Visa Bulletin for September 2018
Compared with August 2018: 20 lines moved forward, 19 retrogressed, current for all countries: EB-4, EB-4 Religious Workers.
Final action dates
| Family | All countries | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Apr 8, 2011−30 d | Apr 8, 2011−30 d | Apr 8, 2011−30 d | Aug 1, 1997 | Nov 15, 2006+3.5 mo |
| F2A | Jul 22, 2016 | Jul 22, 2016 | Jul 22, 2016 | Jul 1, 2016 | Jul 22, 2016 |
| F2B | Nov 1, 2011+10 d | Nov 1, 2011+10 d | Nov 1, 2011+10 d | Apr 22, 1997+21 d | Apr 22, 2007+2.2 mo |
| F3 | May 1, 2006−45 d | May 1, 2006−45 d | May 1, 2006−45 d | Dec 22, 1995+21 d | Jun 1, 1995+31 d |
| F4 | Jan 8, 2005+17 d | Jan 8, 2005+17 d | Apr 8, 2004+17 d | Jan 15, 1998 | Jun 1, 1995+40 d |
| Employment | All countries | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | Jun 1, 2016+31 d | Jan 1, 2012 | Jan 1, 2012 | Jun 1, 2016+31 d | Jun 1, 2016+31 d |
| EB-2 | Jan 1, 2013−67.0 mo | Jan 1, 2013−25.9 mo | Jan 1, 2007−26.4 mo | Jan 1, 2013−67.0 mo | Jan 1, 2013−67.0 mo |
| EB-3 | Nov 1, 2016−21.0 mo | Nov 1, 2014+4.0 mo | Jan 1, 2003−72.0 mo | Nov 1, 2016−21.0 mo | Nov 1, 2016−7.0 mo |
| EB-3 Other Workers | Nov 1, 2016−21.0 mo | May 1, 2007 | Jan 1, 2003−72.0 mo | Nov 1, 2016−21.0 mo | Nov 1, 2016−7.0 mo |
| EB-4 | Current | Current | Feb 15, 2016+7 d | Feb 15, 2016+7 d | Current |
| EB-4 Religious Workers | Current | Current | Feb 15, 2016+7 d | Feb 15, 2016+7 d | Current |
Dates for filing
| Family | All countries | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Mar 8, 2012 | Mar 8, 2012 | Mar 8, 2012 | Sep 1, 1998 | Feb 15, 2008 |
| F2A | Dec 1, 2017 | Dec 1, 2017 | Dec 1, 2017 | Dec 1, 2017 | Dec 1, 2017 |
| F2B | Mar 22, 2014+26.4 mo | Mar 22, 2014+26.4 mo | Mar 22, 2014+26.4 mo | Jun 8, 1997 | Dec 15, 2007 |
| F3 | Sep 22, 2006 | Sep 22, 2006 | Sep 22, 2006 | Oct 8, 1998 | Aug 1, 1995 |
| F4 | May 1, 2005 | May 1, 2005 | Jan 1, 2005 | Jun 1, 1998 | Dec 1, 1995 |
| Employment | All countries | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| EB-2 | Current | Apr 1, 2015 | May 22, 2009 | Current | Current |
| EB-3 | Current | Jan 1, 2016 | May 1, 2009 | Current | Jul 1, 2017 |
| EB-3 Other Workers | Current | Jun 1, 2008 | May 1, 2009 | Current | Jul 1, 2017 |
| EB-4 | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| EB-4 Religious Workers | Current | Current | Current | Current | Current |
What moved
Moved forward 20
- EB-3China+4.0 moNov 1, 2014
- F1Philippines+3.5 moNov 15, 2006
- F2BPhilippines+2.2 moApr 22, 2007
- F4Philippines+40 dJun 1, 1995
- F3Philippines+31 dJun 1, 1995
- EB-1All countries+31 dJun 1, 2016
- EB-1Mexico+31 dJun 1, 2016
- EB-1Philippines+31 dJun 1, 2016
Show all 20
- F2BMexico+21 dApr 22, 1997
- F3Mexico+21 dDec 22, 1995
- F4All countries+17 dJan 8, 2005
- F4China+17 dJan 8, 2005
- F4India+17 dApr 8, 2004
- F2BAll countries+10 dNov 1, 2011
- F2BChina+10 dNov 1, 2011
- F2BIndia+10 dNov 1, 2011
- EB-4India+7 dFeb 15, 2016
- EB-4Mexico+7 dFeb 15, 2016
- EB-4 Religious WorkersIndia+7 dFeb 15, 2016
- EB-4 Religious WorkersMexico+7 dFeb 15, 2016
Retrogressed 19
- EB-3India−72.0 moJan 1, 2003
- EB-3 Other WorkersIndia−72.0 moJan 1, 2003
- EB-2All countries−67.0 moJan 1, 2013
- EB-2Mexico−67.0 moJan 1, 2013
- EB-2Philippines−67.0 moJan 1, 2013
- EB-2India−26.4 moJan 1, 2007
- EB-2China−25.9 moJan 1, 2013
- EB-3All countries−21.0 moNov 1, 2016
Show all 19
- EB-3Mexico−21.0 moNov 1, 2016
- EB-3 Other WorkersAll countries−21.0 moNov 1, 2016
- EB-3 Other WorkersMexico−21.0 moNov 1, 2016
- EB-3Philippines−7.0 moNov 1, 2016
- EB-3 Other WorkersPhilippines−7.0 moNov 1, 2016
- F3All countries−45 dMay 1, 2006
- F3China−45 dMay 1, 2006
- F3India−45 dMay 1, 2006
- F1All countries−30 dApr 8, 2011
- F1China−30 dApr 8, 2011
- F1India−30 dApr 8, 2011
What the State Department said
Special immigrant (si) translator category visa availabilityGiven the limited availability of visa numbers and the existing demand, it has been necessary to maintain a September Final Action Date of April 22, 2012.
Determination of the numerical limits on immigrants required under the terms of the immigration and nationality act (INA)The State Department is required to make a determination of the worldwide numerical limitations, as outlined in Section 201(c) and (d) of the INA, on an annual basis. These calculations are based in part on data provided by U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) regarding the number of immediate relative adjustments in the preceding year and the number of aliens paroled into the United States under Section 212(d)(5) in the second preceding year. Without this information, it is impossible to make an official determination of the annual limits. To avoid delays in processing while waiting for the USCIS data, the Visa Office (VO) bases allocations on the minimum annual limits outlined in Section 201 of the INA. On July 10th, USCIS provided the required data to VO.
The Department of State has determined the Family and Employment preference numerical limits for FY-2018 in accordance with the terms of Section 201 of the INA. These numerical limitations for FY-2018 are as follows:
Worldwide Family-Sponsored preference limit: 226,000
Worldwide Employment-Based preference limit: 140,292
Under INA Section 202(a), the per-country limit is fixed at 7% of the family and employment annual limits. For FY-2018 the per-country limit is 25,640. The dependent area annual limit is 2%, or 7,326.
Family-sponsored visa availability during septemberAs mentioned in item E of the July Visa Bulletin, the level of applicant demand in several preference categories has been steadily increasing. This has resulted in the retrogression of the dates for several Family First and Third preference category dates for September. Such action has been necessary to hold number use within the worldwide annual limits.
The retrogression of the above mentioned family dates will only be temporary and in October, the first month of fiscal year 2019, the final action dates will be returned to (at least) those established for August.
Oversubscription of september employment-based second and third preference categoriesWORLDWIDE, EL SALVADOR, GUATEMALA, HONDURAS, MEXICO, AND PHILIPPINES EMPLOYMENT-BASED SECOND (E2), Third (E3), and Third Other Worker (EW) PREFERENCES: As readers were advised in item F of the July Visa Bulletin, there has been an extremely high rate of demand for Employment numbers, primarily for USCIS adjustment of status applicants as a result of the successful implementation of their new interview process. Therefore, pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act, it has been necessary to impose E2, E3, and EW Final Action Dates for the month of September with these dates being imposed immediately for new requests for visa numbers. This action will allow the Department to hold worldwide number use within the maximum allowed under the FY-2018 annual limits.
The implementation of the above mentioned dates will only be temporary and in October, the first month of fiscal year 2019, the final action dates will be returned to those established for August.
Readers were also advised in item F of the July Visa Bulletin that some retrogression might occur prior to the end of the fiscal year. It has been necessary to retrogress the September Final Action Dates for the China Employment-based Second, and India Employment Second, Third, and Third Other Worker preferences in an effort to hold worldwide number use within the maximum allowed under their FY-2018 annual limits. This will only be temporary and in October, the first month of fiscal year 2019, the final action dates will be returned to those established for August.
Visa availability in the coming monthsFAMILY-sponsored categories (potential monthly movement)
Worldwide dates:
F1: Up to three weeks (after October recovery)
F2A: Three to five weeks
F2B: Up to six weeks
F3: Three to five weeks (after October recovery)
Released Aug 7, 2018. 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.