The Department of State (DOS) has issued its March 2017 Visa Bulletin. For the categories that are not current, there continues to be slow advancement for EB-2 and EB-3 categories. Notably, EB-2 India has made an advancement of 1 month and 17 days after a period of no advancement since the January 2017 Visa Bulletin. Also, EB-3 India has made no advancement since the February 2017 Visa Bulletin.
EB-1-Worldwide: Priority dates are current
EB-2-Worldwide: Priority dates are current, except:
China: Priority date of December 15, 2012 (Advancement of one month)
India: Priority date of June 1, 2008 (Advancement of 1 month and 17 days)
EB-3-Worldwide: Priority date of December 1, 2016 (Advancement of 2 months)
China: Priority date of March 15, 2014 (Advancement of 5 months and 14 days)
India: Priority date of March 22, 2005 (No Advancement)
Philippines: Priority date of March 15, 2012 (Advancement of 5 months)
USCIS ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS DATES
If USCIS determines that there are more immigrant visas available for a fiscal year than there are known applicants for such visas, the USCIS will state on www.uscis.gov/visabulletininfo that you may use the Dates for Filing Visa Applications chart in the Department of State March 2017 Visa Bulletin. Otherwise, USCIS will indicate on their web site that you must use the Application Final Action Dates chart to determine when you may file your adjustment of status application in the United States. Currently, as of this publication, the USCIS has not determined which chart to use for March 2017. The dates listed above are the Application Final Action Dates.
Check-In with Charlie Oppenheim
There is no March 2017 analysis or predictions from Charlie Oppenheim, Chief of Visa Control and Reporting Division for the U.S. Department of State (DOS). Charlie Oppenheim is responsible for analyzing and predicting immigrant preference categories. SW Law Group will post any updated analysis and predictions from Charlie Oppenheim if such information is released this month.
Please contact SW Law Group if you have any further questions regarding these developments.