December 2018 Visa Bulletin: Modest Movement for Some Categories

The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has released the December 2018 Visa Bulletin. There is a bit of movement for most of the oversubscribed categories, including in the employment-based, first preference (EB1) category. All cutoff dates referenced refer to the dates in the final action (FA) chart, unless otherwise specified.

Summary of the December 2018 Visa Bulletin

Employment-Based, First Preference (EB1) Category

The cutoff dates for EB1 India and China moves to September 1, 2016. For all other countries of chargeability, the cutoff date is set at July 1, 2017.

Employment-Based, Second Preference (EB2) Category

In December, EB2 India inches forward by less than a week, to a new cutoff date of April 1, 2009. EB2 China, meanwhile, moves ahead by six weeks, to July 1, 2015.

Employment-Based, Third Preference (EB3) Category

EB3 India advances by two months, to a March 1, 2009 cutoff date. EB3 Philippines moves up to June 15, 2017. EB3 China remains unchanged, with a June 8, 2015 cutoff date.

Note that the cutoff date for EB3 India in the dates for filing (DF) chart also advances, to January 1, 2010

EB3 Other Workers

With the exception of China, the cutoff dates for EB3 other workers are the same for each country as their respective EB3 cutoff date. For China, the cutoff date for EB3 other workers is June 1, 2007.

Employment-Based, Fourth Preference (EB4) Category

In the EB4 category, EB4 Mexico advances to January 1, 2017. EB4 for El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras moves up to February 22, 2016.

Employment-Based, Fifth Preference (EB5) Category

EB5 China advances by one week, to August 22, 2014. The EB5 Vietnam cutoff date moves up to May 1, 2016. The category remains current for all other countries.

Conclusion

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Disclaimer: The information provided here is of a general nature and may not apply to any specific or particular circumstance. It is not to be construed as legal advice nor presumed indefinitely up to date.