Memphis immigration lawyer Ari Sauer provides news and information on US immigration law.
Posted January 17, 2018
The US Department of State has issued the February 2018 Visa Bulletin. The DOS Visa Bulletin lists visa availability to let foreign nationals know when they can file an Immigrant Visa Application (DS-260) or Application for Adjustment of Status (I-485) to become a US Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) (commonly known as a green card holder) based upon the immigrant petition filed by their relative, employer, self-petition, or under the Diversity (DV) Lottery. The dates listed are the Priority Dates for immigrant petitions (i.e., I-130, I-140, I-360, I-526, etc.) or the DV Lottery selectees’ case numbers. A visa is available if your priority date is earlier than the date listed for your category and country of chargeability, or if your DV Lottery case number is less than the number listed.
Please note that I-130 petitions for Immediate Relatives (spouse, parent, or unmarried child under 21 of a US citizen) and I-360 petitions for abused children or spouses of US citizens are not subject to the Visa Bulletin, as there is currently no limit on visa availability for these categories.
HOW TO READ THE VISA BULLETIN
To read the visa bulletin:
1) first find the appropriate section of the Visa Bulletin. If your petition is a family-based petition (i.e. I-130, I-360 for abused child or spouse of Lawful Permanent Resident) then you will be looking at the first two charts, the “Family-Sponsored Preferences” section. If your petition is an Employment Based immigrant petitions (i.e., I-140, I-526, I-360 for Religious Workers) or I-360 petitions for certain other categories (i.e., Special Immigrant Juvenile) then you will be looking at the 3rd and 4th charts, the “Employment-Based Preferences” section. The remaining two charts are for the Diversity Visa Lottery.
2) Next, determine which chart you may use within the section. In both the “Family-Sponsored Preferences” section and the “Employment-Based Preferences” section there are two charts. The first chart lists the “Final Action Dates” and the second chart lists the “Dates For Filing”. The “Final Action Dates” chart list shows which petitions have visas currently available for them. The “Dates For Filing” chart shows petitions that do not currently have visas available for them, but are sufficiently close to having visas available for them that beneficiaries MIGHT be able to file their I-485 or DS-260 application early, in anticipation of a visa becoming available for the petition.
For those who are outside the US (or otherwise not eligible to apply for Adjustment of Status within the US, and therefore will be filing a Form DS-260 Immigrant Visa Application with the DOS National Visa Center), you may use the “Dates for Filing” chart in determining when you will be able to file the DS-260 application.
For those who are within the US and meet all eligibility requirements to file a Form I-485 Application for Adjustment of Status, you will need to consult the guidance provided on the USCIS website’s “Adjustment of Status Filing Charts” page. This page provides monthly instructions on whether applicants may rely on the “Dated for Filing” chart, or whether they must wait for a visa to become available under the “Final Action Dates” chart.
According to the USCIS Adjustment of Status Filing Charts for the Month of February 2018, USCIS is allowing eligible applicants who are beneficiaries of family-based petitions to use the “Dates for Filing Family-Sponsored Visa Applications” chart. For the Month of February 2018, USCIS is requiring eligible applicants who are beneficiaries of employment-based petitions (including certain I-360 petitions) to use the “Final Action Dates for Employment-Based Preference Cases” chart.
For the DV Lottery cases, the two charts work differently. The first chart, “Diversity Immigrant Category For The Month of [current month]” lists the DV Lottery rank numbers that currently have a visa available. The second chart “The Diversity (DV) Immigrant Category Rank Cut-Offs Which Will Apply In [upcoming month]” list those DV Lottery rank numbers that are predicted to become available next month. An I-485 or DS-260 application can be filed when the lottery rank number is lower than the lottery rank number listed in the second chart (the listing for the upcoming month). But USCIS or DOS cannot approve the I-485 application or issue the Immigrant Visa until a visa is available as shown on the first chart (the listing for the current month).
3) Locate the appropriate column for your country of chargeability. If your country of chargeability is not listed, that means that you would fall within the All Chargeability category.
The DV lottery charts are is listed in rows by region instead of country, although some countries within a region will be listed separately.
4) For the “Family-Sponsored Preferences” charts and the “Employment-Based Preferences” charts, locate the appropriate row for your petition from the visa preference categories listed on the left (F-1 through F-4 for the Family-Based charts or 1st through 5th for the Employment-Based charts).
5) Compare the priority date listed on the Visa Bulletin to the priority date for your petition. If a “C” is listed, that means that visas are “current”, meaning available for all petitions in that listing for that month. If a “U” is listed, that means that visas are “unauthorized”, meaning visas are not available for all petitions in that listing for that month.
For the DV Lottery, compare the number listed on the Visa Bulletin to the number listed on your Congratulatory Notice.
The February 2018 Visa Bulletin becomes effective on February 1, 2018. Until then the January 2018 Visa Bulletin remains in effect. If you file an application for adjustment of status (Form I-485) too early, your application will be rejected or denied.
FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCES
First: (F1) – Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
Second (F2A) – Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents
Second (F2B) – Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents
Third: (F3) Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
Fourth: (F4) Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens
A) FINAL ACTION DATES FOR FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCE CASES
Family- Sponsored |
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed |
CHINA-mainland born |
INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
F1 | MAR 15, 2011
(The same as last month) [Might move forward up to one month in March] |
MAR 15, 2011
(The same as last month) |
MAR 15, 2011
The same as last month) |
JUL 01, 1996
(moved from MAY 01, 1996 last month) |
AUG 01, 2005
(moved from JAN 01, 2005 last month) |
F2A | MAR 01, 2016
(moved from FEB 01, 2016 last month) [Might move forward 3 to 5 weeks in March] |
MAR 01, 2016
(moved from FEB 01, 2016 last month) |
MAR 01, 2016
(moved from FEB 01, 2016 last month) |
FEB 01, 2016
(moved from JAN 01, 2016 last month) |
MAR 01, 2016
(moved from FEB 01, 2016 last month) |
F2B | JAN 15, 2011
(moved from DEC 01, 2010 last month) [Might move forward 3 to 6 weeks in March] |
JAN 15, 2011
(moved from DEC 01, 2010 last month) |
JAN 15, 2011
(moved from DEC 01, 2010 last month) |
SEP 08, 1996
(moved from AUG 15, 1996 last month) |
JUL 22, 2006
(moved from JUL 01, 2006 last month) |
F3 | NOV 15, 2005
(moved from OCT 08, 2005 last month) [Might move forward up to 5 weeks in March] |
NOV 15, 2005
(moved from OCT 08, 2005 last month) |
NOV 15, 2005
(moved from OCT 08, 2005 last month) |
JUN 22, 1995
(moved from JUN 15, 1995 last month) |
MAR 15, 1995
(The same as last month) |
F4 | JUL 22, 2004
(moved from JUN 22, 2004 last month) [Might move forward up to 5 weeks in March] |
JUL 22, 2004
(moved from JUN 22, 2004 last month) |
JAN 08 2004
(moved from DEC 15, 2003 last month) |
NOV 08, 1997
(moved from NOV 01, 1997 last month) |
OCT 01, 1994
(moved from SEP 01, 1994 last month) |
B) DATES FOR FILING FAMILY-SPONSORED VISA APPLICATIONS
There was no change made in this chart from last month.
Family- Sponsored |
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed |
CHINA- mainland born |
INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
F1 | JAN 01, 2012 | JAN 01, 2012 | JAN 01, 2012 | NOV 01, 1996 | OCT 01, 2007 |
F2A | NOV 01, 2016 | NOV 01, 2016 | NOV 01, 2016 | NOV 01, 2016 | NOV 01, 2016 |
F2B | SEP 01, 2011 | SEP 01, 2011 | SEP 01, 2011 | JAN 01, 1997 | SEP 01, 2007 |
F3 | DEC 01, 2005 | DEC 01, 2005 | DEC 01, 2005 | OCT 01, 1995 | JUN 15, 1995 |
F4 | NOV 15, 2004 | NOV 15, 2004 | JUN 22, 2004 | FEB 08, 1998 | MAR 01, 1995 |
EMPLOYMENT-SPONSORED PREFERENCES
First (EB-1A, EB-1B, EB-1C): Priority Workers
Second (EB-2): Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability
Third (EB-3): Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers
Fourth (EB-4 and Special Immigrants): Certain Special Immigrants
Fifth (EB-5): Employment Creation Investors
A) FINAL ACTION DATES FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES
Employment- based |
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed |
CHINA- mainland born |
EL SALVADOR GUATEMALA HONDURAS |
INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
1st | Current (C)
[Predicted to remain current for the next several months] |
Current (C)
|
Current (C)
[ |
Current (C)
|
Current (C)
|
Current (C)
|
2nd | Current (C)
[Predicted to remain current next month] |
OCT 01, 2013
(Moved from AUG 08, 2013 last month) [Might move forward several months in March] |
Current (C)
|
DEC 08, 2008
(Moved from NOV 22, 2008 last month) [Might move forward up to 2 weeks in March] |
Current (C)
|
Current (C)
|
3rd | Current (C)
[Predicted to remain current next month] |
APR 15, 2014
(Same as last month) [Might move forward up to 5 months in March] |
Current (C) | DEC 01, 2006
(Moved from NOV 01, 2006 last month) [Might move forward up to 3 months in March] |
Current (C)
[Predicted to remain current next month] |
MAR 01, 2016
(Moved from FEB 15, 2016 last month) [Might move forward up to a month in March] |
Other Workers | Current (C) | FEB 01, 2007
(Moved from DEC 22, 2006 last month) |
Current (C) | DEC 01, 2006
(Moved from NOV 01, 2006 last month) |
Current (C) | MAR 01, 2016
(Moved from FEB 15, 2016 last month) |
4th | Current (C)
[Predicted to remain current next month] |
Current (C) | DEC 01, 2015
(Same as last month) [Might move forward up to 3 weeks in March] |
Current (C) | JUN 22, 2016
(Moved from JUN 01, 2016) [Some forward movement predicted for next month] |
Current (C) |
Certain Religious Workers | Unavailable (U) | Unavailable (U) | Unavailable (U) | Unavailable (U) | Unavailable (U) | Unavailable (U) |
5th Non-Regional Center (C5 and T5) |
Current (C)
[Predicted to remain current next month] |
JUL 22, 2014
(Same as last month) [Little, if any, movement predicted in March] |
Current (C) | Current (C) | Current (C) | Current (C) |
5th Regional Center (I5 and R5) |
Unavailable (U) | Unavailable (U) | Unavailable (U) | Unavailable (U) | Unavailable (U) | Unavailable (U) |
B) DATES FOR FILING OF EMPLOYMENT-BASED VISA APPLICATIONS
Those filing Form I-485 Applications for Adjustment of Status should not use this chart for the month of February 2018.
Employment- based |
All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed |
CHINA- mainland born |
EL SALVADOR GUATEMALA HONDURAS |
INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
1st | Current (C) | Current (C) | Current (C) | Current (C) | Current (C) | Current (C) |
2nd | Current (C) | NOV 15, 2014
(Moved from NOV 15, 2013 last month) |
Current (C) | FEB 08, 2009
(Same as last month) |
Current (C) | Current (C) |
3rd | Current (C) | JAN 01, 2016
(Moved from SEP 01, 2015 last month) |
Current (C) | JAN 01, 2008
(Same as lost month) |
Current (C) | AUG 01, 2016
(Same as last month) |
Other Workers | Current (C) | JUN 01, 2008
(Same as last month) |
Current (C) | JAN 01, 2008
(Same as last month) |
Current (C) | AUG 01, 2016
(Same as last month) |
4th | Current (C) | Current (C) | APR 15, 2016
(Same as last month) |
Current (C) | Current (C) | Current (C) |
Certain Religious Workers | Current (C) | Current (C) | APR 15, 2016
(Same as last month) |
Current (C) | Current (C) | Current (C) |
5th Non-Regional Center (C5 and T5) |
Current (C) | SEPT 01, 2014
(Moved back from OCT 01, 2014 last month) |
Current (C) | Current (C) | Current (C) | Current (C) |
5th Regional Center (I5 and R5) |
Current (C) | SEPT 01, 2014
(Moved back from OCT 01, 2014 last month) |
Current (C) | Current (C) | Current (C) | Current (C) |
DIVERSITY VISA LOTTERY
A) DIVERSITY IMMIGRANT (DV) CATEGORY FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY
USCIS and DOS can approve pending Form I-485 applications and Form DS-260 applications under this chart during the month of February 2018.
Region | All DV Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed Separately |
|
AFRICA | 14,300 | Except for: Egypt: 10,300 Ethiopia: 13,500 |
ASIA | 4,050 | Except: Iran: 3,700 Nepal: 3,225 |
EUROPE | 10,700 | |
NORTH AMERICA (BAHAMAS) | 6 | |
OCEANIA | 615 | |
SOUTH AMERICA, and the CARIBBEAN |
625 |
B) THE DIVERSITY (DV) IMMIGRANT CATEGORY RANK CUT-OFFS WHICH WILL APPLY IN MARCH
This chart should be used by eligible applicants to determine if a Form I-485 application or Form DS-260 application can be filed during the month of February 2018.
Region | All DV Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed Separately |
|
AFRICA | 17,700 | Except: Egypt: 12,400 Ethiopia: 16,600 |
ASIA | 4,400 | Except: Nepal: 3,875 |
EUROPE | 13,800 | |
NORTH AMERICA (BAHAMAS) | 8 | |
OCEANIA | 800 | |
SOUTH AMERICA, and the CARIBBEAN |
800 |
By Ari Sauer.
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* This is an advertisement. Ari Sauer is an attorney with the Siskind Susser law firm. www.visalaw.com/ari. On this blog we answer questions as a service to our readers, but we cannot assume any liability related to reliance on anything herein, and responses to questions are not intended to establish an attorney-client relationship. Immigration laws and regulations are constantly changing, and the rules stated may not apply to your situation. Readers are cautioned to schedule a consultation with an immigration lawyer before acting on anything stated in this blog. This blog is not intended to substitute for a consultation with a qualified immigration law attorney. Ari Sauer is licensed to practice law through the states of Tennessee, New York and New Jersey but is eligible to assist clients from throughout the US. Certification as an Immigration Specialist is not currently available in Tennessee, New York or New Jersey. Siskind Susser limits its practice strictly to immigration law, a Federal practice area, and we do not claim expertise in the laws of states other than where our attorneys are licensed. the opinions expressed here are those of Ari Sauer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Siskind Susser law firm.