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November 2017 Visa Bulletin

The November 2017 Visa Bulletin was released this morning. Most notably, the potentially monthly movement was less than anticipated in the October 2017 visa bulletin.

November 2017

For all countries except India, China, Philippines, and Mexico: F2A category priority date advances 24 days to 15 November 2015, F2B preference advances 7 days to a PD of 15 November 2010, F4 category advances 14 days to 22 May 2004; EB1, EB2, and EB3 all remain current.

For India only:  F2A category advances 25 days with the priority date 15 November 2015, F2B preference advances 7 days to a PD of 15 November 2010, F4 advances 21 days to a PD of 22 October 2003; EB1 remains current; EB2 advances 23 days to a PD of 8 October 2008; EB3 remains at a PD of 15 October 2006.

For China Only: EB1 returns to current; EB2 advances 24 days to 15 June 2013; EB3 advances 31 days to a PD of 1 February 2014; EB5 Non-Regional Center and Regional Center advance 9 days to a PD of 1 July 2014.

Can file your immigrant applications if PD before:

F2A 1 November 2016; F2B 1 September 2011; F4 15 November 2004 for All Areas except India, China, Philippines, and Mexico and 22 June 2004 for India

EB1 is current for all countries; EB2 All Countries except India and China are current; EB3 All countries except China, India, and the Philippines are current; EB2 India remains at 8 February 2009; EB3 India remains at 1 January 2008 EB2 China advances to 15 November 2013; EB3 China remains at 1 September 2015; EB5 China (RC and non-RC) remains at 1 October 2014.

*If you have any questions or comments, you are welcome to get in touch with us. Please email us at [email protected] 

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Notes copied from the Department of State regarding Visa availability:

*NOTE: For November, F2A numbers EXEMPT from per-country limit are authorized for issuance to applicants from all countries with priority dates earlier than 01NOV15. F2A numbers SUBJECT to per-country limit are authorized for issuance to applicants chargeable to all countries EXCEPT MEXICO with priority dates beginning 01NOV15 and earlier than 15NOV15. All F2A numbers provided for MEXICO are exempt from the per-country limit.

D.  SPECIAL IMMIGRANT (SI) TRANSLATOR CATEGORY VISA AVAILABILITY

Given the limited availability of visa numbers and the existing demand, the Department expects to reach the FY-2018 annual limit of 50 Special Immigrant Visas in the SI category early in the Fiscal Year.  As a result, it has been necessary to hold the November Final Action Date at April 1, 2010.  It is likely that number use will require the SI category to become “unavailable” in the coming months.  Once the annual limit of 50 visas is reached, further issuances in the SI category will not be possible until October 2018, under the FY-2019 annual limit.  The SQ Special Immigrant Visa category for certain Iraqi and Afghan nationals employed by or on behalf of the U.S. government in Iraq or Afghanistan is not affected and remains current.