The Department of State (DOS) has issued its July 2018 Visa Bulletin.  Most notably, the Employment-Based (“EB”)-3 category for Chinese nationals retrogressed dramatically by two years and five months to January 1, 2013.  EB-2 for Chinese and Indian nationals, and EB-3 for Indian nationals made significant advances while EB-1 for Chinese and Indian nationals and EB-3 for Philippine nationals had no movement.

EB-1-Worldwide:                Priority dates are current, except:

                        China:            January 1, 2012

                        India:              January 1, 2012

                                                No advancement from last month’s VB.

EB-2-Worldwide:                Priority dates are current, except:                      

                        China:            January 1, 2015

                                                Four-month advancement from last month’s VB                                             

                        India:              March 15, 2009

                                                80-day advancement from last month’s VB

EB-3-Worldwide:                Priority dates are current, except

                        China:            January 1, 2013

                                                Two years & five months retrogression from last month’s VB

                        India:              November 1, 2008

                                                Six-month advancement from last month’s VB

                        Philippines:  January 1, 2017

                                                No advancement from last month’s VB

USCIS ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS DATES

If USCIS determines that there are more immigrant visas available for a fiscal year than there are known applicants for such visas, the USCIS will state on www.uscis.gov/visabulletininfo that you may use the Dates for Filing Visa Applications chart in the Department of State June 2018 Visa Bulletin. Otherwise, USCIS will indicate on its web site that you must use the Application Final Action Dates chart to determine when you may file your adjustment of status application in the United States.  For July 2018, USCIS has determined that the Final Action Dates (listed above) must be used for employment-based filings. 

This alert is for informational purposes.  If you would like to discuss these developments further, please do not hesitate to contact us.