IIn the green card process of getting a permanent residence, the prospective immigrants should stay well-informed and track changes in immigrant numbers stated in the monthly U.S. Visa Bulletin, published by the U.S. Department of State (DOS). This document contains the priority dates for every preference category determined by the date when the petition is filled.
The availability of immigrant visa numbers can be limited in specific categories and per-country. If the number of demands exceeds the numerical limits, this category is considered oversubscribed, and cut-off dates are set.
If the individual`s priority date is earlier than the cut-off date in the applicable chart, or if the preference category shows as “C” (current), it means that an immigrant visa is available for this applicant.
When it comes to November 2020 Visa Bulletin U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has stated that all employment-based and family-sponsored visa applicants that already live in the United States should use “Dates for filling applications,” except F2A category (spouses and children of permanent residents) which is pleading as “current,” and may use “Final Action Dates” chart.
Applicants that file visa demands outside of the United States should use the “Final Action Dates” chart.
Similar to the trend which has started with October`s Visa Bulletin, there is a final action cut-off dates advancement for India and China in the employment-based categories:
- EB-1: Both India and China forwarded from June 18, 2018, to December 1, 2018. Those six months were the giant leap. All other countries remain the same.
- EB-2: India forwards from September 1, 2009, to September 22, 2009, China forwards from March 1, 2016, to April 22, 2016. All other countries remain the same.
- EB-3: India forwards from January 15, 2010, to March 1, 2010, China forwards from July 1, 2017, to October 1, 2017
- EB-5: India shows as C (current), China is still at August 15, 2015
This is significant progress in dates for applicants from these two countries, given that the backlogs were from 5 to 10 years long.
Dates for filling employed-based green cards has not changed compared to October Visa Bulleting:
- EB-1: cut-off date for both India and China is on September 1, 2020
- EB-2: cut-off date for India is on May 15, 2011, China was on October 1, 2016
- EB-3: cut-off date for India is January 1, 2015, while China was on June 1, 2018
- EB-5: India shows as “C” (current), while China was on December 15, 2015
There were no advancements in priority dates for family-sponsored green card categories.
Final action date chart:
- F1: cut-off date for both India and China is on September 15, 2014
- F2A: both India and China are stated as current
- F2B: cut-off date for both India and China is on July 8, 2015
- F3: cut-off date for both India and China is on June 15, 2008
- F4: cut-off date for India is March 8, 2005, and for China is September 22, 2006
Dates for filling family-sponsored adjustment of status application are:
- F1: cut-off date for both India and China is on July 22, 2015
- F2B: cut-off for both India and China is on May 1, 2016
- F3: cut-off date for both India and Chiana is on June 1, 2009
- F4: India is on November 22, 2005, while China was on September 15, 2007
Due to cut-off dates changes in November, it is expected that there will be more movements in the Visa priority date system in the next months.
