The Department of State (DOS) has issued its August 2018 Visa Bulletin. Most notably, there continues to be no advancement for the priority dates for EB-1 for China and India and significant retrogression for EB-1 for all El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Philippines, Vietnam, and other areas.
EB-1-Worldwide:
China: Priority date of January 1, 2012 (No advancement)
India: Priority date of January 1, 2012 (No advancement)
El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras: May 1, 2016 (Retrogression of 823 days)
Mexico: Priority date of May 1, 2016 (Retrogression of 823 days)
Philippines: Priority date of May 1, 2016 (Retrogression of 823 days)
Vietnam: Priority date of May 1, 2016 (Retrogression of 823 days)
Other areas: Priority date of May 1, 2016 (Retrogression of 823 days)
EB-2-Worldwide: Priority dates are current, except:
China: Priority date of March 1, 2015 (Advancement of 60 days)
India: Priority date of March 15, 2009 (No advancement)
EB-3-Worldwide: Priority dates are current, except:
China: Priority date of July 1, 2014 (Advancement of 547 days)
India: Priority date of January 1, 2009 (Advancement of 62 days)
Philippines: Priority date of June 1, 2017 (Advancement of 182 days)
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 August 2018 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 August 2018. The dates listed above are the Application Final Action Dates.
Check-In with Charlie Oppenheim
There is no August 2018 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.