Employment-based filings and family-sponsored fillings will use the dates for filing charts for the second consecutive month. The last time this happened was 2 years ago in November 2016. This means that several persons with priority dates that will otherwise be unavailable if the final action dates were to be used can submit their permanent residency application.
Overview
There are no differences between the dates for filing for October and those for November.
Summary of Employment-Based Preference Petitions
For employment-based preference petitions, the dates for filing will be used as the cut-off dates.
Final Action Dates Front
On the final action dates front, there are slight movements. This is based on the predictions of Charles (“Charlie”) Oppenheim, Chief of the Visa Control and Reporting Division, U.S. Department of State.
EB-1
For EB-1 category, all dates remain the stay in November. However, in December, there is expected to be a forward movement for EB-1 India, EB-1 China, and EB-1 Worldwide. Although it is yet unclear just how much movement is to be seen, they will not return to the current in the 2018 calendar year.
China’s EB-2 and EB-3 Movements
In November, EB-2 China will move by 1½ months, while EB-3 China will remain the same at June 1, 2015. This means that EB-3 China will be ahead of EB-2 China by just 2 weeks. Based on demand data, EB-2 China should continue to see forward movement, while EB-3 China remains the same. Because of the continual advancement of EB-2 China, it is possible that EB-2 China can surpass EB-3 China.
India’s EB-2 and EB-3 Movements
For EB-2 India and EB-3 India, there will be no advancement in November. If there are to be a movement for EB-2 India in December, it will be no more than just a week. In December, EB-3 India should see a substantial forward surge of a few weeks to even months. The substantial rapid advancement of EB-3 India over the past year couple with current demand projections suggest that EB-3 India can surpass EB-2 India this fiscal year.
EB-3 Philippines and Other Workers Philippines
For EB-3 Philippines and Other Workers Philippines, there will be a forward movement of one week to June 8, 2017. There should be a little movement for the rest of the first quarter of the FY2018. The slowdown in advancement is because of increased demand caused by substantial advances that occurred over the past fiscal year.
EB-4
EB-4 El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras final actions dates will remain the same at February 15, 2016, in November because of potential demand. FB-4 Mexico, on the other hand, will advance steadily until the country’s limit is reached. From there, FB-4 Mexico and EB-4 El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras will have the same final action dates.
EB-5 (Regional Center and Non-Regional Center)
For China, EB-5 final action date should be the same in November at August 15, 2014. EB-5 Vietnam should advance until the country’s limit is reached. From there, the final action date for EB-5 Vietnam will follow that of EB-5 China. This is based on Charlie Oppenheim’s predictions for November.
Summary of Family-Based Preference Categories
For family-sponsored preference petitions, the dates for filing will be used as the cut-off dates for November 2018.
Final Action Dates Front
On the final action date front, there is movement. This is based on the predictions of Charles (“Charlie”) Oppenheim, Chief of the Visa Control and Reporting Division, U.S. Department of State. All the final action dates for family-based petitions advanced apart from FB-1 Mexico and FB-3 Mexico – both will remain on August 1, 1997, and December 22, 1995, respectively. Also, demand for FB-3 India is high, and as reported by Charlie Oppenheim, there has been this much consistent demand in the FB-3 category for any other country.
EB Preference Cases – Dates for Filing, November 2018
For November 2018, there are no changes.
EB-1 Category
- India – October 1, 2017
- China ( Mainland-born) – October 1,2017
- All other chargeability areas including Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Mexico, and the Philippines – June 1, 2018
EB-2 Category
- India – May 22, 2009
- China (mainland-born) – June 15, 2015
- All other chargeability areas including Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Mexico, and the Philippines – Current
EB-3 Category
- India – October 1, 2009
- China (mainland-born) – August 8, 2015
- Philippines – July 1, 2017
- All other chargeability areas including Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Mexico – Current
EB-3 (Other Workers)
- India – October 1, 2009
- China (mainland-born) – June 1, 2008
- Philippines – July 1, 2017
- All other chargeability areas including Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Mexico – Current
EB-4 Category including Certain Religious Workers
- India – Current
- China (mainland-born) – Current
- Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador – May 1, 2016
- All other chargeability areas including the Philippines and Mexico – Current
EB-5 Category including both Non-Regional Center (C5 and T5) and 5th Regional Center (I5 and R5)
- India – Current
- China (mainland-born) – October 1, 2014
- All other chargeability areas including Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Mexico, and the Philippines – Current
Family-Sponsored Preference Cases – Dates for Filing, November 2018
Just as in October, for November the USCIS will honour dates for filing. Also, for November 2018, there are no changes.
FB-1 Category
- India – March 8, 2012
- China (mainland born) – March 8, 2012
- Philippines – February 15, 2008
- Mexico – October 8, 1998
- All other chargeability areas – March 8, 2012
FB-2A Category
- All foreign nationals – December 1, 2017
FB-2B Category
- India – March 22, 2014
- China (mainland born) – March 22, 2014
- The Philippines – December 15, 2007
- Mexico – June 22, 1997
- All other chargeability areas – March 22, 2014
FB-3 Category
- India – January 8, 20017
- China (mainland-born) – January 8, 20017
- Philippines – June 1, 1997
- Mexico – December 22, 1998
- All other chargeability areas – January 8, 20017
FB-4 Category :
- India – January 1, 2005
- China (mainland born) – June 1, 2005
- Philippines – April 8, 1996
- Mexico – June 22, 1998
- All other chargeability areas – June 1, 2005
Sources
1. USCIS. (2018). When to File Your Adjustment of Status Application for Family-Sponsored or Employment-Based Preference Visas: November 2018. Retrieved October 20, 2018,
2. USCIS. (2018). Adjustment of Status Filing Charts from the Visa Bulletin. Retrieved October 20, 2018
3.AILA. (2018). Check-in with DOS’s Charlie Oppenheim – AILA Doc. No. 14071401.