The February 2018 Visa bulletin showed modest movement just like the previous months. There are no changes in the dates for filing so that will not be discussed. The final action dates, also known as the priority dates, saw movements. This is discussed in the article.

The cutoff dates are used by individuals who wish to apply for adjustments and immigrant visa unless indicated by the USCIS website. If a foreign national wants to file for an employment-based visa adjustment application in February 2018, the national has to have a cutoff date earlier than listed in the February visa bulletin under the person’s preference and nationality.

Final Action Dates for February 2018 : 

Family-Sponsored Preference Cases : 

F1: For Mexico, the F1 cutoff date was July 1, 1996, and August 1, 2005 for the Philippines. For all other chargeability areas including mainland China and India, the cutoff date was March 11, 2015,

F2A: For Mexico, the F2A cutoff date was February 1, 2016, and March 1, 2016 for the Philippines. For all other chargeability areas including mainland China and India, the cutoff date was also March 1, 2016.

F2B: While Mexico’s F2B cutoff date is September 8, 1996, the Philippines’ is July 22, 2006. For all other chargeability areas including mainland China and India, the cutoff date was January 15, 2011.

F3: Mexico’s F3 cutoff date for the month of February is June 22, 1995, and March 15, 1995 for the Philippines. For all other chargeability areas including mainland China and India, the cutoff date was November 15, 2005.

F4: For India, the F4 cutoff date is January 8, 2004, and for the Philippines is October 1, 1994. Mexico had an F4 cutoff date of November 8, 1997. For all other chargeability areas including mainland China, the cutoff date was July 22, 2004.

Employment-Based Preference Cases

EB-1:For the first employment-based visa preference cases, the cutoff dates remained current for all chargeability areas. This is the same as in the month of January 2018.

EB-2:China had a cutoff date of October 1, 2013, while India had a cutoff date of December 8, 2008. The rest of the areas including El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, Mexico, and the Philippines, the cutoff dateis current for the month of February.

EB-3:For China, the date is September 15, 2014. For India, the date is December 1, 2006. For the Philippines, the date is March 1, 2016. For all other chargeability areas including El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, and Mexico, the cutoff date for EB-3 is current for the month of February.

EB-4:For China, the date is current. For India, the date is also current. For the Philippines, the date is current as well. For El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras the cutoff date was December 1, 2015. For Mexico, the cutoff date is June 22, 2016.For all other chargeability areas, the cutoff date for EB-4 is current for the month of February.

February 2018 Visa Bulletin Tables : 

Final Action Dates (Employment-Based Preference Cases)

Employment-Based Preferences All Other Chargeability Countries and Areas China (Mainland) El Salvador,
Guatemala,
and Honduras
India Mexico The Philippines
EB-1 Current Current Current Current Current Current
EB-2 Current October 1, 2013(was August 8, 2013) Current December 8, 2008 (was November 22, 2008) Current Current
EB-3 Current September 15, 2014(was April 15, 2014) Current December 1, 2006(was November 1, 2006 Current March 1, 2016(was February 15, 2016)
Other Workers Current February 1, 2007(was December 22, 2006 Current December 1, 2006(was November 1, 2006) Current March 1, 2016(was February 15, 2016
EB-4 Current Current December 1, 2015(was December 1, 2015) Current June 22, 2016(was June 1, 2016) Current

Final Action Dates (Family-Sponsored Preference Cases)

Family-
Sponsored 
All Other Chargeability Countries and Areas China (Mainland) India Mexico The Philippines 
F1 March 15, 2011 (remained the same) March 11, 2015(remained the same) March 15, 2011(remained the same) July 1, 1996(was May 1, 1996) August 1, 2005(was January 1, 2005)
F2A March 1, 2016(was February 1, 2016 ) March 1, 2016(was February 1, 2016) March 1, 2016(was February 1, 2016) February 1, 2016(was January 1, 2016 ) March 1, 2016(was February 1, 2016)
F2B January 15, 2011(was December 1, 2010) January 15, 2011(was December 1, 2010) January 15, 2011(was December 1, 2010) September 8, 1996(was August 15, 1996) July 22, 2006(was July 1, 2006)
F3 November 15, 2005(was October 8, 2005) November 15, 2005(was October 8, 2005) November 15, 2005(was October 8, 2005) June 22, 1995(was June 15, 1995) March 15, 1995 (remained the same)
F4 July 22, 2004(was June 22, 2004 ) July 22, 2004(was June 22, 2004) January 8, 2004(was December 15, 2003) November 8, 1997(was November 1, 1997) October 1, 1994(was September 1, 1994)

Sources :

  1. Travel.state.gov. (2018). Visa Bulletin For February 2018.
Published On: February 2nd, 2018 / Categories: Immigration News /

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