Business Immigration Insights

The Visa Bulletin is released monthly by the Department of State and is used to determine when a sponsored foreign national can submit the final step of the green card process. The complete visa bulletin can be found here.

Below is a summary of the January Visa Bulletin, including Final Action Dates and changes from the previous month.

• China: EB-1 advances three and a half months to December 15, 2016, EB-2 creeps ahead one month to August 1, 2015, and EB-3 stalls at June 8, 2015
• India: EB-1 also advances three and a half months to December 15, 2016, EB-2 freezes at April 1, 2009, and EB-3 remains March 1, 2009
• Philippines: EB-1 advances three months to October 1, 2017, EB-2 remains current, and EB-3 moves forward another week, advancing to June 22, 2017
• All Other Countries: EB-1 remains backlogged, but advances three months to October 1, 2017, EB-2 and EB-3-remain current

NOTE: USCIS has announced that it will accept I-485 applications in January based on the Department of State’s Dates for Filing chart.