The Department of State (DOS) has issued its September 2019 Visa Bulletin, which has been reproduced below. However, during the Department of State Liaison Committee’s August 16, 2019 monthly check-in with Charlie Oppenheim, the committee was made aware that the entire EB-3 category has immediately been made unavailable for the remainder of FY 2019, despite the information contained in the September 2019 Visa Bulletin. Additionally, EB-1 India is also unavailable and there is a continued significant retrogression for EB-1 China.
EB-1-Worldwide:
China: Priority date of January 1, 2014 (Retrogression of 913 days)
India: Priority date Unauthorized (Unavailable)
El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras: October 1, 2017 (Advancement of 458 days)
Mexico: Priority date of October 1, 2017 (Advancement of 458 days)
Philippines: Priority date of October 1, 2017 (Advancement of 458 days)
Vietnam: Priority date of October 1, 2017 (Advancement of 458 days)
Other areas: Priority date of October 1, 2017 (Advancement of 458 days)
EB-2-Worldwide:
China: Priority date of January 1, 2017 (No Advancement)
India: Priority date of May 8, 2009 (Advancement of 6 days)
El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras: January 1, 2018 (Advancement of 366 days)
Mexico: Priority date of January 1, 2018 (Advancement of 366 days)
Philippines: Priority date of January 1, 2018 (Advancement of 366 days)
Vietnam: Priority date of January 1, 2018 (Advancement of 366 days)
Other areas: Priority date of January 1, 2018 (Advancement of 366 days)
EB-3-Worldwide:
China: Priority date of July 1, 2016 (Retrogression of 913 days)
India: Priority date of July 1, 2005 (Retrogression of 185 days)
El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras: July 1, 2016 (No Advancement)
Mexico: Priority date of July 1, 2016 (No Advancement)
Philippines: Priority date of July 1, 2016 (No Advancement)
Vietnam: Priority date of July 1, 2016 (No Advancement)
Other areas: Priority date of July 1, 2016 (No Advancement)
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 September 2019 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 September 2019. The dates listed above are the Application Final Action Dates.
Check-In with Charlie Oppenheim
As mentioned above, in the monthly check-in with Charlie Oppenheim on August 16, 2019, the Department of State Liaison Committee was made aware that the entire EB-3 category has immediately been made unavailable for the remainder of FY 2019. This means that the annual limits have been reached on these categories and additional numbers are thus unavailable until the beginning of the next fiscal year.
Please do not hesitate to contact our office if you have any further questions regarding this matter.