Overview of March 2017 Visa Bulletin Overview and Short-Term Predictions

There are no real surprises in the March 2017 Visa Bulletin. There is no movement in the dates for filing (DF) chart, and the final action (FA) chart advances are about what was expected. This month’s visa bulletin also includes a number of predictions for future cutoff date movement.

Visa Bulletin Summary

Employment-Based, Second Preference (EB2)

EB2 India advances by six weeks, to June 1, 2008, and is expected to advance by up to four weeks per month for the next several months. The cutoff date for EB2 China moves up by six weeks, to December 15, 2012, and may progress by up to five weeks per month.

Employment-Based, Third Preference (EB3)

The cutoff date for EB3 India sees no movement this month, remaining at March 22, 2005, and is expect to see little-if-any movement in the coming months. EB3 China’s cutoff date moves up by five-and-a-half months, to March 15, 2014. The EB3 cutoff date for the Philippines advances by five months, to March 15, 2012. EB3 China and EB3 Philippines may both advance by up to six months per month.

Employment-Based, Third Preference (EB3) Other Workers

Once again, the cutoff dates for EB3 other workers continue to match the general EB3 cutoff dates for all countries other than China. EB3 other workers for China moves ahead to February 1, 2006.

Employment-Based Fourth Preference (EB4)

In the EB4 category, the cutoff date for El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico remains unchanged at July 15, 2015. This category is current for all other countries of chargeability. The EB4 category may advance a bit during the summer for the oversubscribed countries.

Employment-Based Fifth Preference (EB5)

EB5 China advances by a couple of weeks, to May 1, 2014, and is expected to continue advancing at a very slow pace. This category remains current for all other countries, and should remain current for all other countries of chargeability.

Conclusion

The March 2017 Visa Bulletin is disappointing for many, but hardly surprising. Subscribe to the MurthyBulletin for future updates on the visa bulletin and other immigration law matters.

Copyright © 2017, MURTHY LAW FIRM. All Rights Reserved