11,183members
12:25Tree Species Catalog: Leaves, Flowers, Fruits, and Seeds11:55The Ultimate Berry Guide: Forest, Bog, and Garden Berries09:46Cat Breeds: 50 Popular Breeds With Pictures, Size & Temperament09:27Dog Breeds: 50 Popular Breeds With Pictures, Size & Temperament09:26Night Sky Guide: Northern Lights, Meteor Showers, Moon Phases & Eclipses09:24Winter Weather Guide 2026–27: Warnings, Ice, Polar Vortex, Wind Chill, Outlook and Storm Prep07:32Tesla Roadster: Everything We Know About the 2026 Roadster, From the 2008 Original to Starman06:50Are Crosswords Good for Your Brain? What the Research Really Shows
Archive · fiscal year 2016

Visa Bulletin for December 2015

Compared with November 2015: 35 lines moved forward, 0 retrogressed, current for all countries: EB-1, EB-2, EB-4, EB-4 Religious Workers.

Chart A

Final action dates

FamilyAll countriesChinaIndiaMexicoPhilippines
F1Apr 1, 2008+39 dApr 1, 2008+39 dApr 1, 2008+39 dDec 8, 1994+7 dJan 1, 2003+7.0 mo
F2AJun 15, 2014+31 dJun 15, 2014+31 dJun 15, 2014+31 dMay 8, 2014+37 dJun 15, 2014+31 d
F2BMar 1, 2009+21 dMar 1, 2009+21 dMar 1, 2009+21 dSep 8, 1995+17 dDec 1, 2004+30 d
F3Jul 1, 2004+16 dJul 1, 2004+16 dJul 1, 2004+16 dJul 8, 1994+23 dOct 22, 1993+14 d
F4Mar 22, 2003+21 dMar 22, 2003+21 dMar 22, 2003+21 dApr 1, 1997Jul 1, 1992+16 d
EmploymentAll countriesChinaIndiaMexicoPhilippines
EB-1CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
EB-2CurrentFeb 1, 2012Jun 1, 2007+10.0 moCurrentCurrent
EB-3Sep 1, 2015+17 dApr 15, 2012+3.4 moApr 22, 2004+21 dSep 1, 2015+17 dAug 1, 2007+47 d
EB-3 Other WorkersSep 1, 2015+17 dAug 1, 2006+4.0 moApr 22, 2004+21 dSep 1, 2015+17 dAug 1, 2007+47 d
EB-4CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
EB-4 Religious WorkersCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
Chart B

Dates for filing

FamilyAll countriesChinaIndiaMexicoPhilippines
F1May 1, 2009May 1, 2009May 1, 2009Apr 1, 1995Sep 1, 2005
F2AMar 1, 2015Mar 1, 2015Mar 1, 2015Mar 1, 2015Mar 1, 2015
F2BJul 1, 2010Jul 1, 2010Jul 1, 2010Apr 1, 1996May 1, 2005
F3Apr 1, 2005Apr 1, 2005Apr 1, 2005May 1, 1995Aug 1, 1995
F4Feb 1, 2004Feb 1, 2004Feb 1, 2004Jun 1, 1998Jan 1, 1993
EmploymentAll countriesChinaIndiaMexicoPhilippines
EB-1CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
EB-2CurrentJan 1, 2013Jul 1, 2009CurrentCurrent
EB-3Sep 1, 2015Oct 1, 2013Jul 1, 2005Sep 1, 2015Jan 1, 2010
EB-3 Other WorkersSep 1, 2015Jan 1, 2007Jul 1, 2005Sep 1, 2015Jan 1, 2010
EB-4CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
EB-4 Religious WorkersCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent

What moved

Moved forward 35

  • EB-2India+10.0 moJun 1, 2007
  • F1Philippines+7.0 moJan 1, 2003
  • EB-3 Other WorkersChina+4.0 moAug 1, 2006
  • EB-3China+3.4 moApr 15, 2012
  • EB-3Philippines+47 dAug 1, 2007
  • EB-3 Other WorkersPhilippines+47 dAug 1, 2007
  • F1All countries+39 dApr 1, 2008
  • F1China+39 dApr 1, 2008
  • Show all 35
    • F1India+39 dApr 1, 2008
    • F2AMexico+37 dMay 8, 2014
    • F2AAll countries+31 dJun 15, 2014
    • F2AChina+31 dJun 15, 2014
    • F2AIndia+31 dJun 15, 2014
    • F2APhilippines+31 dJun 15, 2014
    • F2BPhilippines+30 dDec 1, 2004
    • F3Mexico+23 dJul 8, 1994
    • F2BAll countries+21 dMar 1, 2009
    • F2BChina+21 dMar 1, 2009
    • F2BIndia+21 dMar 1, 2009
    • F4All countries+21 dMar 22, 2003
    • F4China+21 dMar 22, 2003
    • F4India+21 dMar 22, 2003
    • EB-3India+21 dApr 22, 2004
    • EB-3 Other WorkersIndia+21 dApr 22, 2004
    • F2BMexico+17 dSep 8, 1995
    • EB-3All countries+17 dSep 1, 2015
    • EB-3Mexico+17 dSep 1, 2015
    • EB-3 Other WorkersAll countries+17 dSep 1, 2015
    • EB-3 Other WorkersMexico+17 dSep 1, 2015
    • F3All countries+16 dJul 1, 2004
    • F3China+16 dJul 1, 2004
    • F3India+16 dJul 1, 2004
    • F4Philippines+16 dJul 1, 1992
    • F3Philippines+14 dOct 22, 1993
    • F1Mexico+7 dDec 8, 1994

What the State Department said

Scheduled expiration of two employment visa categories

Employment Fourth Preference Certain Religious Workers (SR): Pursuant to Section 132 of Public Law 114-53, the non-minister special immigrant program expires on December 11, 2015. No SR visas may be issued overseas, or final action taken on adjustment of status cases, after midnight December 10, 2015. Visas issued prior to this date will only be issued with a validity date of December 10, 2015, and all individuals seeking admission as a non-minister special immigrant must be admitted (repeat, admitted) into the U.S. no later than midnight December 10, 2015.

Employment Fifth Preference Categories (I5 and R5): Section 133 of Public Law 114-53 extended this immigrant investor pilot program through December 11, 2015. The I5 and R5 visas may be issued until close of business on December 11, 2015, and may be issued for the full validity period. No I5 or R5 visas may be issued overseas, or final action taken on adjustment of status cases, after December 11, 2015.

Congress is currently considering an extension of the SR, I5 and R5 visa categories, but there is no certainty when such legislative action may occur. If there is no legislative action extending one of both of these categories, those cut-off dates would immediately become "Unavailable" effective December 12, 2015.

U.S. Department of State, Visa Bulletin for December 2015
Visa availability in the coming months

FAMILY-sponsored categories (potential monthly movement)

Worldwide dates:

F1: Three to six weeks

F2A: Three to six weeks

F2B: Up to one month

F3: Two to four weeks

U.S. Department of State, Visa Bulletin for December 2015

Released Nov 9, 2015. Official text: travel.state.gov.

More

Archive

Source: U.S. Department of State, Visa Bulletin (travel.state.gov), every monthly bulletin since 2003, parsed by 77.today. A bulletin can be revised after release; the State Department's page is the binding text. Not legal advice.

Cookies

We measure traffic so we know which stories you care about. You can change your choice at any time.