The U.S. Department of State (DOS) released its January 2016 Visa Bulletin highlighting the processing dates for employment- and family-based green card applications. The format of the bulletin recently changed. Each month the DOS will publish the updated Visa Bulletin and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will issue a subsequent announcement one week later, informing foreign nationals if they may use the Dates for Visa Application charts or not. For more information, read Introducing the new Visa Bulletin.
January 2016 family-based Visa Bulletin
USCIS stated that foreign nationals may use the Dates for Filing Visa Applications chart to determine when to file Form I-485, the Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.
Source: U.S. Department of StateMonth-to-month changes
- For all foreign nationals in the F-1 category, except Philippines natives, the filing dates progressed five months.
- The F-2A classification progressed three months in all areas.
- For all foreign nationals in the F-2B category, except Philippines and Mexico natives, the dates progressed five months.
- For all foreign nationals in the F-3 category, except Philippines and Mexico natives, the dates progressed four months.
- For all foreign nationals in the F-4 category, except Philippines and Mexico natives, the dates progressed three months.
Source: U.S. Department of StateMonth-to-month changes
- For all foreign nationals in the F-1 category, except Philippines and Mexico natives, the dates progressed one month.
- The F-2A classification progressed at least one month in each area.
- All areas in the F-2B category advanced at least a month, except Mexico.
- For all foreign nationals in the F-3 category the dates progressed one month.
- For all foreign nationals in the F-4 category, except Philippines and Mexico natives, the dates progressed one month.
Family-based green card categories:
- F-1: Unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens
- F-2A: Spouses and children of legal permanent residents (LPRs)
- F-2B: Unmarried adult children of LPRs
- F-3: Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens
- F-4: Brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens
January 2016 employment-based Visa Bulletin
Foreign nationals must use the Application Final Action Dates chart to determine when to file Form I-485.
Source: U.S. Department of StateMonth-to-month changes
- The EB-2 classification for nationals of India progressed eight months.
- For all foreign nationals in the EB-3 standard and other workers category, the dates progressed one month.
- Green cards for certain religious workers moved into an unauthorized status, meaning no green cards can be processed at this time.
- The EB-5 non-regional center classification advanced one month for nationals of China.
- The EB-5 regional center category moved from current in all areas, except China, to a fully unauthorized status.
Employment-based green card categories:
- EB-1: Priority workers with extraordinary abilities, outstanding professors or researchers, and executives or managers who’ve transferred to the United States
- EB-2: Individuals with advanced degrees, exceptional abilities, or those holding national interest waivers
- EB-3: Skilled workers, professionals and others who don’t qualify for EB-1 or EB-2
- EB-4: Religious workers, broadcasters, Iraq/Afghan translators, Iraqis who have assisted the United States, physicians, Armed Forces members, Panama Canal Zone employees, Retired NATO-6 employees, spouses and children of deceased NATO-6 employees
- EB-5: Investors who are investing in a new commercial enterprise
For assistance filing a family- or employment-based green card, contact VISANOW.