The Department of State (DOS) has issued its October 2017 Visa Bulletin. Most notably, there has been a significant advancement for the priority dates for EB-2 and EB-3. There was significant advancement for the priority dates for EB-1 for China and India following a period of significant retrogression.
EB-1-Worldwide: Priority dates are current, including:
China: Priority date is current (Advancement of 2100 days)
India: Priority date is current (Advancement of 2100 days)
EB-2-Worldwide: Priority dates are current, except:
China: Priority date of May 22, 2013 (Advancement of 7 days)
India: Priority date of September 15, 2008 (Advancement of 24 days)
EB-3-Worldwide: Priority dates are current, except:
China: Priority date of January 1, 2014 (Advancement of 731 days)
India: Priority date of October 15, 2006 (No Advancement)
Philippines: Priority date of December 1, 2015 (Advancement of 30 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 October 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 October 2017. The dates listed above are the Application Final Action Dates.
Check-In with Charlie Oppenheim
There is no October 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.