The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has released the March 2021 Visa Bulletin which features significant advancement in many employment-based green card categories. Following the trend of the last two months, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will honor the Final Action Dates chart for employment-based cases.
This bulletin is extremely important for all immigrant visa applicants as it summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers during the month of March indicating when they can file for the adjustment of status application (the last stage of the green card process). Once the priority date (the date the immigrant visa petition is filed) becomes current (mentioned on the visa bulletin) the applicant can then assemble and submit the required documentation. Of the two charts, individuals must use the “Final Action Dates” charts below for determining when they can file such applications. The situation wherein the second chart the “Dates for Filing Visa Application” chart may be used is when USCIS determines that there are more immigrant visas
|
EMPLOYMENT
BASED |
ALL CHARGEABILITY
AREAS EXCEPT THOSE LISTED |
CHINA-
MAINLAND BORN |
EL SALVADOR
GUATEMALA HONDURAS |
INDIA
|
MEXICO
|
PHILIPPINES
|
VIETNAM
|
|
1st
|
C
|
01AUG20
|
C
|
01AUG20
|
C
|
C
|
C
|
|
2nd
|
C
|
15JUL16
|
C
|
15JAN10
|
C
|
C
|
C
|
|
3rd
|
C
|
08FEB18
|
C
|
01JUL10
|
C
|
C
|
C
|
|
Other Workers
|
C
|
01MAY09
|
C
|
01JUL10
|
C
|
C
|
C
|
|
4th
|
C
|
C
|
01JUN18
|
C
|
01JAN19
|
C
|
C
|
|
Certain Religious Workers
|
C
|
C
|
01JUN18
|
C
|
01JAN19
|
C
|
C
|
|
5th Non-Regional Center
(C5 and T5) |
C
|
15AUG15
|
C
|
C
|
C
|
C
|
22OCT17
|
|
5th Regional Center
(I5 and R5) |
C
|
15AUG15
|
C
|
C
|
C
|
C
|
22OCT17
|
1. Employment-Based, First Preference (EB1) Category
The cutoff dates for EB1 China and India advance to August 1, 2020. The category remains current for all other countries of chargeability.
2. Employment-Based, Second Preference (EB2) Category
EB2 India moves ahead to January 15, 2010. EB2 China advances to July 15, 2016. The EB2 category remains current for all other countries of changeability.
3. Employment-Based, Third Preference (EB3) Category
The cutoff date for EB3 India advances to July 1, 2010. EB3 China’s cutoff date is set at February 8, 2018. The EB3 category remains current for all other countries of chargeability.
4. EB3 Other Workers
With the exception of China, the cutoff dates for EB3 other workers are the same for each country as its respective EB3 cutoff dates. For China, the cutoff date for EB3 other workers moves to May 1, 2009.
5. Employment-Based, Fourth Preference (EB4) Category
The cutoff date for EB4 Mexico moves to January 1, 2019. The EB4 cutoff date for El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras advances to June 1, 2018. This category remains current for all other countries of chargeability.
6. Employment-Based, Fifth Preference (EB5) Category
The EB5 category remains current for all countries of chargeability, other than China and Vietnam. For China, the EB5 cutoff date remains at August 15, 2015. For Vietnam, the EB5 cutoff date moves to October 22, 2017.
We, at Emandi Law Firm will keep you posted with further updates.
Related Blogs: https://emandilaw.com/biden-administration-modifies-us-citizenship-civics-test/
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