Archive · fiscal year 2017

Visa Bulletin for October 2016

Compared with September 2016: 44 lines moved forward, 0 retrogressed, current for all countries: EB-1, EB-2, EB-4.

Chart A

Final action dates

Family	All countries	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
F1	Sep 22, 2009+7 d	Sep 22, 2009+7 d	Sep 22, 2009+7 d	Apr 1, 1995+10 d	Aug 1, 2005+31 d
F2A	Dec 22, 2014+37 d	Dec 22, 2014+37 d	Dec 22, 2014+37 d	Dec 1, 2014+3.0 mo	Dec 22, 2014+37 d
F2B	Mar 15, 2010+42 d	Mar 15, 2010+42 d	Mar 15, 2010+42 d	Oct 1, 1995+16 d	Jan 1, 2006+31 d
F3	Dec 22, 2004+21 d	Dec 22, 2004+21 d	Dec 22, 2004+21 d	Nov 22, 1994+7 d	Jul 8, 1994+23 d
F4	Nov 1, 2003+24 d	May 1, 2003+3.9 mo	Dec 1, 2002+23.0 mo	May 1, 1997+9 d	Apr 15, 1993+45 d

Employment	All countries	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
EB-1	Current	Current+81.0 mo	Current+81.0 mo	Current	Current
EB-2	Current+32.0 mo	Feb 15, 2012+25.5 mo	Jan 15, 2007+22.7 mo	Current+32.0 mo	Current+32.0 mo
EB-3	Jun 1, 2016+31 d	Jan 22, 2013+36.7 mo	Mar 1, 2005+14 d	Jun 1, 2016+31 d	Dec 1, 2010+5.0 mo
EB-3 Other Workers	Jun 1, 2016+31 d	Jan 1, 2005+12.0 mo	Mar 1, 2005+14 d	Jun 1, 2016+31 d	Dec 1, 2010+5.0 mo
EB-4	Current	Current	Current+81.0 mo	Current+81.0 mo	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, 2011+12.0 mo	Jan 1, 2011+12.0 mo	Jan 1, 2011+12.0 mo	Jun 1, 1995+2.0 mo	May 1, 2006+4.3 mo
F2A	Nov 22, 2015	Nov 22, 2015	Nov 22, 2015	Nov 22, 2015	Nov 22, 2015
F2B	Feb 8, 2011	Feb 8, 2011	Feb 8, 2011	Jun 1, 1996+10 d	Feb 1, 2007+12.0 mo
F3	Aug 22, 2005	Aug 22, 2005	Aug 22, 2005	May 1, 1995	Jan 1, 1995−7.0 mo
F4	Jul 1, 2004+16 d	Jul 1, 2004+16 d	May 1, 2004	Dec 1, 1997−6.0 mo	Apr 1, 1994+8.5 mo

Employment	All countries	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
EB-1	Current	Current	Current	Current	Current
EB-2	Current	Mar 1, 2013−3.0 mo	Apr 22, 2009−2.3 mo	Current	Current
EB-3	Current	May 1, 2014−12.0 mo	Jul 1, 2005	Current	Sep 1, 2013+8.0 mo
EB-3 Other Workers	Current	Aug 1, 2009	Jul 1, 2005	Current	Sep 1, 2013+8.0 mo
EB-4	Current	Current	Current	Current	Current
EB-4 Religious Workers	Current	Current	Current	Current	Current

What moved

Moved forward 44

EB-1China+81.0 moCurrent
EB-1India+81.0 moCurrent
EB-4India+81.0 moCurrent
EB-4Mexico+81.0 moCurrent
EB-3China+36.7 moJan 22, 2013
EB-2All countries+32.0 moCurrent
EB-2Mexico+32.0 moCurrent
EB-2Philippines+32.0 moCurrent
Show all 44
- EB-2China+25.5 moFeb 15, 2012
- F4India+23.0 moDec 1, 2002
- EB-2India+22.7 moJan 15, 2007
- EB-3 Other WorkersChina+12.0 moJan 1, 2005
- EB-3Philippines+5.0 moDec 1, 2010
- EB-3 Other WorkersPhilippines+5.0 moDec 1, 2010
- F4China+3.9 moMay 1, 2003
- F2AMexico+3.0 moDec 1, 2014
- F4Philippines+45 dApr 15, 1993
- F2BAll countries+42 dMar 15, 2010
- F2BChina+42 dMar 15, 2010
- F2BIndia+42 dMar 15, 2010
- F2AAll countries+37 dDec 22, 2014
- F2AChina+37 dDec 22, 2014
- F2AIndia+37 dDec 22, 2014
- F2APhilippines+37 dDec 22, 2014
- F1Philippines+31 dAug 1, 2005
- F2BPhilippines+31 dJan 1, 2006
- EB-3All countries+31 dJun 1, 2016
- EB-3Mexico+31 dJun 1, 2016
- EB-3 Other WorkersAll countries+31 dJun 1, 2016
- EB-3 Other WorkersMexico+31 dJun 1, 2016
- F4All countries+24 dNov 1, 2003
- F3Philippines+23 dJul 8, 1994
- F3All countries+21 dDec 22, 2004
- F3China+21 dDec 22, 2004
- F3India+21 dDec 22, 2004
- F2BMexico+16 dOct 1, 1995
- EB-3India+14 dMar 1, 2005
- EB-3 Other WorkersIndia+14 dMar 1, 2005
- F1Mexico+10 dApr 1, 1995
- F4Mexico+9 dMay 1, 1997
- F1All countries+7 dSep 22, 2009
- F1China+7 dSep 22, 2009
- F1India+7 dSep 22, 2009
- F3Mexico+7 dNov 22, 1994

What the State Department said

Scheduled expiration of two employment visa categories
Employment Fourth Preference Certain Religious Workers (SR):
Pursuant to Section 573 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (Public Law 114-113), the non-minister special immigrant program expires on September 30, 2016. No SR visas may be issued overseas, or final action taken on adjustment of status cases, after midnight September 29, 2016. Visas issued prior to this date will only be issued with a validity date of September 29, 2016, and all individuals seeking admission as a non-minister special immigrant must be admitted (repeat, admitted) into the U.S. no later than midnight September 29, 2016.
The final action date for this category has been listed as “Unavailable” for October. If there is legislative action extending this category for FY-2017, the final action date would immediately become “Current” for October for all countries except El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras which would be subject to a June 15, 2015 final action date.
Employment Fifth Preference Categories (I5 and R5):
Section 575 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (Public Law 114-113) extended this immigrant investor pilot program until September 30, 2016. The I5 and R5 visas may be issued until close of business on September 30, 2016, 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 September 30, 2016.
The final action dates for the I5 and R5 categories have been listed as “Unavailable” for October. If there is legislative action extending them for FY-2017, the final action dates would immediately become “Current” for October for all countries except China-mainland born I5 and R5 which would be subject to a February 22, 2014 final action date.
U.S. Department of State, Visa Bulletin for October 2016

Visa availability in the coming months
FAMILY-sponsored categories (potential monthly movement)
Worldwide dates:
F1: Three to five weeks
F2A: Up to one month
F2B: Up to one month
F3: Two to four weeks
U.S. Department of State, Visa Bulletin for October 2016

Released Sep 8, 2016. Official text: travel.state.gov.