Tag: Department of State

Domestic Visa Processing – Application Slots Now Available

On January 29, 2024, the Department of State’s stateside visa pilot renewal program began accepting DS-160s for qualifying individuals seeking to renew their existing H-1B visas while they are in the United States. As discussed in our previous blog post about this new program, the program allows individuals in the United States who are renewing an H-1B visa issued by US consular sections in Canada between 1/1/2020 and 4/1/2023 or one issued by US consular sections in India from 1/2/2021 and 9/30/2023 to do so online through the Department’s CEAC website rather than having to travel outside the US to obtain the visa.

Under the pilot program, each week for five weeks the Department will release 4000 application slots—2000 for applicants whose most recent H-1B visa were issued in Canada, and 2000 for those whose most recent H-1B visas were issued in India. If all designated slots are filled before the next week’s allotment becomes available, the Department will lock the portal until the next group is released. Applications can be submitted online at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/employment/domestic-renewal.html, where you can also find program FAQs published by the Department of State.

The first group of application slots was released on Monday, January 29. Later groups will be released on February 5, February 12, February 19, and February 26. The program will end when all available slots are filled or on April 1, 2024, whichever happens first.

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Copyright © 2024, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP. All Rights Reserved.
For more on Domestic Visas, visit the NLR Immigration section.

Social Media Scrutiny on Visa Applications

On May 31, 2019, the Department of State added new questions to Forms DS-160/DS-156 Nonimmigrant Visa Application and Form DS-260, Immigrant Visa Application. These additional questions require the foreign national to disclose social media platforms they have used within the past five years, as well as provide their username(s) for each platform. Passwords for these accounts do not have to be disclosed and should not be provided. Additional questions request the visa applicant’s current e-mail and phone number, in addition to contact information for the previous five years. If applicants are unable to recall precise details, they may insert “unknown,” but should be prepared for the possibility of additional screening during the visa process. Please note, this a question that must be answered as fully as possible by the Foreign National. Not providing the requested details could result in denial or quite possibly the denial of subsequent immigration applications.

Forms DS-160/DS-156 and DS-260 are the online applications used by individuals seeking a nonimmigrant or immigrant visa from the U.S. Department of State. Completion of the forms is the first step in the process with the Department of State, and must be submitted before scheduling and attending the visa interview. The Department of State has stated that the changes are intended “to improve … screening processes to protect U.S. citizens, while supporting legitimate travel to the United States,” as well as “vetting … applicants and confirming their identity.”

Further, on September 4, 2019, the Department of Homeland Security proposed a federal rule to add similar social media questions to several forms, including the applications for naturalization, advance parole, adjustment of status, asylum, and to remove conditions on permanent residents, along with many others. Additionally, applicants for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) and the Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS), used for frequent international travel, are included in the proposed rule.

These changes stem from the President’s March 6, 2017 Executive Order, requesting heightened screening and vetting of visa applicants. The March 2017 Executive Order requested that the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Director of National Intelligence create “a uniform baseline for screening and vetting standards and procedures.” The addition of the social media and contact information requirements to these application forms is part of the Department of State’s response to that Order. This represents a step up for the Department of State, which previously only asked that applicants voluntarily provide their social media information.

An individual’s social media content can be easily taken out of context, even more so when the postings are from long ago and/or are in a foreign language. Social media also provides an individual’s history of contacts, associations and preferences. While much (justifiable) concern has been expressed about the scrutiny of foreign nationals’ associations and political speech, many social media platforms and the posts thereon will provide information on a foreign national’s employment history and residency. Employment history and residency information can be particularly relevant in employment-based nonimmigrant and immigrant visa applications, such as the H-1B, L-1A and I-140 petitions. These details can also be very important in that the Department of State can use them to compare the information on social media to the information contained in the visa applications. Any discrepancies in that information can lead to difficulty in successfully obtaining both nonimmigrant and immigrant visas. Possible discrepancies can lead to delays in processing, requests for additional information, increased scrutiny in other areas of the application and even denial.

Additionally, many individuals do not keep their social media accounts up to date. As the requested information covers the last five years of the applicant’s social media history (including those accounts that may be closed at the time of the application) information is likely to be out of date, incomplete and out of context. Further, the tendency to embellish employment history or to inadvertently misstate employer information (e.g., indicating Company A as the employer while actually working for placement agency Company B that has been assigned to Company A) can work against an applicant. Both of these scenarios can result in the Department of State obtaining information contradictory to the nonimmigrant or immigrant form and can create obstacles to obtaining the desired visa.

Accordingly, it is imperative that foreign nationals are cognizant of the information they are posting on their social media accounts regarding their residency and employment history, paying particular attention that information contained on the social media platforms is consistent with the information contained in the visa applications.

© 2019 Vedder Price

For more on visa application requirements, see the National Law Review Immigration Law section.

US State Department Clarifies Implementation of Travel Ban Exemptions

The diplomatic cable instructs consulates on how to interpret the US Supreme Court’s direction to enforce the restriction only against foreign nationals who lack a “bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States.”

This Immigration Alert serves as an addendum to our prior summary of the Supreme Court decision partially granting the government’s request to stay enforcement of two preliminary injunctions that temporarily halted enforcement of Executive Order (EO) No. 13780. As a result of this decision, foreign nationals from six countries (Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Iran, and Yemen) who cannot show bona fide ties to the United States may be denied visas or entry for 90 days starting Thursday, June 29 at 8:00 p.m. EDT.

The communication from the US Secretary of State’s office enumerates the following situations where the EO’s travel restrictions will not apply:

  • When the applicant has a close familial relationship in the United States, which is defined as a parent (including parent-in-law), spouse, fiancé, child, adult son or daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, or sibling, whether whole or half. This includes step relationships, but does not include grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, or any other “extended” family members.

  • When the applicant has a formal, documented relationship with an entity formed in the ordinary course, rather than for the purpose of evading the EO. This includes established eligibility for a nonimmigrant visa in any classification other than a B, C-1, D, I, or K, as a bona fide relationship to a person or entity is inherent in the visa classification.

  • When there are eligible derivative family members of any exempt applicant.

  • When the applicant has established eligibility for an immigrant visa in the immediate relative, family-based, or employment-based classification (other than certain self-petitioning and special immigrant applicants).

  • When the applicant is traveling on an A-1, A-2, NATO-1 through NATO-6, C-2 for travel to the United Nations, C-3, G-1, G-2, G-3, or G-4 visa, or a diplomatic-type visa of any classification.

  • When the applicant has been granted asylum, is a refugee who has already been admitted to the United States (including derivative follow-to-join refugees and asylees), or is an individual who has been granted withholding of removal, advance parole, or protection under the Convention Against Torture.

Applicants admitted or paroled into the United States on or after the date of the Supreme Court decision are also exempted, as are those currently in the United States who can present a visa with a validity period that includes either January 27, 2017 (the day the EO was signed) or June 29, 2017. Any document other than a visa, such as an advance parole document, valid on or after June 29 will also exempt the holder.

As described in the prior alert, any lawful permanent resident or dual foreign national of one of the six named countries who can present a valid passport from a country not on the list is not impacted by the EO. The EO also permits consular officers to grant case-by-case waivers to otherwise affected applicants who can demonstrate that being denied entry during the 90-day period would cause undue hardship, that entry would not pose a threat to national security, and that their admission would be in the national interest.

This post was written by Eric S. Bord and Eleanor Pelta of  Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP.

Department of State Releases February 2017 Visa Bulletin

immigration policy visa bulletin stampNo change in Dates for Filing chart again; scant advancement in Final Action Dates chart.

The US Department of State (DOS) has released its January 2017 Visa Bulletin. The Visa Bulletin sets out per-country priority date cutoffs that regulate immigrant visa availability and the flow of adjustment of status and consular immigrant visa application filings and approvals.

What Does the February 2017 Visa Bulletin Say?

The February 2017 Visa Bulletin includes both a Dates for Filing Visa Applications chart and an Application Final Action Dates chart. The former indicates when intending immigrants may file their applications for adjustment of status or immigrant visas, and the latter indicates when an adjustment of status application or immigrant visa application may be approved and permanent residence granted.

If US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) determines that there are more immigrant visas available for a fiscal year than there are known applicants for such visas, it will state on its website that applicants may use the Dates for Filing Visa Applications chart. Otherwise, applicants should use the Application Final Action Dates chart to determine when they may file their adjustment of status applications.

It is not yet clear which chart the USCIS will select for February 2017 filings. To be eligible to file an employment-based (EB) adjustment application in February 2017, foreign nationals must have a priority date that is earlier than the date listed below for their preference category and country (changes from the last two months’ Visa Bulletin dates are shown in yellow). In January 2017, USCIS announced that EB applications should be filed using the Application Final Action Dates chart.

Application Final Action Dates

EB

All Charge-

ability

Areas Except

Those Listed

China

(mainland

born)

El Salvador,

Guatemala,

and Honduras

India

Mexico

Philippines

1st

C

C

C

C

C

C

2nd

C

15 NOV12 (was 15OCT12)

C

15APR08

C

C

3rd

01OCT16 (was 01AUG16)

01Oct13 (was 08SEP13)

01OCT16 (was 01AUG16)

22MAR05 (was 15MAR05)

01OCT16 (was 01AUG16)

15OCT11

(was 22JUL11)

Other Workers

01OCT16 (was 01AUG16)

01DEC05

01OCT16 (was 01AUG16)

22MAR05 (was 15MAR05)

01OCT16 (was 01AUG16)

15OCT11 (was 22JUL11)

Dates for Filing Visa Applications

EB

All Charge-

ability

Areas Except

Those Listed

China

(mainland

born)

India

Mexico

Philippines

1st

C

C

C

C

C

2nd

C

01MAR13

22APR09

C

C

3rd

C

01MAY14

01JUL05

C

01SEP13

Other Workers

C

01AUG09

01JUL05

C

01SEP13

How This Affects You

On the Application Final Action Dates chart, the cutoff dates for EB-1 will remain “current” for all chargeable countries, including India and China.

The EB-2 cutoff dates for the worldwide allotment as well as El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and the Philippines will also remain “current.” Cutoff dates will remain at April 15, 2008 for EB-2 India and will advance by one month for EB-2 China to November 15, 2012.

The EB-3 cutoff dates for the worldwide allotment as well as El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico will advance by two months to October 1, 2016. Cutoff dates will advance by three weeks to October 1, 2013 for EB-3 China. The cutoff date for EB-3 India will advance by one week to March 22, 2005. The cutoff date for EB-3 Philippines will advance by nearly three months to October 15, 2011.

The EB-5 China cutoff date will advance by one week to April 15, 2014.

As confirmed by the DOS, the EB-1 allotment should remain current in the coming months.

Read the February 2017 Visa Bulletin.

ARTICLE BY Eleanor Pelta, Eric S. Bord, A. James Vázquez-Azpiri, Lisa Stephanian Burton & Tracy Evlogidis of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
Copyright © 2017 by Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP. All Rights Reserved.

Department of State Releases October 2016 Visa Bulletin

October 2016 Visa bulletinEmployment-based China and India First Preference and Worldwide Second Preference cutoff dates become “current” once again.

The US Department of State (DOS) has released its October 2016 Visa Bulletin. The Visa Bulletin sets out per-country priority date cutoffs that regulate immigrant visa availability and the flow of adjustment of status and consular immigrant visa application filings and approvals.

What Does the October 2016 Visa Bulletin Say?

The October 2016 Visa Bulletin includes a Dates for Filing Visa Applications chart and an Application Final Action Dates chart. The former indicates when intending immigrants may file their applications for adjustment of status or immigrant visas, and the latter indicates when an adjustment of status application or immigrant visa application may be approved and permanent residence granted.

If the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) determine that there are more immigrant visas available for a fiscal year than there are known applicants for such visas, it will state on its website that applicants may use the Dates for Filing Visa Applications chart. Otherwise, applicants should use the Application Final Action Dates chart to determine when they may file their adjustment of status applications. It is not yet clear which chart the USCIS will select for October 2016 filings. To be eligible to file an employment-based (EB) adjustment application in October 2016, foreign nationals must have a priority date that is earlier than the date listed below for their preference category and country (changes from last month’s Visa Bulletin dates are shown in yellow).

Application Final Action Dates

Application Final Action Days
EB All Charge-
ability 
Areas Except
Those Listed		 China
(mainland 
born)		 El Salvador,
Guatemala,
and Honduras		 India Mexico Philippines
1st C C (was 01JAN10) C C (was 01JAN10) C C
2nd C (was 01FEB14) 15FEB12 (was 01JAN10) C (was 01FEB14) 15JAN07 (was 22FEB05) C (was 01FEB14) C (was 01FEB14)
3rd 01JUN16 (was 01MAY16) 22JAN13 (was 01JAN10) 01JUN16 (was 15MAy16) 15MAR05 (was 15FEB05) 01JUN16 (was 15MAY16) 01DEC10 (was 01JULY10)
Other Workers 01JUN16 (was 15MAY16) 01JAN05 (was 01JAN10) 01JUN16 (was 01MAY16) 01MAR05
(was 15FEB05)		 01JUN16 (was 15MAY16) 01DEC10
(was 01JUL10)

Dates for Filing Visa Applications

Application Filing Dates
EB All Charge
ability 
Areas Except
Those Listed		 China
(mainland 
born)		 India Mexico Philippines
1st C C C C C
2nd C 01MAR13
(was 01JUN13)		 22APR09
(was 01JUL09)		 C C
3rd C 01MAY14 (was 01MAY15) 01JUL05 C 01SEP13
(was 01JAN13)
Other Workers C 01AUG09 01JUL05 C 01SEP13
(was 01JAN13)

How This Affects You

On the Application Final Action Dates chart, the cutoff dates for EB-1 will once again be “current” for all chargeable countries, including India and China. EB-2 cutoff dates for the worldwide allotment, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Philippines will be “current” as well. Cutoff dates for EB-2 India and EB-2 China will advance by slightly more than two years (China to February 15, 2012 and India to January 15, 2007).

EB-3 final action cutoff dates for the worldwide allotment, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico will advance by one month to June 1, 2016. The final action cutoff date for EB-3 China will advance by more than three years to January 22, 2013. EB-3 India will advance by two weeks to March 1, 2005, and EB-3 Philippines will advance by five months to December 1, 2010. The EB-5 China cutoff date will remain unchanged at February 15, 2014.

The DOS confirmed that the EB-1 allotment should remain current in the coming months, the allotments for China should see modest advancement of three months, and the allotment for India will advance by up to four months. EB-1 allotments will return to “current” status for October. The EB-3 category may see retrogression in the worldwide classification with advancements of up to three months for EB-3 China and up to one week for EB-3 India.

Read the entire October 2016 Visa Bulletin.

ARTICLE BY A. James Vázquez-Azpiri of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
Copyright © 2016 by Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP. All Rights Reserved.

June 2016 Visa Bulletin Update

The Department of State (DOS) has released the June 2016 Visa Bulletin that includes the “Application Final Action Dates” and “Dates for Filing Applications.”

For both family-sponsored and employment-based filings, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) website indicates that the Application Final Action Dates chart must be used for May 2016.

Please see below for the Application Final Action Dates for both family-sponsored and employment-based preference filings:

Application Final Action Dates for Family-Sponsored Visa Applications

June Visa Bulletin

Movement from the May 2016 Visa Bulletin shows gradual but insignificant jumps in processing dates for this category, with the exception of China, F4 dates retrogressing from July 22, 2003 to January 1, 2003.

Application Final Action Dates for Employment-Based Preference Cases

IBI blog june 2016

Of particular note is that China EB-2 and EB-3 preference categories saw a retrogression from September 1, 2012 to January 1, 2010; and August 15, 2013 to January 1, 2010, respectively; and India EB-2 preference category also experienced a four-year retrogression from November 22, 2008 to October 1, 2004.

©2016 Greenberg Traurig, LLP. All rights reserved.
  • See more at: http://www.natlawreview.com/article/june-2016-visa-bulletin-update#sthash.svy3O7QO.dpuf

Department of State Releases May 2016 Visa Bulletin

The US Department of State (DOS) has released its May 2016 Visa Bulletin. The Visa Bulletin sets out per-country priority date cutoffs that regulate immigrant visa availability and the flow of adjustment of status and consular immigrant visa application filings and approvals. A new geographic sector encompassing El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras has been added to the employment-based (EB) charts.  A new geographic sector that includes El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras has been added.

What Does the May 2016 Visa Bulletin Say?

The May 2016 Visa Bulletin includes both a Dates for Filing Visa Applications and Application Final Action Dates chart. The former indicates when intending immigrants may file their applications for adjustment of status or immigrant visa, and the latter indicates when an adjustment of status application or immigrant visa application may be approved and permanent residence granted.

If the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) determines that there are more immigrant visas available for a fiscal year than there are known applicants for such visas, it will state on its website that applicants may use the Dates for Filing Visa Applications chart. Otherwise, applicants should use the Application Final Action Dates chart to determine when they may file their adjustment of status applications. For May 2016, USCIS announced that EB applicants must use the Application Final Action Dates chart.

Application Final Action Dates

To be eligible to file an EB adjustment application in May 2016, foreign nationals must have a priority date that is earlier than the date listed below for their preference category and country (changes from last month’s Visa Bulletin dates are shown in yellow):

EB

All Charge-
ability
Areas Except
Those Listed

China
(mainland
born)

El Salvador,
Guatemala,
and Honduras

India

Mexico

Philippines

1st

C

C

C

C

C

C

2nd

C

01SEP12

C

22NOV08
(was 08NOV08)

C

C

3rd

15FEB16

15AUG13

15FEB16

01SEP04
(was 08AUG04)

15FEB16

08AUG08
(was 01May08)

Other Workers

15FEB16

22APR07
(was 01MAR07)

15FEB16

01SEP04
(was 08AUG04)

15FEB16

08AUG08
(was 01May08)

4th

C

C

01JAN10

C

C

C

Certain Religious Workers

C

C

01JAN10

C

C

C

5th
Nonregional
Center
(C5 and T5)

C

08FEB14
(was 01FEB14)

C

C

C

C

5th
Regional
Center
(I5 and R5)

C

08FEB14
(was 01FEB14)

C

C

C

C

How This Affects You

Most countries saw a relatively minor advancement in priority cutoff dates, generally three weeks at most. The largest changes in the Application Final Action Dates chart are in the EB-3 and Other Workers Philippines category, which advanced by three and a half months to August 8, 2008.

The Third Preference final action date for EB-3 China has been “held” for the month of May, with no change in priority date cutoff. The DOS indicated that continued heavy demand for numbers will require a retrogression of this date for June to hold number use within the FY2016 annual limit. It is extremely likely that the India and Mexico Employment Fourth Preference categories will also become oversubscribed at some point during the summer months.

The addition of the El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras category is a result of extremely high demand in the E4 and SR categories for applicants from these areas. A determination about whether these countries will remain subject to E4 and SR final application dates under the FY2017 annual numerical limitation will be made in early September. Read the entire May 2016 Visa Bulletin.

Article By Eleanor Pelta & Eric S. Bord

Copyright © 2016 by Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP. All Rights Reserved.

Department of State Issues May 2016 Visa Bulletin

The Department of State (DOS) has released the May 2016 Visa Bulletin with the Application Final Action Date chart for employment-based applications which reflects some modest movement for some applicants.

The second and third preference categories for China-mainland born applicants had no movement. The second and third preference categories for India move ahead a few weeks to Nov. 22, 2008, and Sept. 1, 2004.  There was no movement in the third preference for all chargeability areas except those listed, and no movement for Mexico. The third preference and other workers categories for the Philippines move ahead a few months to Aug. 8, 2008.

There was no movement in the Dates for Filing chart for employment-based categories with the exception of the other workers category for China-mainland born applicants, which moved up several months to April 1, 2008.

The May 2016 Visa Bulletin states that “during the past month, there have been extremely high levels of Employment-based demand in most categories for cases filed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for adjustment of status. If this sudden and unanticipated change in the demand pattern continues, it could impact final action dates in the coming months and possibly require corrective action in some.” The DOS also notes an oversubscription of applicants from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.

As previously reported, last month prospective adjustment of status applicants have been advised to use the Application Final Action Date chart to determine their eligibility to file applications, despite previous guidance that the Dates for Filing chart could be used. Greenberg Traurig will continue to monitor the movement of Visa Bulletins and consequences on eligibility for filing.

APPLICATION FINAL ACTION DATES FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES

IBI May 2015 1

DATES FOR FILING OF EMPLOYMENT-BASED VISA APPLICATIONS

IBI May 2015 2

Article By Kristen T. Burke of Greenberg Traurig, LLP
©2016 Greenberg Traurig, LLP. All rights reserved.

Department of State Issues Final Rule re: Procedures for Issuing Nonimmigrant Visas

The July 2015 Visa Bulletin Brings Little ChangeThe Department of State (DOS) issued a final rule effective November 2, 2015 updating its regulations regarding the nonimmigrant visa format and record retention procedures found at 22 CFR §41.114, which currently provides for the placement of a nonimmigrant visa stamp in the foreign national’s passport.

The DOS has now amended the regulation to reflect the current practice of issuing machine-readable visas on adhesive foils that are affixed to passports. The updated regulation also allows for the planned future practice of issuing such visas as electronic visas that U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers will be able to access via an electronic database after scanning the machine readable are of the visa holder’s passport to verify the foreign national’s biometrics and identity. Finally, the regulation has been amended to remove DOS procedures regarding visa review and file retention instructions found in the Foreign Affairs Manual.

The DOS’ final rule, available at the Federal Register, is in compliance with regulatory requirements including the Administrative Procedure Act and the applicable Executive Orders. The amendment is issued as a final rule as it is not subject to notice-and-comment rulemaking. The Department of State has certified that the rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities; rather, only individual foreign nationals seeking consideration for nonimmigrant visas and foreign officials regulating the relevant documentation will be affected. Additionally, DOS does not consider the rule to be an economically significant rulemaking action, and is not aware of any monetary effect (including any increase in costs or prices) due to the update.

The amendments to 22 CFR §41.114 account for useful updates in technology that affect nonimmigrant visa holders. It remains to be seen exactly how the information contained in the electronic visa database available to CBP now provided for in the regulation will be accessible to other stakeholders, including employers.

Article By Lauren A. Tetenbaum of Greenberg Traurig, LLP

©2015 Greenberg Traurig, LLP. All rights reserved.

Department Of State Releases September 2015 Visa Bulletin

Cutoff dates for EB-2 China and India retrogress to January 1, 2006. Cutoff dates for EB-3 China, India, and the Philippines advance to December 22, 2004.

The US Department of State (DOS) has released its September 2015 Visa Bulletin. The Visa Bulletin sets out per-country priority date cutoffs that regulate the flow of adjustment of status (AOS) and consular immigrant visa applications. Foreign nationals may file applications to adjust their statuses to that of permanent residents or to obtain approval of immigrant visas at a US embassy or consulate abroad, provided that their priority dates are prior to the respective cutoff dates specified by the DOS.

What Does The September 2015 Visa Bulletin Say?

The September 2015 Visa Bulletin shows a large retrogression of visa numbers for EB-2 China and India, and an advancement of six and a half months for the EB-3 China, Philippines, and India allotments. The cutoff date for F2A applicants in China, India, Philippines, and the worldwide categories will advance by two and a half months in September. The cutoff date for F2A applicants from Mexico will advance by three months.

EB-1: All EB-1 categories will remain current.

EB-2: The cutoff date for applicants in the EB-2 category chargeable to China will retrogress by nearly eight years, and the cutoff date for applicants in the EB-2 category chargeable to India will retrogress by two years and nine months. For both categories, the cutoff date has been set at January 1, 2006. The EB-2 category for all other countries will remain current.

EB-3: The cutoff date for applicants in the EB-3 category chargeable to the worldwide category and Mexico will advance by one month to August 15, 2015. The cutoff date for applicants in the EB-3 category chargeable to China, India, and the Philippines will advance by six and a half months to December 22, 2004.

EB-5: The cutoff date for applicants in the EB-5 category chargeable to China will advance by three weeks to September 22, 2013. The cutoff dates for applicants in the EB-5 category chargeable to the worldwide category remain current.

The relevant priority date cutoffs for foreign nationals in the EB-2 category are as follows:

China: January 1, 2006 (retrogression of 2,905 days)
India: January 1, 2006 (retrogression of 1,004 days)
Mexico: Current
Philippines: Current
Rest of the World: Current

The relevant priority date cutoffs for foreign nationals in the EB-3 category are as follows:

China: December 22, 2004 (forward movement of 204 days)
India: December 22, 2004 (forward movement of 204 days)
Mexico: August 15, 2015 (forward movement of 31 days)
Philippines: December 22, 2004 (forward movement of 204 days)
Rest of the World: August 15, 2015 (forward movement of 31 days)

The relevant priority date cutoffs for foreign nationals in the EB-5 category are as follows:

China: September 22, 2013 (forward movement of 21 days)
Rest of the World: Current

Developments Affecting The Eb-2 Employment-Based Category

Mexico, the Philippines, and the Rest of the World

The EB-2 category for applicants chargeable to all countries other than China and India has been current since November 2012. The September Visa Bulletin indicates no change to this trend. This means that applicants in the EB-2 category chargeable to all countries other than China and India may continue to file AOS applications or have applications approved through September 2015.

China

The August Visa Bulletin indicated a cutoff date of December 15, 2013 for EB-2 applicants chargeable to China. The September Visa Bulletin indicates a cutoff date of January 1, 2006, reflecting a retrogression of 2,905 days (nearly eight years). This means that applicants in the EB-2 category chargeable to China with a priority date prior to January 1, 2006 may file AOS applications or have applications approved in September 2015.

India

The August Visa Bulletin indicated a cutoff date of October 1, 2008 for EB-2 applicants chargeable to India. The September Visa Bulletin indicates a cutoff date of January 1, 2006, a retrogression of two years and nine months. This means that applicants in the EB-2 category chargeable to India with a priority date prior to January 1, 2006 may file AOS applications or have applications approved in September 2015.

Developments Affecting The Eb-3 Employment-Based Category

China

The August Visa Bulletin indicated a cutoff date of June 1, 2004 for EB-3 applicants chargeable to China. In September, the cutoff date for EB-3 applicants chargeable to China will advance by six and a half months to December 22, 2004. This means that applicants in the EB-3 category chargeable to China with a priority date prior to December 22, 2004 may file AOS applications or have applications approved in September 2015.

India

The August Visa Bulletin indicated a cutoff date of June 1, 2004 for EB-3 applicants chargeable to India. In September, the cutoff date for EB-3 applicants chargeable to China will advance by six and a half months to December 22, 2004. This means that applicants in the EB-3 category chargeable to India with a priority date prior to December 22, 2004 may file AOS applications or have applications approved in September 2015.

The Philippines

The August Visa Bulletin indicated a cutoff date of June 1, 2004 for EB-3 applicants chargeable to the Philippines. In September, the cutoff date for EB-3 applicants chargeable to China will advance by six and a half months to December 22, 2004. This means that applicants in the EB-3 category chargeable to the Philippines with a priority date prior to December 22, 2004 may file AOS applications or have applications approved in September 2015.

Mexico

The August Visa Bulletin indicated a cutoff date of July 15, 2015 for EB-3 applicants chargeable to Mexico. The September Visa Bulletin indicates a cutoff date of August 15, 2015, reflecting forward movement of one month. This means that applicants in the EB-3 category chargeable to Mexico with a priority date prior to August 15, 2015 may file AOS applications or have applications approved in September 2015.

Rest of the World

The August Visa Bulletin indicated a cutoff date of July 15, 2015 for EB-3 applicants chargeable to the worldwide category. The September Visa Bulletin indicates a cutoff date of August 15, 2015, reflecting forward movement of one month. This means that applicants in the EB-3 category chargeable to the worldwide category with a priority date prior to August 15, 2015 may file AOS applications or have applications approved in September 2015.

Developments Affecting The F2a Family-Sponsored Category

The August Visa Bulletin indicated a cutoff date of December 15, 2013 for F2A applicants from Mexico. The September Visa Bulletin indicates a cutoff date of February 1, 2014, an advancement of three months. This means that applicants from Mexico with a priority date prior to February 1, 2014 may file AOS applications or have applications approved in September 2015.

The August Visa Bulletin indicated a cutoff date of December 15, 2013 for F2A applicants from all other countries. The September Visa Bulletin indicates a cutoff date of March 1, 2014, reflecting forward movement of two and a half months. This means that F2A applicants from all other countries with a priority date prior to March 1, 2014 may file AOS applications or have applications approved in September 2015.

Developments In The Coming Months

It is anticipated that EB-2 visa numbers for China and India will advance again at the start of the 2016 fiscal year (October).

Regarding the Diversity Visa (“DV”) program, the US Department of State has warned that “[e]ntitlement to immigrant status in the Diversity Visa (“DV”) category lasts only through the end of the fiscal (visa) year for which the applicant is selected in the lottery. The year of entitlement for all applicants registered for the DV-2015 program ends as of September 30, 2015. . . Numbers could be exhausted prior to September 30.”

How This Affects You

Priority date cutoffs are assessed on a monthly basis by the DOS, based on anticipated demand. Cutoff dates can move forward, backward, or remain static. Employers and employees should take the immigrant visa backlogs into account in their long-term planning and take measures to mitigate their effects. To see the September 2015 Visa Bulletin in its entirety, please visit the DOS Website.

ARTICLE BY Eleanor Pelta & Eric S. Bord of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

Copyright © 2015 by Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP. All Rights Reserved.