Archive · fiscal year 2018

Visa Bulletin for February 2018

Compared with January 2018: 30 lines moved forward, 0 retrogressed, current for all countries: EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, EB-3 Other Workers, EB-4.

Chart A

Final action dates

Family	All countries	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
F1	Mar 15, 2011	Mar 15, 2011	Mar 15, 2011	Jul 1, 1996+2.0 mo	Aug 1, 2005+7.0 mo
F2A	Mar 1, 2016+29 d	Mar 1, 2016+29 d	Mar 1, 2016+29 d	Feb 1, 2016+31 d	Mar 1, 2016+29 d
F2B	Jan 15, 2011+45 d	Jan 15, 2011+45 d	Jan 15, 2011+45 d	Sep 8, 1996+24 d	Jul 22, 2006+21 d
F3	Nov 15, 2005+38 d	Nov 15, 2005+38 d	Nov 15, 2005+38 d	Jun 22, 1995+7 d	Mar 15, 1995
F4	Jul 22, 2004+30 d	Jul 22, 2004+30 d	Jan 8, 2004+24 d	Nov 8, 1997+7 d	Oct 1, 1994+30 d

Employment	All countries	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
EB-1	Current	Current	Current	Current	Current
EB-2	Current	Oct 1, 2013+54 d	Dec 8, 2008+16 d	Current	Current
EB-3	Current	Sep 15, 2014+5.0 mo	Dec 1, 2006+30 d	Current	Mar 1, 2016+15 d
EB-3 Other Workers	Current	Feb 1, 2007+41 d	Dec 1, 2006+30 d	Current	Mar 1, 2016+15 d
EB-4	Current	Current	Current	Jun 22, 2016+21 d	Current
EB-4 Religious Workers	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable

Chart B

Dates for filing

Family	All countries	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
F1	Jan 1, 2012	Jan 1, 2012	Jan 1, 2012	Nov 1, 1996	Oct 1, 2007
F2A	Nov 1, 2016	Nov 1, 2016	Nov 1, 2016	Nov 1, 2016	Nov 1, 2016
F2B	Sep 1, 2011	Sep 1, 2011	Sep 1, 2011	Jan 1, 1997	Sep 1, 2007
F3	Dec 1, 2005	Dec 1, 2005	Dec 1, 2005	Oct 1, 1995	Jun 15, 1995
F4	Nov 15, 2004	Nov 15, 2004	Jun 22, 2004	Feb 8, 1998	Mar 1, 1995

Employment	All countries	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
EB-1	Current	Current	Current	Current	Current
EB-2	Current	Nov 15, 2014+12.0 mo	Feb 8, 2009	Current	Current
EB-3	Current	Jan 1, 2016+4.0 mo	Jan 1, 2008	Current	Aug 1, 2016
EB-3 Other Workers	Current	Jun 1, 2008	Jan 1, 2008	Current	Aug 1, 2016
EB-4	Current	Current	Current	Current	Current
EB-4 Religious Workers	Current	Current	Current	Current	Current

What moved

Moved forward 30

F1Philippines+7.0 moAug 1, 2005
EB-3China+5.0 moSep 15, 2014
F1Mexico+2.0 moJul 1, 1996
EB-2China+54 dOct 1, 2013
F2BAll countries+45 dJan 15, 2011
F2BChina+45 dJan 15, 2011
F2BIndia+45 dJan 15, 2011
EB-3 Other WorkersChina+41 dFeb 1, 2007
Show all 30
- F3All countries+38 dNov 15, 2005
- F3China+38 dNov 15, 2005
- F3India+38 dNov 15, 2005
- F2AMexico+31 dFeb 1, 2016
- F4All countries+30 dJul 22, 2004
- F4China+30 dJul 22, 2004
- F4Philippines+30 dOct 1, 1994
- EB-3India+30 dDec 1, 2006
- EB-3 Other WorkersIndia+30 dDec 1, 2006
- F2AAll countries+29 dMar 1, 2016
- F2AChina+29 dMar 1, 2016
- F2AIndia+29 dMar 1, 2016
- F2APhilippines+29 dMar 1, 2016
- F2BMexico+24 dSep 8, 1996
- F4India+24 dJan 8, 2004
- F2BPhilippines+21 dJul 22, 2006
- EB-4Mexico+21 dJun 22, 2016
- EB-2India+16 dDec 8, 2008
- EB-3Philippines+15 dMar 1, 2016
- EB-3 Other WorkersPhilippines+15 dMar 1, 2016
- F3Mexico+7 dJun 22, 1995
- F4Mexico+7 dNov 8, 1997

What the State Department said

Special immigrant (si) translator category visa availability
Given the limited availability of visa numbers and the existing demand, the Department expects to reach the FY-2018 annual limit of 50 Special Immigrant Visas in the SI category early this year. As a result, it has been necessary to establish a February Final Action Date of April 22, 2012. It is likely that number use will require the SI category to become “unavailable” in the coming months. Once the annual limit of 50 visas is reached, further issuances in the SI category will not be possible until October 2018, under the FY-2019 annual limit. The SQ Special Immigrant Visa category for certain Iraqi and Afghan nationals employed by or on behalf of the U.S. government in Iraq or Afghanistan is not affected and remains current.
U.S. Department of State, Visa Bulletin for February 2018

Scheduled expiration of two employment visa categories
Employment Fourth Preference Certain Religious Workers (SR):
Pursuant to the continuing resolution, signed on December 22, 2017, the non-minister special immigrant program expires on January 19, 2018. No SR visas may be issued overseas, or final action taken on adjustment of status cases, after midnight January 18, 2018. Visas issued prior to this date will only be issued with a validity date of January 18, 2018, and all individuals seeking admission as a non-minister special immigrant must be admitted (repeat, admitted) into the U.S. no later than midnight January 18, 2018.
The final action date for this category has been listed as “Unavailable” for February. If there is legislative action extending this category for FY-2018, the final action date would immediately become “Current” for February for all countries except El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras which would be subject to a December 1, 2015 final action date, and for Mexico which would be subject to a June 22, 2016 date.
Employment Fifth Preference Categories (I5 and R5):
The continuing resolution signed on December 22, 2017 extended this immigrant investor pilot program until January 19, 2018. The I5 and R5 visas may be issued until close of business on January 19, 2018, 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 January 19, 2018.
The final action dates for the I5 and R5 categories have been listed as “Unavailable” for February. If there is legislative action extending them for FY-2018, the final action dates would immediately become “Current” for February for all countries except China-mainland born I5 and R5 which would be subject to a July 22, 2014 final action date.
U.S. Department of State, Visa Bulletin for February 2018

Visa availability in the coming months
FAMILY-sponsored categories (potential monthly movement)
Worldwide dates:
F1: Up to one month
F2A: Three to five weeks
F2B: Three to six weeks
F3: Up to five weeks
U.S. Department of State, Visa Bulletin for February 2018

Released Jan 11, 2018. Official text: travel.state.gov.