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Visa Bulletin December 2015

November 10, 2015

It is month three of the government’s new two tiered system and the shake out between the USCIS and the Department of State over when individuals may actually be permitted to submit applications under the Visa Bulletin’s new “Dates for Filing Visa Applications” category has finally settled. 

Here’s how the process now works under the Dates for Filing Visa Applications category: 

• The Department of State will issue its monthly Visa Bulletin listing the two categories for “Application Final Action Dates,” and “Dates for Filing Applications.”  The story doesn’t end there on Dates for Filing Applications, however.   The USCIS will then issue a validation of Dates for Filing Applications within one week after each Monthly Bulletin on its website. 
• As a result, employees should not rely on the Dates for Filing Applications until they check the USCIS website before filing based on that second category.

The December Visa Bulletin 2015 shows little or no movement in the Application Final Action Dates category other than for India EB-2 nationals, who advance almost one year, and no movement in the Dates for Filing Applications category.

First Cut-Off Date Category for Employment-Based Cases

“Application Final Action Dates”

EB1 - all still “CURRENT” 

EB2 

All others – still “CURRENT” 

China – remains at February 12, 2012

India – advances 10 months to June 1, 2007

Mexico – still “CURRENT” 

Philippines – still “CURRENT” 

EB3                          

All others – advances one month to September 1, 2015

China – advances 3 months to April 15, 2012

India – advances 21 days to April 22, 2004

Mexico – advances one month to September 15, 2015

Philippines – advances 2 months to August 15, 2007

 

Second (New) Cut-off Date Category for Employment-Based Cases

“Dates for Filing Visa Applications”

Note:  Always Check the USCIS website’s upcoming validation for the current Visa Bulletin before relying on these dates.

EB-1

• all current

EB2 

• All others – still “CURRENT” 

EB2 

• All others – still “CURRENT” 
• China –remains at January 1, 2013
• India – remains at July 1, 2009
• Mexico – still “CURRENT” 
• Philippines – “CURRENT” 

EB3                                                  

• All others –remains at September 1, 2015
• China –remains at October 1, 2013
• India –remains at July 1, 2005
• Mexico –remains at September 1, 2015
• Philippines –remains at January 1, 2010