Business Immigration Insights

The State Department has published the April Visa Bulletin.  Categories that were grounded in March may finally stretch their wings in April, including EB-1 India, EB-3 Other Workers China, and EB-3 Professionals All Other Countries.  In addition, some categories that saw modest movement in March have gained momentum in April, most notably EB-2 China, which flew ahead almost 5 months, compared to only 16 days in March.

Below is a summary that includes Final Action Dates and changes from the previous month, but first – some background if you’re new to these blog posts.  If you’re an old hand at the Visa Bulletin, feel free to skip the next paragraph.

The Visa Bulletin is released monthly by the US Department of State (in collaboration with US Citizenship and Immigration Services).  If your priority date (that is, the date you got a place on the waiting list) is earlier than the cutoff date listed in the Bulletin for your nationality and category, that means a visa number is available for you that month.  That, in turn, means you can submit your DS-260 immigrant visa application (if you’re applying at a US embassy abroad) or your I-485 adjustment of status application (if you’re applying with USCIS).  If you already submitted that final step and your category then retrogressed, it means the embassy or USCIS can now approve your application because a visa number is again available.

Now for the April VB –

India moves forward in all categories:

• EB-1 advances 2 weeks to February 15, 2022
• EB-2 advances 1 month to January 1, 2013
• EB-3 Professionals and EB-3 Other Workers advance 2 months to April 1, 2013

China progresses in all categories but one:

• EB-1 remains stalled at November 8, 2022
• EB-2 advances almost 5 months to October 1, 2020
• EB-3 Professionals advances 3 months to November 1, 2020
• EB-3 Other Workers advances 3 months to April 1, 2017

All Other Countries also makes gains in all categories:

• EB-1 remains current
• EB-2 advances 1 month + 1 week to June 22, 2023
• EB-3 Professionals advances 1 month to January 1, 2023
• EB-3 Other Workers advances almost 4 months to May 22, 2021

NOTE 1:  USCIS will accept I-485 applications in April based on Final Action Dates, not the more favorable Dates for Filing chart.