August 2020 Visa Bulletin Commentary

The August 2020 Visa Bulletin was recently released. EB1 India has continued to see significant movement each month for the past 3 months, providing much needed relief in a severely backlogged category. Other employment-based categories saw significant movement as well.

Commentary:

August 2020

For all countries except India, China, Philippines, and Mexico: F2A category priority date remains current, F2B preference advances 38 days to a PD of 8 June 2015, F4 category advances 17 days to 8 September 2006; EB1 is current; EB2 remains current; and EB3 advances 351 days to a PD of 1 April 2019.

For India only: F2A category remains current, F2B preference advances 38 days to 8 June 2015, F4 advances 14 days to a PD of 22 February 2005; EB1 advances 276 days to a PD of 8 February 2018; EB2 remains at 8 July 2009; EB3 advances 122 days to a PD of 1 October 2009; EB5 Non-Regional Center and Regional Center remain current.

For China only: EB1 advances 170 days to a PD of 8 February 2018; EB2 advances 68 days to a PD of 15 January 2016; EB3 advances 238 days to a PD of 15 February 2017; EB5 Non-Regional Center and Regional Center advances 17 days to a PD of 8 August 2015.

For Vietnam only: EB5 Non-Regional Center and Regional Center advances 68 days to a PD of 22 July 2017.

Can file your immigrant applications if PD before:

F2A 1 July 2020; F2B 15 March 2016 for All Areas, except 8 November 1999 for Mexico and 1 December 2011 for Philippines; F4 1 September 2007 for All Areas, except 8 November 2005 for India, 1 April 1999 for Mexico, and 8 May 2002 for Philippines.

EB1 Current for all countries, except 1 July 2018 for China and 1 July 2018 for India; EB2 All countries except India and China are current; EB3 1 April 2020 for all countries except India, China, and Philippines; EB2 India remains at 15 August 2009; EB3 India remains at 1 February 2010; EB2 China remains at 1 August 2016; EB3 China advances 61 days to 1 May 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

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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