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July 2020 Visa Bulletin Commentary

The July 2020 Visa Bulletin was released yesterday. This month again saw the final action date for EB1 India move forward significantly, advancing another 334 days after advancing 312 days the previous month. Hopefully the coming months continue the progress of this severely backlogged category. Otherwise, no major anomalies to report.

 

Commentary:

 

July 2020

 

For all countries except India, China, Philippines, and Mexico: F2A category priority date remains current, F2B preference advances 47 days to a PD of 1 May 2015, F4 category advances 14 days to 22 August 2006; EB1 is current; EB2 remains current; and EB3 advances 158 days to a PD of 15 April 2018.

 

For India only: F2A category remains current, F2B preference advances 47 days to 1 May 2015, F4 advances 17 days to a PD of 8 February 2005; EB1 advances 334 days to a PD of 8 May 2017; EB2 advances 26 days to 8 July 2009; EB3 advances 61 days to a PD of 1 June 2009; EB5 Non-Regional Center and Regional Center are now current.

 

For China only: EB1 advances 7 days to a PD of 22 August 2017; EB2 advances 7 days to a PD of 8 November 2015; EB3 advances 7 days to a PD of 22 June 2016; EB5 Non-Regional Center and Regional Center advances 7 days to a PD of 22 July 2015.

 

For Vietnam only: EB5 Non-Regional Center and Regional Center advances 23 days to a PD of 15 May 2017.

 

Can file your immigrant applications if PD before:

 

F2A 1 June 2020; F2B 1 February 2016 for All Areas, except 15 October 1999 for Mexico and 1 August 2011 for Philippines; F4 15 August 2007 for All Areas, except 22 October 2005 for India, 8 March 1999 for Mexico, and 8 January 2002 for Philippines.

 

EB1 Current for all countries, except 1 November 2017 for China and 1 August 2017 for India; EB2 All countries except India and China are current; EB3 1 April 2019 for all countries except India, China, and Philippines; EB2 India advances 45 days to 15 August 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 December 2015; Vietnam is not individually listed and should use the all countries category.

 

Notes copied from the Department of State regarding Visa availability:

 

D.  FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION ON VISA PROCESSING AT U.S. EMBASSIES AND CONSULATES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, PLEASE VISIT THE BUREAU OF CONSULAR AFFAIRS WEBSITE AT TRAVEL.STATE.GOV

E.  VISA AVAILABILITY

MEXICO E4 and SR: There continues to be high demand in these categories which will result in the Mexico E4 per-country limit being reached during July. Therefore, readers should expect the retrogression of the August E4 and SR Final Action Dates for Mexico. This action will allow the Department to hold worldwide number use within the maximum allowed under the FY-2020 annual limits.

 

 

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.

 

 

 

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