March Visa Bulletin

February 18, 2016

The Department of State has released the March Visa Bulletin, and USCIS has issued its decision as to which charts will be applicable for adjustment applicants seeking to file in March:

Chart to Use in March for Adjustment Applicants

Family-based: Filing Dates

Employment-based: Final Action Dates

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.

Forward Guidance

The Department of State has provided the following estimates for priority date cutoff movement in the coming months:

VISA AVAILABILITY IN THE COMING MONTHS

FAMILY-sponsored categories (potential monthly movement)

Worldwide dates:

F1:    Three to five weeks
F2A:   Up to one month
F2B:   Up to three weeks
F3:     Up to four weeks
F4:     Three to four weeks

EMPLOYMENT-based categories (potential monthly movement)

Employment First:    Current

Employment Second:

Worldwide: Current

China:        Up to five months.

India:         Up to three months.

Employment Third:

Worldwide: The rapid forward movement of this cut-off date during the past ten months should generate a significant amount of
demand for numbers. When such demand begins to
materialize it will be necessary to limit movement of this
cut-off date.

China:        Up to five months.
India:         Up to one month.
Mexico:      Will remain at the worldwide date.
Philippines: Up to four months.

Employment Fourth:  Current for most countries

Employment Fifth:    The category will remain “Current” for most countries.

China-mainland born: Slow forward movement.

The above projections for the Family and Employment categories indicate what is likely to happen on a monthly basis through June based on current applicant demand patterns. Readers should never assume that recent trends in cut-off date movements are guaranteed for the future, or that “corrective” action will not be required at some point in an effort to maintain number use within the applicable annual limits. The determination of the actual monthly cut-off dates is subject to fluctuations in applicant demand and a number of other variables.

 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: Department of State, EB2, EB3, USCIS, Visa Bulletin