ARTICLE
20 January 2020

February 2020 Visa Bulletin: Modest Movement Continues For Most Countries; EB-3 Worldwide Still Likely To Retrogress In March

All EB-1 countries except for China and India will advance by two months to December 1, 2018. China will remain at May 22, 2017, while India will remain at January 1, 2015.
United States Immigration

At a glance

  • All EB-1 countries except for China and India will advance by two months to December 1, 2018. China will remain at May 22, 2017, while India will remain at January 1, 2015.
  • EB-2 China will advance by two weeks, to July 15, 2015, and EB-2 India will advance by one day, to May 19, 2009.
  • EB-3 China will advance by one month, to January 1, 2016, EB-3 India will advance by one week to January 8, 2009, and EB-3 Philippines will advance by two and a half months, to June 1, 2018. 
  • Consistent with last month's State Department projections, EB-3 Worldwide is expected to retrogress in March 2020.

A closer look

According to the State Department's February Visa Bulletin, cutoff dates for issuance of an immigrant visa will be as follows:

  • EB-1: All EB-1 countries except for China and India will advance by two months to December 1, 2018. China will remain at May 22, 2017, while India will remain at January 1, 2015.
  • EB-2: China will advance by two weeks, to July 15, 2015, and India will advance by one day, to May 19, 2009.
  • EB-3 Professional and Skilled Workers: China will advance by one month, to January 1, 2016, India will advance by one week, to January 8, 2009, and Philippines will advance by two and a half months, to June 1, 2018.
  • EB-5: Most countries will remain current. China will advance by one week to December 1, 2014; India will advance by four months to September 1, 2018; and Vietnam will advance by one week to December 15, 2016.

In the coming days, USCIS is expected to announce on its own Visa Bulletin web page the cutoff dates for acceptance of adjustment of status applications next month. It is not yet known whether USCIS will again accept adjustment applications based on the Dates for Filing chart, rather than the Final Action chart, as it has done for the last several months.

Cutoff dates in the Dates for Filing chart for February will remain unchanged from January 2020.

Immigrant visa availability in the coming months

In the February Bulletin, the State Department states that there has been consistently high levels of demand for employment-based immigrant visas, and especially for EB-3 Worldwide (all countries except India and China) visa numbers. As the agency predicted last month, EB-3 Worldwide is expected to retrogress in March 2020.

FINAL ACTION CUT-OFF DATES FOR FEBRUARY 2020

EB-1

China: May 22, 2017

India: January 1, 2015

All other countries: December 1, 2018

EB-2

China: July 15, 2015

India: May 19, 2009

All other countries: Current

EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers

China: January 1, 2016

India: January 8, 2009

Philippines: June 1, 2018

All other countries: Current

EB-3 Other Workers

China: May 1, 2008

India: January 8, 2009

Philippines: June 1, 2018

All other countries: Current

EB-4

El Salvador, Guatemala Honduras: July 1, 2016

Mexico: September 1, 2017

All other countries: Current

EB-5

China: December 1, 2014

India: September 1, 2018

Vietnam: December 15, 2016

All other countries: Current

DATES FOR FILING CUT-OFF DATES FOR FEBRUARY 2020

EB-1

China: October 1, 2017

India: March 15, 2017

All other countries: Current

EB-2

China: August 1, 2016

India: July 1, 2009

All other countries: Current

EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers

China: March 1, 2017

India: February 1, 2010

All other countries: January 1, 2019

EB-3 Other Workers

China: August 1, 2008

India: February 1, 2010

All other countries: January 1, 2019

EB-4

El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras: August 15, 2016

All other countries: Current

EB-5

China: May 15, 2015

All other countries: Current

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

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