Business Immigration Insights

The State Department has published the July Visa Bulletin.  Last July, we started seeing visa numbers retrogress, as is common at the end of the government’s fiscal year, which runs from October 1 through September 30.  However, this July, most categories are enjoying smooth sailing.

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 familiar with the Visa Bulletin, feel free to skip the next paragraph.

The Visa Bulletin is released monthly by the U.S. Department of State, n collaboration with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).  If your priority date (that is, the date you were placed 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 U.S. embassy abroad) or your I-485 adjustment of status application (if you’re applying inside the U.S., with USCIS).  If you already submitted that final step and your category then retrogressed, it means the embassy or USCIS can now adjudicate and approve your application because a visa number is again available.

Now for the July Visa Bulletin:

China progresses in all categories:

• EB-1 advances 1 week to November 15, 2022
• EB-2 advances 2 weeks to December 15, 2020
• EB-3 Professionals advances 9 days to December 1, 2020
• EB-3 Other Workers advances 1 month to May 1, 2017

India progresses in two categories:

• EB-1 stalls at February 15, 2022
• EB-2 halts at January 1, 2013
• EB-3 Professionals and EB-3 Other Workers advance 1 week to April 22, 2013

All Other Countries also progresses in two categories:

• EB-1 remains current
• EB-2 holds at October 15, 2023
• EB-3 Professionals advances almost 2 months to April 1, 2023 (except Mexico, which freezes at February 8, 2023)
• EB-3 Other Workers advances more than 2 weeks to July 8, 2021

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