May 2017 Visa Bulletin: Unusual Movement in Dates for Filing Chart

The May 2017 Visa Bulletin was released this afternoon. In the final action (FA) chart, India sees virtually no movement, with the employment-based, second preference (EB2) category holding steady at June 22, 2008, and the employment-based, third preference (EB3) category inching forward by a single day, to March 25, 2005. Meanwhile, EB2 China advances by three weeks, to February 8, 2013, and EB3 China moves up by six weeks, to October 1, 2014. EB3 Philippines continues to advance rapidly, to January 1, 2013.

More notably, there is some significant movement in the dates for filing (DF) chart. EB2 India retrogresses by ten weeks, to February 1, 2009. Yet, EB3 India advances by more than nine months in the DF chart, to April 22, 2006. EB2 China in the DF chart advances to seven months, to October 1, 2013, and EB3 China shoots ahead by sixteen months, to September 1, 2015. EB3 Philippines also sees strong movement, advancing by ten months, to July 1, 2014.

No indication has yet been provided by the DOS as to why the sudden movement in the DF chart. More importantly, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has yet to indicate whether the DF chart may be used in May 2017 as a basis for filing an adjustment of status application. As soon as any new information is released, the details will be posted on MurthyDotCom.

 

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