September 2020 Visa Bulletin Released

The Department of State (DOS) released the September 2020 visa bulletin today. The employment-based categories see little to no movement in September 2020, as is expected at the end of the fiscal year 2020. The cut-off date for the EB-1 category for persons born in India and China will advance by 21 days to March 1, 2018. All other countries in the EB-1 category remain unchanged. Small changes were recorded in the EB-5 category, where China will advance by 7 days to August 15, 2015, and Vietnam will advance by 10 days to August 1, 2017.

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 to initiate the next step of the green card process. We have also summarized frequently asked questions in our August 8 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.

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

PLEASE NOTE: At this time, USCIS has not indicated whether it will be using Chart A or B for September. For more information, please visit the USCIS website.

The September 2020 Visa Bulletin can be found here and is summarized below:

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. These categories remain unchanged. 
  • Persons in the EB-1 category and born in China are current if they have a priority date before the cut-off date of March 1, 2018. This category advanced by 21 days.
  • 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 1, 2018. This category advanced by 21 days.
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. These categories remain 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 January 15, 2016. This category remains unchanged.
  • 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 8, 2009. This category remains unchanged. 
EB-3
  • Persons in the EB-3 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 01, 2019. 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 February 15, 2017. This category remains unchanged. 
  • Persons in the EB-3 category and born in India are current if they have a priority date before the cut-off date of October 1, 2009. This category remains unchanged. 
EB-4
  • Persons in the EB-4 category born in China, India, the Philippines, Vietnam, or in the worldwide quota are current. These categories remain 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 April 1, 2017. This category remains unchanged. 
  • Persons in the EB-4 category and born in Mexico are current if they have a priority date before the cut-off date of June 15, 2018. This category remains unchanged.
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 August 15, 2015. This category advanced by 7 days.
  • 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 August 1, 2017. This category advanced by 10 days.
  • Persons in the EB-5 Non-Regional Center (C5 and T5) category and born in India, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, the Philippines, or in the worldwide are current. These categories remain 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. These categories remain unchanged.
  • Persons in the EB-1 category and born in China are current if they have a priority date before the cut-off date of July 1, 2018. This category remains unchanged.
  • Persons in the EB-1 category and born in India are current if they have a priority date before the cut-off date of July 1, 2018. This category remains unchanged.
EB-2
  • Persons in the EB-2 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-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 remains unchanged.
  • Persons in the EB-2 category and born in India are current if they have a priority date before the cut-off date of August 15, 2009. This category remains unchanged. 
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 if they have a priority date before the cut-off date of April 1, 2020. 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 May 1, 2017. This category remains unchanged.
  • 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, 2010. This category remains unchanged. 
EB-4 
  • Persons in the EB-4 category and born in China, India, Mexico, the Philippines, or in the worldwide quota are current. These categories remain 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 October 1, 2017. This category remains unchanged.
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 December 15, 2015. This category remains unchanged.
  • 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 September 2020 can be found here