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Archive · fiscal year 2021

Visa Bulletin for January 2021

Compared with December 2020: 23 lines moved forward, 0 retrogressed, current for all countries: F2A, EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, EB-3 Other Workers, EB-4.

Chart A

Final action dates

FamilyAll countriesChinaIndiaMexicoPhilippines
F1Sep 15, 2014Sep 15, 2014Sep 15, 2014Jan 15, 1998+7 dJan 1, 2012+17 d
F2ACurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
F2BJul 8, 2015Jul 8, 2015Jul 8, 2015May 1, 1999+23 dAug 15, 2011+14 d
F3Jul 8, 2008+23 dJul 8, 2008+23 dJul 8, 2008+23 dAug 22, 1996+21 dMar 1, 2002+14 d
F4Oct 8, 2006+16 dOct 8, 2006+16 dMar 15, 2005+7 dJul 1, 1998+9 dFeb 1, 2002+31 d
EmploymentAll countriesChinaIndiaMexicoPhilippines
EB-1CurrentSep 1, 2019+5.0 moSep 1, 2019+5.0 moCurrentCurrent
EB-2CurrentJun 1, 2016+31 dOct 8, 2009+7 dCurrentCurrent
EB-3CurrentDec 15, 2017+44 dMar 22, 2010+7 dCurrentCurrent
EB-3 Other WorkersCurrentMar 1, 2009+14 dMar 22, 2010+7 dCurrentCurrent
EB-4CurrentCurrentCurrentDec 1, 2018+9 dCurrent
EB-4 Religious WorkersUnavailableUnavailableUnavailableUnavailableUnavailable
Chart B

Dates for filing

FamilyAll countriesChinaIndiaMexicoPhilippines
F1Jul 22, 2015Jul 22, 2015Jul 22, 2015Feb 22, 2000Oct 8, 2012
F2AAug 1, 2020Aug 1, 2020Aug 1, 2020Aug 1, 2020Aug 1, 2020
F2BMay 1, 2016May 1, 2016May 1, 2016Dec 1, 1999Apr 1, 2012
F3Jun 1, 2009Jun 1, 2009Jun 1, 2009Aug 15, 2000Dec 22, 2002
F4Sep 15, 2007Sep 15, 2007Nov 22, 2005Apr 22, 1999Sep 1, 2002
EmploymentAll countriesChinaIndiaMexicoPhilippines
EB-1CurrentNov 1, 2020Nov 1, 2020CurrentCurrent
EB-2CurrentOct 1, 2016May 15, 2011CurrentCurrent
EB-3CurrentJun 1, 2018Jan 1, 2014CurrentCurrent
EB-3 Other WorkersCurrentJul 1, 2009+2.0 moJan 1, 2014CurrentCurrent
EB-4CurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent
EB-4 Religious WorkersCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrentCurrent

What moved

Moved forward 23

  • EB-1China+5.0 moSep 1, 2019
  • EB-1India+5.0 moSep 1, 2019
  • EB-3China+44 dDec 15, 2017
  • F4Philippines+31 dFeb 1, 2002
  • EB-2China+31 dJun 1, 2016
  • F2BMexico+23 dMay 1, 1999
  • F3All countries+23 dJul 8, 2008
  • F3China+23 dJul 8, 2008
  • Show all 23
    • F3India+23 dJul 8, 2008
    • F3Mexico+21 dAug 22, 1996
    • F1Philippines+17 dJan 1, 2012
    • F4All countries+16 dOct 8, 2006
    • F4China+16 dOct 8, 2006
    • F2BPhilippines+14 dAug 15, 2011
    • F3Philippines+14 dMar 1, 2002
    • EB-3 Other WorkersChina+14 dMar 1, 2009
    • F4Mexico+9 dJul 1, 1998
    • EB-4Mexico+9 dDec 1, 2018
    • F1Mexico+7 dJan 15, 1998
    • F4India+7 dMar 15, 2005
    • EB-2India+7 dOct 8, 2009
    • EB-3India+7 dMar 22, 2010
    • EB-3 Other WorkersIndia+7 dMar 22, 2010

What the State Department said

Scheduled expiration of two employment visa categories

The one week continuing resolution signed into law on December 21, 2020 extended both the Employment Fourth Preference Certain Religious Workers (SR) and Employment Fifth Preference Pilot (I5 and R5) Categories until December 28, 2020. Readers should monitor legislative action regarding the future status of these categories beyond that date.

Employment Fourth Preference Certain Religious Workers (SR):

If there is further legislative action extending this category, the December dates would continue to be applied, potentially for the remainder of the month. If there is no legislative action extending this category for December and beyond, the category is to be considered to be “Unavailable” immediately.

If there is legislative action extending this category for January, the final action date would immediately become “Current” for January for all countries except El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, which would be subject to a March 1, 2018 final action date, and for Mexico, which would be subject to a December 1, 2018 final action date.

Employment Fifth Preference Categories (I5 and R5):

If there is further legislative action extending this category, the December dates would continue to be applied, potentially for the remainder of the month. If there is no legislative action extending these categories for December and beyond, the category is to be considered to be “Unavailable” immediately.

U.S. Department of State, Visa Bulletin for January 2021

Released Dec 8, 2020. Official text: travel.state.gov.

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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.

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