The U.S. Department of State released the September 2021 Visa Bulletin on August 13, 2021. Overall, EB-2 for China and India showed three (3) months of progression, and EB-3 for India showed six (6) months of progress under Final Action Dates (Chart A). EB-2 for China and EB-3 for India progressed by at least one (1) month under Dates for Filing (Chart B). Future visa bulletins should continue to progress forward as they have in past months.
PLEASE NOTE: The USCIS has indicated they will accept adjustment of status applications pursuant to Final Action Dates (Chart A) for September 2021 at this time. For more information, please visit the USCIS website.
FINAL ACTION DATES (Chart A):
EB-1:
EB-2:
The Final Action Dates for the EB-2 category for people born in China advanced by 3 months to July 1, 2018. The EB-2 category for people born in India advanced by 3 months to September 1, 2011.
EB-3:
The Final Action Dates for the EB-3 category for people born in China remain unchanged at January 8, 2019. The EB-3 category for people born in India advanced by 6 months to January 1, 2014.
EB-4:
The Final Action Dates for the EB-4 category for people born in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras advanced by 2.5 months to March 15, 2019. The EB-4 category for people born in Mexico advanced by 1 month to March 1, 2020.
DATES FOR FILING (Chart B):
The Dates for Filing for EB-1 employment-based category in the Dates for Filing (Chart B) remain current for all countries.
EB-2:
The Dates for Filing for the EB-2 category for people born in China advanced by 2 months to September 1, 2018. The EB-2 category for people born in India remains unchanged at December 1, 2011.
EB-3:
The Dates for Filing for the EB-3 category for people born in China remains unchanged at July 1, 2019. The EB-3 category for people born in India advanced by 1 month to March 1, 2014.
EB-4:
The Dates for Filing for the EB-4 category for people born in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras advanced by 2.5 months to May 15, 2019.
The EIG team closely monitors changes to the monthly visa bulletin and will determine the best plan of action for each case. We will reach 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.
The September 2021 Visa Bulletin can be found here and is summarized below:
Final Action Dates (dates when visas may be issued)
EB-1
- Persons in the EB-1 category and born in China, Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, India, the Philippines, Vietnam, or in the worldwide quota are current.
- 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 July 1, 2018. This category advanced by 3 months.
- Persons in the EB-2 category and born in India are current if they have a priority date before the cut-off date of September 1, 2011. This category advanced by 3 months.
- Persons in the EB-3 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-3 category and born in China are current if they have a priority date before the cut-off date of January 8, 2019. 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 January 1, 2014. This category advanced by 6 months.
- 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 March 15, 2019. This category advanced by 2.5 months.
- Persons in the EB-4 category and born in Mexico are current if they have a priority date before the cut-off date of March 1, 2020. This category advanced by 1 month.
- 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 November 22, 2015. This category advanced by 7 days.
- Persons in the EB-5 Non-Regional Center (C5 and T5) category and born in India, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, the Philippines, Vietnam, or in the worldwide quota 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 China, Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, India, the Philippines, or in the worldwide quota are current. These categories remain unchanged.
- 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 September 1, 2018. This category advanced by 2 months.
- Persons in the EB-2 category and born in India are current if they have a priority date before the cut-off date of December 1, 2011. This category remains unchanged.
- Persons in the EB-3 category and born in Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, the Philippines, or in the worldwide quota are now 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 July 1, 2019. 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 March 1, 2014. This category advanced by 1 month.
- 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 May 15, 2019. This category advanced by 2.5 months.
- 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.