Special Alert: December 2015 Visa Bulletin Released

December 2015 Visa Bulletin Released

The U.S. Department of State has released the December 2015 Visa Bulletin.

Please note that in the “pre-registration” chart, all categories remain unchanged since the November 2015 release.

In the December 2015 Visa Bulletin, India sees a small advancement in the EB-2 and EB-3 Categories for the final action dates, while China remains unchanged in the EB-2 Category and sees an advancement in the EB-3 Category. The Visa Bulletin can be summarized as follows:


 

Application Final Action Dates (consistent with prior Visa Bulletins, dates when visas may be issued):

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 February 1, 2012. 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 June 1, 2007. This category has advanced by 10 months. 
  • The worldwide quota, Mexico, and the Philippines remain 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 September 1, 2015. This category has advanced by 17 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 April 15, 2012. This category has advanced by 3 months 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 April 22, 2004. This category has advanced by 21 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 September 1, 2015. This category has advanced by 17 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 August 1, 2007. This category has advanced by 1 month 17 days. 

EB-4 

  • All countries 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 December 15, 2013. This category has advanced by 23 days. 
  • The worldwide quota, India, Mexico, and the Philippines remain current.

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

Highlights:  Although visa numbers are not available, you can still file your Adjustment of Status application if your priority date is earlier than:

EB-1

  • All countries are 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, 2013This 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 are 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 September 1, 2015This category remains 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 October 1, 2013. 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, 2005This category remains unchanged.
  • Persons in the EB-3 category and born in Mexico are current if they have a priority date before the cut-off date of September 1, 2015This 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, 2010This category remains unchanged.

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 December 2015 can be found here.