JAN 2016 VISA BULLETIN AND ANALYSIS

The Department of State has just issued the January 2016 Visa Bulletin.  This is the fourth Visa Bulletin of Fiscal Year 2016. 

January 2016 Visa Bulletin

Final Action Dates

Applications with these dates may be approved for their Green Card (Permanent Residency card).

Employment- Based	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA - mainland born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
1st	C	C	C	C	C
2nd	C	01FEB12	01FEB08	C	C
3rd	01OCT15	01JUL12	15MAY04	01OCT15	01NOV07

MU Law Analysis

All: These dates continue to be very favorable.  We expect that All Other dates will continue to be positive for the foreseeable future.

China: EB-2 did not change. EB-3 has progressed six months Nov 2015 Visa Bulletin, which was 01JAN12.

India: EB-2 jumped again. Three months ago it was 01MAY05. In Nov 2015's Visa Bulletin it was 01AUG06.  In December 2015 it was 01JUN07.  This trend may continue. EB-3 moved two weeks.  Our sense is that EB3 will only move by weeks in the forthcoming months.

Mexico: Mirrors All Other in all aspects.

Philippines: EB-3 moved ahead four months. MU Law believes that Philippines EB-3 will steadily move forward in the coming months.

Dates of Filing

Applications with these priority dates may file their I-485 Adjustment of Status, provided that the USCIS issues its monthly authorization. 

Employment- Based	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA- mainland born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
1st	C	C	C	C	C
2nd	C	01JAN13	01JUL09	C	C
3rd	01JAN16	01OCT13	01JUL05	01JAN16	01JAN10

MU Law Analysis

The Dates of Filing chart did not materially change from October or November 2015. This is not a surprise. The USCIS and Department of State have been sued in response to the September 2015 revised Visa Bulletin.

Our analysis is the same as described in our October 10, 2015 blog post.