Archive · fiscal year 2019

Visa Bulletin for October 2018

Compared with September 2018: 44 lines moved forward, 0 retrogressed, current for all countries: EB-2, EB-3, EB-3 Other Workers, EB-4.

Chart A

Final action dates

Family	All countries	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
F1	Jun 1, 2011+54 d	Jun 1, 2011+54 d	Jun 1, 2011+54 d	Aug 1, 1997	Dec 22, 2006+37 d
F2A	Aug 22, 2016+31 d	Aug 22, 2016+31 d	Aug 22, 2016+31 d	Aug 1, 2016+31 d	Aug 22, 2016+31 d
F2B	Nov 22, 2011+21 d	Nov 22, 2011+21 d	Nov 22, 2011+21 d	May 15, 1997+23 d	May 15, 2007+23 d
F3	Jun 15, 2006+45 d	Jun 15, 2006+45 d	Jun 15, 2006+45 d	Dec 22, 1995	Jun 8, 1995+7 d
F4	Feb 15, 2005+38 d	Feb 15, 2005+38 d	May 1, 2004+23 d	Jan 22, 1998+7 d	Jun 8, 1995+7 d

Employment	All countries	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
EB-1	Apr 1, 2017+10.0 mo	Jun 1, 2016+53.0 mo	Jun 1, 2016+53.0 mo	Apr 1, 2017+10.0 mo	Apr 1, 2017+10.0 mo
EB-2	Current+69.0 mo	Apr 1, 2015+26.9 mo	Mar 26, 2009+26.8 mo	Current+69.0 mo	Current+69.0 mo
EB-3	Current+23.0 mo	Jun 1, 2015+7.0 mo	Jan 1, 2009+72.0 mo	Current+23.0 mo	Jun 1, 2017+7.0 mo
EB-3 Other Workers	Current+23.0 mo	May 1, 2007	Jan 1, 2009+72.0 mo	Current+23.0 mo	Jun 1, 2017+7.0 mo
EB-4	Current	Current	Current+31.5 mo	Oct 22, 2016+8.2 mo	Current
EB-4 Religious Workers	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable	Unavailable

Chart B

Dates for filing

Family	All countries	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
F1	Mar 8, 2012	Mar 8, 2012	Mar 8, 2012	Oct 8, 1998+37 d	Feb 15, 2008
F2A	Dec 1, 2017	Dec 1, 2017	Dec 1, 2017	Dec 1, 2017	Dec 1, 2017
F2B	Mar 22, 2014	Mar 22, 2014	Mar 22, 2014	Jun 22, 1997+14 d	Dec 15, 2007
F3	Jan 8, 2007+3.5 mo	Jan 8, 2007+3.5 mo	Jan 8, 2007+3.5 mo	Dec 22, 1998+2.5 mo	Jun 1, 1997+22.0 mo
F4	Jun 1, 2005+31 d	Jun 1, 2005+31 d	Jan 1, 2005	Jun 22, 1998+21 d	Apr 8, 1996+4.2 mo

Employment	All countries	China	India	Mexico	Philippines
EB-1	Jun 1, 2018−3.0 mo	Oct 1, 2017−11.0 mo	Oct 1, 2017−11.0 mo	Jun 1, 2018−3.0 mo	Jun 1, 2018−3.0 mo
EB-2	Current	Jun 15, 2015+2.5 mo	May 22, 2009	Current	Current
EB-3	Current	Aug 8, 2015−4.8 mo	Oct 1, 2009+5.0 mo	Current	Jul 1, 2017
EB-3 Other Workers	Current	Jun 1, 2008	Oct 1, 2009+5.0 mo	Current	Jul 1, 2017
EB-4	Current	Current	Current	Current	Current
EB-4 Religious Workers	Current	Current	Current	Current	Current

What moved

Moved forward 44

EB-3India+72.0 moJan 1, 2009
EB-3 Other WorkersIndia+72.0 moJan 1, 2009
EB-2All countries+69.0 moCurrent
EB-2Mexico+69.0 moCurrent
EB-2Philippines+69.0 moCurrent
EB-1China+53.0 moJun 1, 2016
EB-1India+53.0 moJun 1, 2016
EB-4India+31.5 moCurrent
Show all 44
- EB-2China+26.9 moApr 1, 2015
- EB-2India+26.8 moMar 26, 2009
- EB-3All countries+23.0 moCurrent
- EB-3Mexico+23.0 moCurrent
- EB-3 Other WorkersAll countries+23.0 moCurrent
- EB-3 Other WorkersMexico+23.0 moCurrent
- EB-1All countries+10.0 moApr 1, 2017
- EB-1Mexico+10.0 moApr 1, 2017
- EB-1Philippines+10.0 moApr 1, 2017
- EB-4Mexico+8.2 moOct 22, 2016
- EB-3China+7.0 moJun 1, 2015
- EB-3Philippines+7.0 moJun 1, 2017
- EB-3 Other WorkersPhilippines+7.0 moJun 1, 2017
- F1All countries+54 dJun 1, 2011
- F1China+54 dJun 1, 2011
- F1India+54 dJun 1, 2011
- F3All countries+45 dJun 15, 2006
- F3China+45 dJun 15, 2006
- F3India+45 dJun 15, 2006
- F4All countries+38 dFeb 15, 2005
- F4China+38 dFeb 15, 2005
- F1Philippines+37 dDec 22, 2006
- F2AAll countries+31 dAug 22, 2016
- F2AChina+31 dAug 22, 2016
- F2AIndia+31 dAug 22, 2016
- F2AMexico+31 dAug 1, 2016
- F2APhilippines+31 dAug 22, 2016
- F2BMexico+23 dMay 15, 1997
- F2BPhilippines+23 dMay 15, 2007
- F4India+23 dMay 1, 2004
- F2BAll countries+21 dNov 22, 2011
- F2BChina+21 dNov 22, 2011
- F2BIndia+21 dNov 22, 2011
- F3Philippines+7 dJun 8, 1995
- F4Mexico+7 dJan 22, 1998
- F4Philippines+7 dJun 8, 1995

What the State Department said

Scheduled expiration of two employment categories
Employment Fourth Preference Certain Religious Workers (SR):
Pursuant to section 202 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (Public Law 115-141), the non-minister special immigrant program expires on September 30, 2018. No SR visas may be issued overseas, or final action taken on adjustment of status cases, after midnight September 29, 2018. Visas issued prior to this date will only be issued with a validity date of September 29, 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 September 29, 2018.
The final action date for this category has been listed as “Unavailable” for October. If there is legislative action extending this category for FY-2019, 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 February 15, 2016 final action date and Mexico, which would be subject to an October 22, 2016 final action date.
Employment Fifth Preference Categories (I5 and R5):
Section 204 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (Public Law 115-141) extended this immigrant investor pilot program until September 30, 2018. The I5 and R5 visas may be issued until close of business on September 30, 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 September 30, 2018.
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-2019, 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 an August 15, 2014 final action date and Vietnam I5 and R5, which would be subject to a January 1, 2016 final action date.
U.S. Department of State, Visa Bulletin for October 2018

Released Sep 10, 2018. Official text: travel.state.gov.