October 2019 Visa Bulletin Released

The U.S. Department of State (DOS) released the October 2019 Visa Bulletin.

EB-2 and EB-3 categories for the worldwide quota have become current once again. Cut-off dates for the EB-2 and EB-3 categories for persons born in China have remained retrogressed since July 2019. For persons born in India, the cut-off dates indicate a slight advance for EB-2 categories since July 2019 and retrogression for the EB-3 category. For EB-1 categories, cut-off dates have returned to dates listed in July 2019 for persons born in Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, the Philippines, Vietnam, or in the worldwide quota while cut-off dates have retrogressed for persons born in China. The Department of State predicts visa availability in the coming months in Section E of the Visa Bulletin and notes that cut-off dates for the EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 for persons in the worldwide quote, born China, and born in India are expected to see some forward movement if dates are not already current. For the EB-2 category for persons born in China, cut-off dates are expected to see forward movement of up to two months. For the EB-2 category for persons born in India, cut-off dates are expected to see forward movement of up to one week.

The EIG team is closely monitoring changes to the monthly visa bulletin and determining the best plan of action for each case. We will be reaching out to individuals whose priority date will be current next month in order to initiate the next step of the green card process. We have also summarized frequently asked questions in our August 8th Issue of the EIG Dispatch. We encourage you to read this article to have a better grasp of the visa bulletin and to understand what your priority date means.

PLEASE NOTE: For the month of October, USCIS has made a determination to accept applications based on the Final Action Dates Chart (Chart A) for the employment-based categories and applications based on the Dates for Filing Chart (Chart B) for the family-based categories. At this time, USCIS has not announced whether it will be accepting pre-filings for any employment-based or family-based categories for the month of October. EIG will continue to monitor the situation and provide an update once USCIS has made a determination. For more information, please visit the USCIS website.

The October 2019 Visa Bulletin can be found here and is summarized below:

Application Final Action Dates (dates when visas may be issued)

EB-1
  • Persons in the EB-1 category and born in Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, the Philippines, Vietnam, or in the worldwide quota are current if they have a priority date before the cut-off date of April 22, 2018. These categories advanced by 6 months 21 days. 
  • Persons in the EB-1 category and born in China are current if they have a priority date before the cut-off date of November 1, 2016. This category advanced by 2 years 10 months.
  • Persons in the EB-1 category and born in India are current if they have a priority date before the cut-off date of January 1, 2015. Visas have become available for the month of October.
EB-2
  • Persons in the EB-2 category and born in Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, the Philippines, Vietnam, or in the worldwide quota are current. This category advanced by 1 year 8 months 17 days.
  • Persons in the EB-2 category and born in China are current if they have a priority date before the cut-off date of January 1, 2015. This category retrogressed by 2 years. 
  • Persons in the EB-2 category and born in India are current if they have a priority date before the cut-off date of May 12, 2009This category advanced by 4 days. 
EB-3
  • Persons in the EB-3 category and born in Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Vietnam, or in the worldwide quota are current. This category advanced by 3 years 2 months 18 days.
  • Persons in the EB-3 category and born in China are current if they have a priority date before the cut-off date of November 1, 2015This category advanced by 1 year 10 months 1 day.
  • Persons in the EB-3 category and born in India are current if they have a priority date before the cut-off date of January 1, 2009. This category advanced by 3 years 6 months 1 day.
  • Persons in the EB-3 category and born in the Philippines are current if they have a priority date before the cut-off date of October 15, 2017. This category advanced by 1 year 3 months 15 days.
EB-4
  • Persons in the EB-4 category and born in China, India, the Philippines, and Vietnam, or in the worldwide quota are current. Visas have become available for the month of October.
  • Persons in the EB-4 category and born in El Salvador, Guatemala, or Honduras are current if they have a priority date before the cut-off date of July 1, 2016. Visas have become available for the month of October.
  • Persons in the EB-4 category and born in Mexico are current if they have a priority date before the cut-off date of May 1, 2017. Visas have become available for the month of October.

EB-5

  • Persons in the EB-5 Non-Regional Center (C5 and T5) category and born in China are current if they have a priority date before the cut-off date of October 22, 2014This category remains unchanged.
  • Persons in the EB-5 Non-Regional Center (C5 and T5) category and born in Vietnam are current if they have a priority date before the cut-off date of October 15, 2016This has advanced 1 year 11 months 24 days.
  • Persons in the EB-5 Non-Regional Center (C5 and T5) category and born in India are current if they have a priority date before the cut-off date of November 22, 2017. This category has advanced by 2 months, 22 days.
    • Persons in the EB-5 Non-Regional Center (C5 and T5) category and born in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, the Philippines, or in the worldwide quota are current. This category remains unchanged.

 


    Dates for Filing Applications (earliest dates when applicants may be able to apply)

    EB-1

    • Persons in the EB-1 category and born in Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, the Philippines, or in the worldwide quota are current if they have a priority date before the cut-off date of July 1, 2019. This has advanced 10 months 1 day.
    • Persons in the EB-1 category and born in China are current if they have a priority date before the cut-off date of September 1, 2017. This category retrogressed by 1 month.
    • Persons in the EB-1 category and born in India are current if they have a priority date before the cut-off date of March 15, 2017. This category retrogressed by 6 months 17 days.
    EB-2

    • Persons in the EB-2 category and born in  El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, the Philippines, or in the worldwide quota are currentThis category remains unchanged.
    • Persons in the EB-2 category and born in China are current if they have a priority date before the cut-off date of August 1, 2016. This category retrogressed by 10 months 1 day.
    • Persons in the EB-2 category and born in India are current if they have a priority date before the cut-off date of July 1, 2009This category advanced by 1 month
    EB-3

    • Persons in the EB-3 category and born in Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, the Philippines or in the worldwide quota are current. These categories remain unchanged. 
    • Persons in the EB-3 category and born in China are current if they have a priority date before the cut-off date of March 1, 2017This category advanced by 9 months 1 day.
    • Persons in the EB-3 category and born in India are current if they have a priority date before the cut-off date of February 1, 2010This category retrogressed by 2 months 1 day. 
    EB-4 
    • Persons in the EB-4 category and born in China, India, Mexico, the Philippines, or in the worldwide quota are currentThis category remains unchanged.
    • Persons in the EB-4 category and born in El Salvador, Guatemala, or Honduras are current if they have a priority date before the cut-off date of August 15, 2016This category retrogressed by 18 days.
    EB-5
    • Persons in the EB-5 Non-Regional Center (C5 and T5) category and born in China are current if they have a priority date before the cut-off date of January 1, 2015. This category has advanced by 1 month 11 days.
    • Persons in the worldwide quota, India, Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, or the Philippines are current. These categories remain unchanged.

    The complete Visa Bulletin for October 2019 can be found here.