The April 2021 Visa Bulletin was released late afternoon today, the first time in many, many moons that it has come out before the 20th of the month (hopefully another sign of positive things to come under the Biden administration). Steady movement in most categories, and EB1 India and EB1 China are now current. Please note that USCIS has not yet indicated which chart may be used by applicants filing for their greencards, but we can anticipate that the Final Action Dates chart is to be used by applicants filing for their greencards in the employment-based and F2A categories, while the Dates for Filing chart is to be used by those in the remaining family-based categories.
Commentary:
April 2021
For all countries except India, China, Philippines, and Mexico: F2A category priority date remains current, F2B preference advances 17 days to a PD of 8 August 2015, F4 category advances 10 days to 1 November 2006; EB1 remains current; EB2 remains current; and EB3 remains current.
For India only: F2A category remains current, F2B preference advances 17 days to 8 August 2015, F4 advances 17 days to a PD of 8 April 2005; EB1 is now current; EB2 advances 106 days to 1 May 2010; EB3 advances 62 days to a PD of 1 September 2010; EB5 Non-Regional Center and Regional Center remains current.
For China only: EB1 is now current; EB2 advances 48 days to a PD of 1 September 2016; EB3 advances 35 days to a PD of 15 March 2018; EB5 Non-Regional Center and Regional Center remains at a PD of 15 August 2015.
For Vietnam only: EB5 Non-Regional Center and Regional Center advances 54 days to a PD of 15 December 2017.
Can file your immigrant applications if PD before:
F2A Current; F2B 15 June 2016 for All Areas, except 8 July 2000 for Mexico and 8 November 2012 for Philippines; F4 1 October 2007 for All Areas, except 1 December 2005 for India, 8 May 1999 for Mexico, and 1 May 2003 for Philippines.
EB1 Current for all countries, including China and India; EB2 All countries except India and China are current; EB3 Current for all countries except India and China; EB2 India 1 May 2010; EB3 India 1 September 2010; EB2 China 1 September 2016; EB3 China 15 March 2018; EB5 China (RC and Non-RC) 15 August 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. @TRAVELGOV BEGINS HOSTING MONTHLY YOUTUBE LIVE “CHATS WITH CHARLIE”
@TravelGov will begin hosting “Chats with Charlie” on our YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/user/TravelGov) to discuss information provided in the monthly Visa Bulletin. The first chat is scheduled to take place on March 17, 2021 at 1:00 pm EST to discuss the April Visa Bulletin. Questions can be emailed to [email protected] ahead of the event with “Chat with Charlie Question” in the subject line. Questions will also be taken via the YouTube Live Chat and will be answered in real-time. The event is intended to address issues of general interest related to the content of the Visa Bulletin, and no policy, case, or post specific questions will be accepted.
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