Monday, August 8, 2016

SEPTEMBER 2016 VISA BULLETIN

The Department of State has just issued the September 2016 Visa Bulletin.  This is the twelfth and final Visa Bulletin of Fiscal Year 2016. As the fiscal year winds down, the last few Visa Bulletins always have some surprises.  

This Visa Bulletin is no exception.  Some dates progressed favorably.  Other dates retrogressed.  Rest assured that these changes are temporary. 

Readers should rest assured that everything will go back to "normal" on October 1, 2016, the start of the next fiscal year.

September 2016 Visa Bulletin

Final Action Dates

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

Employ-
ment
based
All Charge-
ability 
Areas Except
Those Listed
CHINA-
mainland 
born
INDIA
MEXICO
PHILIPPINES
1st
C
01JAN10
01JAN10
C
C
2nd
01FEB14
01JAN10
22FEB05 
01FEB14
01FEB14
3rd
01MAY16 
01JAN10
15FEB05
01MAY16 
01JUL10


MU Law Analysis

All Other:  The EB-2 has been current for many years.  The retrogression of the EB-2 category simply means that the DOS approved more cases than it expected to in FY2016.  The EB-3 moved forward by two months.  These dates continue to be very favorable.  We expect that All Other dates will continue to be positive for the foreseeable future, starting on October 1, 2016.

China:   These dates mirror the August 2016's Visa Bulletin.  We expect positive movement in October 2016.

India:  EB-3 moved ahead by ten weeks as did EB-2.  The DOS is trying to make sure that all available Indian immigrant visas are used.  

Mexico: Mirrors All Other in all aspects.

Philippines: EB-3 moved ahead by ten months, into 2010.  This is what we have expected.  (Our note from May 2016: "MU Law believes that Philippines EB-3 will continue to steadily move forward in the coming months. We expect it to move into 2009 in the by early summer, and may reach 2010 by the end of this fiscal year.").  The Feb 2014 retrogression date for EB-2 should be of no concern for those in this category.  Philippine EB-2 will be current in October 2016.

70 comments:

  1. Hi! My PD is April 2011..when do you think will it be current (EB-3 Phil)? Thanks

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    1. Hi Eugene, My sense is that your PD will be current in the next 6 months.

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    2. You're welcome, Eugene. Thanks for reading.

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  4. Wow that was big jump from May 2009 to July 2010. Do you think this will progress till the end of the immigration year?

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    Replies
    1. This is the last VB of the immigration year, which ends Sept 30.

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  5. Hi mu, what is the adjustment of status for eb3 india to file i-485

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  7. @Marniel: Sometime in 2017 you should be current!

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  8. Hi, how about eb3 (row) my pd is 30june16?
    Thanks

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    Replies
    1. Really? Probably it will take that long? You think there would be no movement for eb3 (row) this 2017 fiscal year? Thanks!

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  9. @Cutie- that is probably 2019 or so.

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  10. hi mu! mine is march 11, 2015 eb3 phils. when would it be current? thanks!

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  11. hi mu! mine is march 11, 2015 eb3 phils. when would it be current? thanks!

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    Replies
    1. @ Connie: You are probably looking at 2.5 years

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  12. Pd 30 june16 ( all chargeability areas)

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    Replies
    1. Hi Cutie, You should not have long to wait. By year's end/early 2017 your should be current.

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  13. Hello MU Law.
    My P.D is Nov 2010 (EB-2, India). When do you think it would be current?

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    Replies
    1. Hi Being Mindful, My read is late '17 or early '18.

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  14. Hi MU, my priority date is march 2016 (EB3 Phils). In your estimation, when will it be current?

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  15. Hi MU, my priority date is march 2016 (EB3 Phils). In your estimation, when will it be current?

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    Replies
    1. That's a new date, Jay. You are probably 2.5-3 years away.

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  17. Hi my PD is on Jan 2015. I'm under Eb3 Phils category. May I know when will this be current? Thanks

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  18. Chris,
    Since Eb3 Philippines has now been progressing , may I know if there's a greater chance for it to reach my PD which is on 1/08/15 sometime in the middle of 2017? May I know what's the reason for the big jump? and does it mean that that the backlogs has been resolved already? and do you think that this coming immigration year, things will look great for Eb3 Phils?

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    1. @ Maxene, I think that the EB-3 Phils will reach Jan '15 sometime in 2018. We will have a blog where we look into the future shortly.

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  19. Hello everyone
    My priority date is current for F1
    What's next

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    Replies
    1. Hi Sandip, F-1 (Family based?) Have you contacted your attorney?

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  21. No attorney
    It's all done by my my fathers friend
    He is in USA

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  22. Replies
    1. Sandip - I cannot unfortunately give advice on specific cases. There are too many factors that have to be looked at. You should ask your father's friend, since that person is most familiar with your matter. Good luck.

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  23. Hi chris! I will be current next mo. Eb3 phils. Whats next ?

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    1. The NVC should contact you about payment of fee bills. If you have already paid your fee bills, then you should be scheduled for an appointment shortly. Good luck!

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    2. I am here in US with approved EAD/AP.Are they gonna request for new medicals? thanks

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  24. Hi
    I called NVC
    She told me your appointment is scheduled after 20 day
    But I didn't get interview latter now what

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    Replies
    1. Sandip - I cannot unfortunately give advice on specific cases. You will have to hire an attorney to help with a specific matter like this if you want specific legal advice.

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  25. Chris, when do you think feb 2014 will be current? Also, how ahout the filing date, do you think this will progress to at least 2015? Thank you!

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    1. Hi Rowan, Phils EB3? My sense is approx. 1.5 years from now.

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  27. Hi my pd is jan, 2014,eb3 phil.when will it be current?

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  28. Hai my PD is May2006 EB3 India ...when it will be current?

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  29. End '17 / early '18. India Eb3 is difficult to project because it moves slowly.

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  30. Hia, my PD is Nov 2015, EB3 ROW, when I get interview latter? -Thanks

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  31. is there chance for September 2016 visa bulletin EB 3 Philippines to retrogress back earlier than July 2009?. My priority date is july 2009.

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    1. Yes- this happens almost every year. But rest assured that it will only be for a few weeks.

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  32. Hi,
    If you're already in the stage of completing ds260 does it mean that visa is available? Or anytime it can be affected with retrogression?

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    1. There may be a blackout for a few weeks in September which happens every year. Regardless you should have your visa interview no later than the end of October.

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    2. In your opinion, can I leave my current work. Iam working overseas and I need 3months notice before resignation. Since I already submitted my Ds260 maybe it is my best shot?? Thanks

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    3. Well you can, but why not wait until you actually have the interview date established?

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    4. Its because Iam in oman and my embassy interview would be in manila. If interview will be on november/december. I will be having difficulty quitting my job on a short notice I need to pay them in case I resigned immediately.

      Thanks

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    5. I see. That makes sense. My guess is that your interview should be in October.

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    1. Yes- my read is that the Phils EB3 will continue to progress quickly. And so the NVC is acting proactively. You need to talk/email with your attorney and make sure that the attorney is adding your spouse.

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    2. You're welcome! Thanks for reading and following.

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  34. Hi! Would it be possible for eb3 Philippines dates for filling reach to atleast 2015 by next fiscal year? Thank you

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    Replies
    1. I think that EB3 Phils will reach at least 2015 sometime in Calendar Year 2018, maybe CY2019.

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  35. Hi is there any update for October 2016 bulletin as to when can we start filling AOS and EB2 again? Thanks!

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  36. Hi MU.. My PD is November 2011 when will it be current? Done filing ds260. Thank you..

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