June Visa Bulletin: Retrogressions in 5 Categories

May 18, 2016

The Department of State has released the June Visa Bulletin, which contains year-plus retrogressions in 5 categories: India EB-2; India EB-3; China EB-2; China F-4; and, India F-4. In addition, USCIS has confirmed that it will accept filings based on the “Final Action ” chart for both family-based applicants and employment-based applications during the month of June. The full charts are below, with retrogressions noted (click to enlarge).

Charts to Use for June Adjustment Applications

Family-based: Final Action

Employment based: Final Action

If you are outside of the United States and will be applying for an Immigrant Visa at a U.S. Consulate, you should continue to exclusively consult the dates and information listed at the Department of State’s visa bulletin website.

DOS Guidance on Retrogressions

Having warned that these retrogressions were coming, the DOS offers the following guidance regarding the five retrogressions noted above:

FAMILY-SPONSORED:

CHINA F4:  The increased level of applicant demand being received has necessitated retrogression of the June final action date, in an effort to hold number use within the overall China Family-sponsored annual limit. At this time, it is not possible to predict whether this date will advance prior to the end of the fiscal year.

INDIA F4:  The increased level of applicant demand being received has necessitated retrogression of the June final action date, in an effort to hold number use within the overall India Family-sponsored annual limit. This date is not expected to advance prior to the end of the fiscal year. 

EMPLOYMENT-BASED:

INDIA E2:  During the past two months, there have been extremely high levels of Employment-based demand for adjustment of status cases filed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.  This has necessitated retrogression of the Second preference final action date for the month of June in an effort to hold number use within the FY-2016 annual limit. This date is expected to advance slowly during the last three months of the fiscal year, at a pace consistent with that of the India Employment-based Third preference date.    

CHINA E2 and E3:  During the past two months, there have been extremely high levels of Employment-based demand for adjustment of status cases filed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.  This has necessitated retrogression of both the Second and Third preference final action dates for the month of June in an effort to hold number use within those FY-2016 annual limits. Neither of these dates is expected to advance prior to the end of the fiscal year.     
Item D of the May Visa Bulletin advised readers that such corrective action might be necessary to control future number use during the coming months.  Every effort will be made to return the retrogressed dates to those listed in the May 2016 Visa Bulletin as quickly as possible, once the FY-2017 annual limits take effect October 1, 2016.  Speculation on how quickly, or when, a full recovery might occur might not be possible until late summer.

Related Links:

“Filing” Chart vs. “Final Action” Chart

Starting With November, USCIS To Issue Monthly Decision Between “Filing” and “Final Action” Charts

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TAGS: Visa Bulletin