December Visa Bulletin: Filing Dates Remain Static for 2nd Straight Month

November 16, 2016

The December 2016 Visa Bulletin (like the November 2016 Visa Bulletin before it) shows no “Filing Date” movement in either direction for any Employment-based or Family-based categories. And also as in November, USCIS has indicated that they will accept adjustment applications based on these “Filing Date” charts*. This means that anyone who was eligible to submit an adjustment application in October and November will remain eligible to do so in December. The “Final Action” dates (which indicate visa number availability) mostly moved forward by a few weeks or months, and can be seen here.

“Filing Date” Chart for Family-Based Applicants

“Filing Date” Chart for Employment-Based Applicants

*All Employment-based categories should consult the above chart, with the exception of 5th preference (all areas), which should consult the “Final Action” chart.

Future Priority Date Movement

The Department of State provided helpful guidance regarding the future availability of visa numbers for employment-based applicants:

The level of demand in many Employment-based categories for cases filed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for adjustment of status increased significantly late last winter.  Those levels have been sustained, and at this time there are no signs that demand is diminishing. The following updates to previous projections regarding visa availability are being announced in an effort to provide the maximum amount of advance notice:  

First:  Current during the coming months.  However, it will be necessary to impose a Final Action Date for China-mainland born and India at some point.

Second:  Current for the foreseeable future.  But, based on the current demand pattern it appears likely that it will be necessary to impose a Worldwide, Mexico, and Philippines Final Action Date no later than July.

Third:  The level of demand appears to be increasing at the long-anticipated rate.  Therefore, this date has been held for December, and is likely to hold once again for January, while determining if this increased level will be sustained.

–  INDIA Third: Movement of this date will be limited to one week, then the date will hold for several months, then move one week, then likely to hold.  

Related Links:

“Filing” Chart vs. “Final Action” Chart

Starting November 2015, USCIS To Issue Monthly Decision Between “Filing” and “Final Action” Charts

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TAGS: Visa Bulletin