The November 2020 Visa Bulletin was finally released this morning, a mere 3 days before the end of the month, the latest a visa bulletin has ever been released in history. Fortunately, it carried good news, as the filing dates and final action dates were largely unchanged from the previous month. Additionally, USCIS has already indicated that the Dates for Filing chart was to be used by applicants filing for their greencards, meaning that this unique filing window and opportunity will be available for at least the entire month of November as well. If you are able to get your greencard application filed, we urge you to do so without delay, as the coming months are sure to be rife with uncertainty.
Commentary:
November 2020
For all countries except India, China, Philippines, and Mexico: F2A category priority date remains current, F2B preference remains at a PD of 8 July 2015, F4 category remains at 22 September 2006; EB1 remains current; EB2 remains current; and EB3 is now current.
For India only: F2A category remains current, F2B preference remains at 8 July 2015, F4 remains at a PD of 8 March 2005; EB1 advances 183 days to a PD of 1 December 2018; EB2 advances 21 days to 21 September 2009; EB3 advances 45 days to a PD of 1 March 2010; EB5 Non-Regional Center remains current and the Regional Center is now current as well.
For China only: EB1 advances 183 days to a PD of 1 December 2018; EB2 advances 52 days to a PD of 22 April 2016; EB3 advances 92 days to a PD of 1 October 2017; EB5 Non-Regional Center remains at a PD of 15 August 2015 and the Regional Center is now at a PD of 15 August 2015 as well.
For Vietnam only: EB5 Non-Regional Center remains at a PD of 1 August 2017 and the Regional Center is now at a PD of 15 August 2017 as well.
Can file your immigrant applications if PD before:
F2A 1 August 2020; F2B 1 May 2016 for All Areas, except 1 December 1999 for Mexico and 1 April 2012 for Philippines; F4 15 September 2007 for All Areas, except 22 November 2005 for India, 22 April 1999 for Mexico, and 1 September 2002 for Philippines.
EB1 Current for all countries, except 1 September 2020 for China and 1 September 2020 for India; EB2 All countries except India and China are current; EB3 Current for all countries except India, China, and Philippines; EB2 India remains at 15 May 2011; EB3 India remains at 1 January 2015; EB2 China remains at 1 October 2016; EB3 China remains at 1 June 2018; 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. EXTENSION OF TWO EMPLOYMENT VISA CATEGORIES
H.R. 8337 — Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 and Other Extensions Act (P.L. 116-159) extends both the Employment Fourth Preference Certain Religious Workers (SR) and Employment Fifth Preference Pilot (I5 and R5) Categories until December 11, 2020.
Notes from Tahmina:
In light of the No-RFE memo as well the NTA memos, it is important that those waiting to receive their greencards maintain their underlying visa status.
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