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February 2020 Visa Bulletin Commentary

The February 2020 Visa Bulletin was recently released. Nothing particularly of note other than that EB1 India continues to see no movement whatsoever. EB1 India has now seen no forward movement from its 1 January 2015 priority date since it first retrogressed in the June 2019 Visa Bulletin.

 

Commentary:

 

February 2020

 

For all countries except India, China, Philippines, and Mexico: F2A category priority date remains current, F2B preference advances 14 days to a PD of 22 August 2014, F4 category retrogresses 215 days to 1 July 2006; EB1 advances 61 days to 1 December 2018; EB2 remains current; and EB3 remains current.

 

For India only: F2A category remains current, F2B preference advances 14 days to 22 August 2014, F4 advances 14 days to a PD of 22 November 2004; EB1 remains at a PD of 1 January 2015; EB2 advances 1 day to 19 May 2009; EB3 advances 7 days to a PD of 8 January 2009; EB5 Non-Regional Center advances 123 days to a PD of 1 September 2018; EB5 Regional Center is again available with a PD of 1 September 2018.

 

For China only: EB1 remains at a PD of 22 May 2017; EB2 advances 14 days to a PD of 15 July 2015; EB3 advances 31 days to a PD of 1 January 2016; EB5 Non-Regional Center advances 9 days to a PD of 1 December 2014; EB5 Regional Center is again available with a PD of 1 December 2014.

 

For Vietnam only: EB5 Non-Regional Center advances 7 days to a PD of 15 December 2016; EB5 Regional Center is again available with a PD of 15 December 2016.

 

Can file your immigrant applications if PD before:

 

F2A 1 December 2019; F2B 22 April 2015 for All Areas, except 15 May 1999 for Mexico and 1 November 2009 for Philippines; F4 22 July 2007 for All Areas, except 22 July 2005 for India, 1 January 1999 for Mexico, and 1 January 2000 for Philippines.

 

EB1 Current for all countries, except 1 October 2017 for China and 15 March 2017 for India; EB2 All countries except India and China are current; EB3 1 January 2019 for all countries except India, China, and Philippines; EB2 India remains at 1 July 2009; EB3 India remains at 1 February 2010; EB2 China remains at 1 August 2016; EB3 China remains at 1 March 2017; EB5 China (RC and Non-RC) remains at 15 May 2015; Vietnam is not individually listed and should use the all countries category.

 

Notes from Tahmina:

 

In light of the No-RFE memo as well the NTA memos, it is important that those waiting to receive their green cards maintain their underlying visa status.

 

Notes copied from the Department of State regarding Visa availability:

 

D.  RETROGRESSION OF THE “REST OF WORLD” FAMILY FOURTH PREFERENCE FINAL ACTION DATE

As reported in item E of the January Visa Bulletin (number 37), the final action date for the “Rest of World” Family Fourth preference (F4) had been advanced at a very rapid pace during the past two years to generate the required level of demand.  The dramatic increase in the level of applicant demand currently being received has required the retrogression of that final action date for the month of February.  This has been done in an effort to hold number use within the annual numerical limitation.  It is likely that this date will remain in effect for at least the next several months.

E.  EMPLOYMENT-BASED THIRD AND THIRD OTHER WORKER VISA AVAILABILTY FOR MARCH

Since October there has been a consistently high level of Employment-based demand, primarily for adjustment of status cases filed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.  This trend is particularly apparent in the Employment Third and Third preference Other Worker categories.  Unless there is a sudden and dramatic decrease in the level of such demand, it will be necessary to implement a “Rest of World” final action date for the month of March.

 

 

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