The July 2021 Visa Bulletin was released earlier this afternoon and we continue to see significant forward movement in most categories, but in particular EB2 and EB3 India/China. EB1 India and EB1 China continue to remain current, and this shows no signs of changing soon. USCIS has indicated 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. The coming months should continue to see significant forward movement in the EB2 and EB3 China/India categories.
Commentary:
July 2021
For all countries except India, China, Philippines, and Mexico: F2A category priority date remains current, F2B preference advances 24 days to a PD of 15 September 2015, F4 category advances 62 days to 8 February 2007; EB1 remains current; EB2 remains current; and EB3 remains current.
For India only: F2A category remains current, F2B preference advances 24 days to 15 September 2015, F4 advances 99 days to a PD of 15 August 2005; EB1 remains current; EB2 advances 182 days to 1 June 2011; EB3 advances 427 days (1 year, 2 months) to a PD of 1 January 2013; EB5 Non-Regional Center remains current whereas the Regional Center is now unavailable.
For China only: EB1 remains current; EB2 advances 214 days to a PD of 1 December 2017; EB3 advances 122 days to a PD of 1 January 2019; EB5 Non-Regional Center advances 54 days to a PD of 8 November 2015 whereas the Regional Center is now unavailable.
For Vietnam only: EB5 Non-Regional Center advances 717 days (1 year, 11 months, 17 days) to a PD of 1 April 2020 whereas the Regional Center is now unavailable.
Can file your immigrant applications if PD before:
F2A Current; F2B 22 September 2016 for All Areas, except 8 August 2000 for Mexico and 1 October 2013 for Philippines; F4 1 October 2007 for All Areas, except 1 December 2005 for India, 8 May 1999 for Mexico, and 1 February 2004 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 June 2011; EB3 India 1 January 2013; EB2 China 1 December 2017; EB3 China 1 January 2019; EB5 China (Non-RC) 8 November 2015; EB5 China (RC) Unavailable; Vietnam Current for all categories except EB5.
Notes copied from the Department of State regarding Visa availability:
D. SCHEDULED EXPIRATION OF THE EMPLOYMENT-BASED FIFTH PREFERENCE I5 and R5 REGIONAL CENTER VISA CATEGORIES
Employment Fifth Preference Categories (I5 and R5):
Division O, Title 1, Section 104 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 extended this immigrant investor pilot program until June 30, 2021. The I5 and R5 visas may be issued until close of business on June 30, 2021 and may be issued for the full validity period. No I5 or R5 visas may be issued overseas, or final action taken on adjustment of status cases, after June 30, 2021.
Since there has been no legislative action at this time, the final action dates for the I5 and R5 categories have been listed as “Unavailable” for July.
If there is legislative action extending this category for July, the final action dates would immediately become “Current” for July for all countries except China-mainland born I5 and R5, which would be subject to a November 8, 2015 final action date and Vietnam I5 and R5, which would be subject to an April 1, 2020 final action date.
E. 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
F. @TRAVELGOV BEGINS HOSTING MONTHLY YOUTUBE LIVE “CHATS WITH CHARLIE”
@TravelGov will be hosting “Chats with Charlie” on our YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/user/TravelGov) to discuss information provided in the monthly Visa Bulletin. This month’s chat is scheduled to take place on June 18, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. EST to discuss the July 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.
G. OBTAINING THE MONTHLY VISA BULLETIN
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