Visa Bulletin for October 2017
Compared with September 2017: 37 lines moved forward, 0 retrogressed, current for all countries: EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, EB-3 Other Workers, EB-4, EB-4 Religious Workers.
Final action dates
| Family | All countries | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Dec 22, 2010+7.7 mo | Dec 22, 2010+7.7 mo | Dec 22, 2010+7.7 mo | Mar 1, 1996+29 d | Jan 1, 2007 |
| F2A | Oct 22, 2015+21 d | Oct 22, 2015+21 d | Oct 22, 2015+21 d | Oct 15, 2015+23 d | Oct 22, 2015+21 d |
| F2B | Nov 8, 2010+7 d | Nov 8, 2010+7 d | Nov 8, 2010+7 d | Jul 15, 1996+14 d | Jan 1, 2007 |
| F3 | Jul 22, 2005+14 d | Jul 22, 2005+14 d | Jul 22, 2005+14 d | Apr 22, 1995+14 d | Feb 22, 1995+7 d |
| F4 | May 8, 2004+28.2 mo | May 8, 2004+28.2 mo | Oct 1, 2003+21.0 mo | Oct 1, 1997+16 d | Jun 1, 1994 |
| Employment | All countries | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | Current | Current+69.0 mo | Current+69.0 mo | Current | Current |
| EB-2 | Current+21.0 mo | May 22, 2013+7 d | Sep 15, 2008+24 d | Current+21.0 mo | Current+21.0 mo |
| EB-3 | Current | Jan 1, 2014+24.0 mo | Oct 15, 2006 | Current | Dec 1, 2015+30 d |
| EB-3 Other Workers | Current | Jan 1, 2006+24.0 mo | Oct 15, 2006 | Current | Dec 1, 2015+30 d |
| EB-4 | Current | Current | Current+23.3 mo | Mar 1, 2016+4.3 mo | Current |
| EB-4 Religious Workers | Current | Current | Current+23.3 mo | Mar 1, 2016+4.3 mo | Current |
Dates for filing
| Family | All countries | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Jan 1, 2012+5.4 mo | Jan 1, 2012+5.4 mo | Jan 1, 2012+5.4 mo | Nov 1, 1996+7.0 mo | Oct 1, 2007+23 d |
| F2A | Nov 1, 2016+6.8 mo | Nov 1, 2016+6.8 mo | Nov 1, 2016+6.8 mo | Nov 1, 2016+6.8 mo | Nov 1, 2016+6.8 mo |
| F2B | Sep 1, 2011 | Sep 1, 2011 | Sep 1, 2011 | Jan 1, 1997+4.8 mo | Sep 1, 2007+41 d |
| F3 | Dec 1, 2005 | Dec 1, 2005 | Dec 1, 2005 | Oct 1, 1995+5.0 mo | Jun 15, 1995+3.5 mo |
| F4 | Nov 15, 2004 | Nov 15, 2004 | Jun 22, 2004 | Feb 8, 1998+31 d | Mar 1, 1995+21 d |
| Employment | All countries | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| EB-2 | Current | Nov 15, 2013+45 d | Feb 8, 2009+7 d | Current | Current |
| EB-3 | Current | Sep 1, 2015 | Jan 1, 2008+12.0 mo | Current | Aug 1, 2016+7.0 mo |
| EB-3 Other Workers | Current | Jun 1, 2008 | Jan 1, 2008+12.0 mo | Current | Aug 1, 2016+7.0 mo |
| EB-4 | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| EB-4 Religious Workers | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
What moved
Moved forward 37
- EB-1China+69.0 moCurrent
- EB-1India+69.0 moCurrent
- F4All countries+28.2 moMay 8, 2004
- F4China+28.2 moMay 8, 2004
- EB-3China+24.0 moJan 1, 2014
- EB-3 Other WorkersChina+24.0 moJan 1, 2006
- EB-4India+23.3 moCurrent
- EB-4 Religious WorkersIndia+23.3 moCurrent
Show all 37
- EB-2All countries+21.0 moCurrent
- EB-2Mexico+21.0 moCurrent
- EB-2Philippines+21.0 moCurrent
- F4India+21.0 moOct 1, 2003
- F1All countries+7.7 moDec 22, 2010
- F1China+7.7 moDec 22, 2010
- F1India+7.7 moDec 22, 2010
- EB-4Mexico+4.3 moMar 1, 2016
- EB-4 Religious WorkersMexico+4.3 moMar 1, 2016
- EB-3Philippines+30 dDec 1, 2015
- EB-3 Other WorkersPhilippines+30 dDec 1, 2015
- F1Mexico+29 dMar 1, 1996
- EB-2India+24 dSep 15, 2008
- F2AMexico+23 dOct 15, 2015
- F2AAll countries+21 dOct 22, 2015
- F2AChina+21 dOct 22, 2015
- F2AIndia+21 dOct 22, 2015
- F2APhilippines+21 dOct 22, 2015
- F4Mexico+16 dOct 1, 1997
- F2BMexico+14 dJul 15, 1996
- F3All countries+14 dJul 22, 2005
- F3China+14 dJul 22, 2005
- F3India+14 dJul 22, 2005
- F3Mexico+14 dApr 22, 1995
- F2BAll countries+7 dNov 8, 2010
- F2BChina+7 dNov 8, 2010
- F2BIndia+7 dNov 8, 2010
- F3Philippines+7 dFeb 22, 1995
- EB-2China+7 dMay 22, 2013
What the State Department said
Special immigrant (si) translator category visa availabilityGiven 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 in the Fiscal Year. As a result, it has been necessary to establish an October Final Action Date of April 1, 2010. 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.
Extension of two employment visa categoriesHR 601 — Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 and Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Requirements Act, 2017 extended both the Employment Fourth Preference Certain Religious Workers (SR) and Employment Fifth Preference Pilot (I5 and R5) Categories until December 8, 2017.
Visa availability in the coming monthsFAMILY-sponsored categories (potential monthly movement)
Worldwide dates:
F1: Up to several months
F2A: Up to one month
F2B: Up to one month
F3: Three or four weeks
Released Sep 11, 2017. Official text: travel.state.gov.
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.