August 2016 Visa Bulletin Released
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) released the August 2016 Visa Bulletin. Next month’s Visa Bulletin reports significant changes in the Final Action Dates Chart.
Most notably, as predicted in the new “Visa Availability in the Coming Months” section in the July 2016 Visa Bulletin, the status for the Employment-Based EB-1 category, for both India and China has changed from current to January 1, 2010. DOS expects the EB-1 category for India and China to return to “current” by the October bulletin. DOS also notes that this significant change is due to the high level of demand and to keep the quota within the E-1 annual limit. Similarly, all Employment-Based EB-2 categories are now subject to a priority date in the August 2016 Visa Bulletin, with only China avoiding movement. DOS has also announced oversubscription of Employment-Based EB-4 visas for India. Categories that were previously current in the EB-2 and EB-4 categories are also expected to return to “current” in the October 2016 Visa Bulletin.
In the August 2016 Visa Bulletin, the Dates for Filing Chart, EB1, EB2, and EB3 categories remain unchanged since the April 2016 Visa Bulletin. However, a significant change is seen in the EB-3 category for the Philippines.
PLEASE NOTE: At this time, USCIS is not accepting pre-filings for any employment based categories. EIG will continue to monitor the situation and will notify individuals once their priority date is current for filing. For more information, please visit the USCIS website.
The Visa Bulletin can be further summarized below:
Application Final Action Dates (dates when visas may be issued):
EB-1
- Persons in the EB-1 category and born in China are current if they have a priority date before the cut-off date of January 1, 2010. This category was previously current.
- 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, 2010. This category was previously current.
- The worldwide quota, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and the Philippines remain current.
EB-2
- 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, 2010. 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 November 15, 2004. This category has advanced by 14 days.
- Persons in the worldwide quota, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and the Philippines are current if they have a priority date before the cut-off date of February 1, 2014. This category was previously current.
EB-3
- Persons in the EB-3 category and falling into the worldwide quota are current if they have a priority date before the cut-off date of March 15, 2016. This category advanced 14 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 January 1, 2010. This category remains unchanged.
- Persons in the EB-3 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, 2016. This category advanced 14 days.
- Persons in the EB-3 category and born in India are current if they have a priority date before the cut-off date of November 8, 2004. This category has advanced by 17 days.
- Persons in the EB-3 category and born in Mexico are current if they have a priority date before the cut-off date of March 15, 2016. This category advanced 14 days.
- 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 May 15, 2009. This category has advanced by 3 months.
EB-4
- 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 January 1, 2010. This category remains unchanged.
- Persons in the EB-4 category and born in India are current if they have a priority date before the cut-off of January 1, 2010. This category was previously current.
- Persons in the EB-4 category and born in Mexico are current if they have a priority date before the cut-off date of January 1, 2010. This category remains unchanged.
- The worldwide quota, China, and the Philippines remain current.
EB-5
- Persons in the EB-5 category Non Regional Center (C5 and T5) and born in China are current if they have a priority date before the cut-off date of February 15, 2014. This category remains unchanged.
- The worldwide quota, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Mexico, and the Philippines remain current.
Dates for Filing Applications (earliest dates when applicants may be able to apply):
EB-1
- All countries remain current.
EB-2
- Persons in the EB-2 category and born in China are current if they have a priority date before the cut-off date of June 1, 2013. 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 1, 2009. This category remains unchanged.
- The worldwide quota, Mexico, and the Philippines remain current.
EB-3
- 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, 2015. 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 July 1, 2005. This category remains unchanged.
- 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 January 1, 2013. This category advanced by 3 years.
- The worldwide quota and Mexico are now current.
EB-4
- All countries are current.
EB-5
- Persons in the EB-5 category and born in China are current if they have a priority date before the cut-off date of May 1, 2015. This category remains unchanged.
- The worldwide quota, India, Mexico, and the Philippines remain current.
The complete Visa Bulletin for August 2016 can be found here.