use the Final Action Dates chart in the Department of State Visa Bulletin for December 2017.

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